Travel to Space

Rockets reaction Newton’s Third Law – for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction rocket gas is under pressure in a tank when gas is released in a combustion reaction it produces a downward thrust then the rocket lifts upward and away from Earth in an opposite reaction rockets must reach an escape velocity of 28000 km/h to overcome Earth’s gravitational pull action

there are 3 basic parts to a rocket the structural and mechanical parts (engines, storage spaces, tanks, fins) fuel (can be various materials such as liquid oxygen, gasoline or liquid hydrogen payload – what is being transported by the rocket (people, food, water, air, cargo) what are possible payloads (what types of things are being transported by rockets) Fins – are important because they stablilize the rocket (so it does not wobble) and make it more efficient designed in stages so empty fuel tanks can be dropped when the fuel is used up… this makes rockets more efficient

Technologies for Space Travel (theoretical propulsion systems) Ion drives engines that use xenon gas instead of chemical fuel xenon is electrically charged in the engine, accelerated, then emitted as exhaust exhaust creates thrust which pushes spacecraft in opposite direction Solar Sails similar to wind pushing sailboats solar sails collect electromagnetic energy from the Sun… when ‘photons’ hit the sail they transfer energy which causes the spacecraft to move forward Gravitational Assist fly a spacecraft toward a planet or star, then at the last minute pull around it and away… creating a slingshot effect that shoots the craft forward in the desired direction

Space Craft space shuttles are used to transport people into space space probes are used for ‘non-manned’ exploration of space – they carry instruments for recording info e.g. Pioneer 11 – flyby of Jupiter and Saturn in 1974 - 79 e.g. Mars Pathfinder – landed on Mars in 2000 space stations are orbiting space craft that have living quarters, work areas, support systems… to allow for people to live and work in space for extended periods of time

Satellites and Probes natural satellites such as the moon man-made satellites such as used for communication Communication satellites – “wireless” technologies Observation and research satellites – weather, tracking systems (e.g. radar) Remote sensing – imaging of earth surface Global Positioning Systems

Satellite Orbits Low Earth Orbit Geosynchronous Orbits 200 – 1000 km altitude e.g. remote sensing satellites Geosynchronous Orbits medium or high Earth orbit satellite moves at the same rate as the Earth… so it records the same area of the Earth at all times e.g. weather satellites Geostationary Orbits satellite stays in one place while the Earth moves… so it records a different area of the Earth over time e.g. communication satellites

Hazards of Space Travel Launch hazards – combustion of fuel and escape of Earth’s gravity are risky Cosmic and solar radiation – medically hazardous for human health Collisions – natural hazards and man made (space junk) Re-entry into an atmosphere – risk of burning up due to friction of Earth’s atmosphere on craft Fuel expenditure – running out of fuel

Living in Space Sustainable food and water supply need sophisticated wastewater recycling capabilities to produce drinking water food provides high energy for low volume and weight Environmental setting steady temperature, pressure & humidity passing electricity through water to produce oxygen

Waste management Safety removing carbon dioxide from air filtering micro-organisms and dust from air handling biological waste and garbage Safety space is a vacuum – no air or water detection for fire, leaks, incoming risks like meteorites protection from radiation and cold systems to handle emergencies like a fire or loss of pressure/air

Water Recycling System – International Space Station SIA – page 422

Movement outside habitat requires: space suit supply of oxygen water supply (& food) temperature control waste management carbon dioxide body waste communications attachment (to space craft)

Physical and Psychological Risks microgravity – lower gravity produces lower stress on our bodies can result in loss of muscle mass, expansion of bones, weakening of heart visual depth perception is affected confined living - isolation limited space limited companions no fresh air

Telescopes Optical telescopes → light collectors use a series of lenses or mirrors to collect and focus light & images from space larger lens = more visibility operate in the visible light spectrum first developed in 1608 by Hans Lippershey… but it was Galileo who is credited with using telescopes to study the night sky

Reflecting Telescope Refracting Telescope 2 lenses gather and focus light disadvantage is that the lens will warp if diameter > 1 m Refracting Telescope uses mirrors to gather and focus the light

Radio Telescope resemble a large satellite dish gather radio waves advantage over optical telescopes, because they are not affected by weather, clouds, atmosphere or pollution have greatly expanded our knowledge of our solar system and galaxy

Interferometry combining 2 or more optical OR radio telescopes to detect objects with better clarity at greater distances

Telescopes in Space telescopes located in space have a better view because there is no atmosphere to distort the images Hubble Space Telescope orbits 600 km above the Earth reflecting telescope launched in 1990

Electromagnetic Spectrum Optical Telescopes operate within narrow band of visible light waves Radio Telescopes operate within wider band of radio waves

Useful Inventions from Space Exploration SIA, page 431