Space Technology 1980 to Present

Voyager 1 and 2  37 years they have been collecting data and sending it back to Earth using the Deep Space Network  Both have traveled out of our Solar System since 2012

The Space Shuttle  Early rockets used to launch things into space were very wasteful.  Once the rocket reached a certain point, the portions holding the fuel would detach and burn up in the atmosphere.  Millions of dollars were being spent to replace the portions that burned up.

 Scientist realized they could save money and resources by reusing certain parts.  They developed the Space Shuttle that was first used in April of  When the shuttle’s altitude reaches 45km it’s solid fuel canisters detach and parachute back to the ground to be reused.  The liquid tanks fall to the ground next. They are not reusable.

 Once the space shuttle reaches space it will orbit the Earth.  During this time astronauts can conduct experiments.  They also can launch, repair, or retrieve satillites.  They can be taken back to Earth to be repaired and then put back into orbit.  When the shuttle returns it lands like an airplane gliding at 335km/h!

 If astronauts need to be in space for an extended period of time they will need to live in a space station.  Space stations have larger areas to live, conduct research, and exercise.  In 1973 the US launched the first space station – Skylab.  Astronauts spent up to 84 days living in Skylab.  In 1979 Skylab fell out of orbit, entered Earths atmosphere and burned up. SkyLab

 Crews from the former Soviet Union spent more time in space stations than any other country. Their space station was named Mir that was launched in  In 1995 the US and Russia began working together to explore space using Mir. In 2001, Mir fell out of orbit. Mir

NASA Exploring Mars  1992 Mars Pathfinder~actually landed on the surface of Mars and released a robot rover to gather information.  1996 Mars Global Surveyor~successfully orbited Mars taking several high quality photos of the surface.  1998Launch of Mars Climate Orbiter~crashed in 1999 due to English measurements not converted to metric  1999 Launch of Mars Polar Lander was launched and lost as it made its descent onto the planet~scientists believe for the same reason for the above crash

 2003 Robotic Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity  2011 Robotic Mars Rover Curiosity  Future Mars Rover Mission planned for 2020  Scientist now have determined that water has seeped to the surface of certain parts of Mars.

International Space Station (ISS)  2001ISS-International Space Station begins to take form, 16 countries including the US contributes to this space station  Still in use, with 6 people onboard right now conducting scientific experiments and collecting data  October 2014 Antares rocket~owned by the private commercial company Orbital Sciences, exploded at NASA in Virginia on its launch to deliver supplies to the ISS

 In 1998 NASA launched the Lunar Prospector for a 1 year mission to map the structure and composition of the moon....to see if there was water on the moon  Scientist hypothesize that there may be ice in the craters located at the poles of the moon. However, they will have to design new missions to conclude that water exists on the moon. Exploring Luna, our Moon

 In 1997 NASA launched Cassini~It entered Saturn’s orbit in 2004 and collected data for four years.  In 2005, a probe was launched and landed on the surface of Titan (Saturn’s largest moon).  The team in charge of the program has requested an extension to continue research.  Scientist have developed the next generation space telescope, named Gaia.  It was launched December 2013 for a period of 5 years of data collection.

 Scientist have developed the next generation space telescope, named Gaia.  It was launched December 2013 for a period of 5 years of data collection.  This telescope will be able to ‘see’ things deeper in the universe and help explain the origins of our galaxy.  Space technology often is modified to be useful in every day life. Suits for people with skin diseasesSuits for people with skin diseases Treatment for heart diseasesTreatment for heart diseases Special toxic chemical detectorsSpecial toxic chemical detectors Better jet enginesBetter jet engines Traffic light controlsTraffic light controlsTechnology

Obama & Congress Makes HUGE Changes  President Obama is calling on NASA to cancel the program that was to return humans to the Moon by 2020, and focus instead on radically new space technologies.  Plans for a new mission to leave Earth’s orbit will probably not be spelled out for a few years, and the budget proposal makes it clear that any future exploration program will be an international collaboration, not an American one, more like the International Space Station than Apollo.  In the meantime, instead of using the Constellation’s Ares I rocket and Orion crew capsule to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, $6 billion would instead go to financing space taxi services from commercial companies.

Virgin Galactic Commercial Spaceliner  October 2004-SpaceShipOne (used by Galactic) Won $10 million Ansari X Prize for the first private organization to launch a re-useable manned spacecraft into space twice within a 2 week period  2006 ~ Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Group ~ Sold tickets to 150 passengers at $200,000 each for the world’s first tourist space flight in 2008, it has not happen yet  November 2014 Spaceship 2 crashes  February or March of 2015 latest intended date for the first commercial flight

Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket  2013 ~ NASA launched a new Earth-watching satellite called Landsat 8 into a polar orbit to monitor the Earth’s resources, land-use and environmental changes. This is the latest chapter in a 40 year program. This satellite is managed by NASA the planning and data distribution is managed by the U.S. Geological Geological Survey group. Survey group.

SpaceX  A space transport company, founded in 2002 by PayPal entrepreneur-Elon Musk, developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles.  This company also developed the Dragon Spacecraft that is launched by the Falcon 9.  May of 2012 SpaceX was the first privately owned company to send a cargo payload to the ISS.  NASA is considering SpaceX to launch human-rated Dragon /Falcon9 flight in 2017 to take crew to the ISS.  Future ~ Falcon Heavy Launch system and NASA robotic mission to Mars in 2020  Musk’s intention for the company is to create a permanent human presence on Mars.

NASA: to the Moon and Beyond Constellation Program~  NASA would like to return of humans to the moon by 2020  Extended lunar stays build the experience and expertise needed for the long-term space missions required to visit other planets.  The moon may also be used as a forward base of operations on which humans learn how to replenish essential supplies, such as rocket fuel and oxygen, by creating them from local material.  The moon's south pole is considered particularly promising because it is rich in hydrogen and may be home to water ice as well.  In the years beyond 2020, these spacecraft may aid in assembling Mars-bound vehicles in orbit to take the first humans to the red planet.

 Orion Capsule: Similar to Apollo but modern technologySimilar to Apollo but modern technology Larger than Apollo with three times the volume capacity and the ability to accommodate a four-person crew.Larger than Apollo with three times the volume capacity and the ability to accommodate a four-person crew. Launches attached to a solid rocket boosterLaunches attached to a solid rocket booster Safer and more reliable design for future space exploration than the now-familiar space shuttleSafer and more reliable design for future space exploration than the now-familiar space shuttle Will take astronauts to and from the International Space StationWill take astronauts to and from the International Space Station Can enter lunar orbit, a position from which landers can repeatedly visit the moon's surfaceCan enter lunar orbit, a position from which landers can repeatedly visit the moon's surface May be reused up to ten times, will parachute to Earth like Apollo—though they will arrive on dry land rather than via ocean splashdowns.May be reused up to ten times, will parachute to Earth like Apollo—though they will arrive on dry land rather than via ocean splashdowns.

Rosetta’s Landing  November 12, 2014  For the first time in history, a spacecraft from Earth has landed on the face of a comet speeding through deep space.  The European Space Agency landed a probe on a comet but an anchoring system problem may hamper planned investigations into the origins of Earth and the solar system.