Space Exploration What have we discovered?

Sputnik 1: Earth’s First Artificial Satellite Launched in 1957 Launched in 1957 Began the “space age” Began the “space age”

Environment of Space Why do we need to wear space suits? –Pressure –Temperature –Radiation –Atmosphere –Communication

Is space travel safe? Health Risks: Health Risks: –nausea and disorientation –muscular atrophy –decreased bone density –vision impairments –poor blood circulation Travel Risks: Travel Risks: –explosive materials used for propellant –heat of atmosphere upon re-entry –relying on computers for EVERYTHING

Would you have the guts to do this???

Russian Soyuz rocket launches cosmonauts into space for their ISS mission Why do we use rockets for space travel? Can we travel at “warp” speed?

NASA Mission Control Photo was taken during Apollo 13 mission, prior to explosion that caused them to abort lunar landing

What are the benefits? Learn more about the universe Learn more about the universe Learn more about our home Learn more about our home Search for signs of life Search for signs of life Make predictions about our future Make predictions about our future

A Different Perspective Aurora Borealis A view from the International Space Station

A Different Perspective You’re in this picture! (taken on Jan 29, 2012) A view from the International Space Station

Studying the Moon Apollo 16 astronaut John Young poses for a photograph during an “extravehicular activity”

Apollo 16 “extravehicular activity” Looking back at Orion (Lunar Module)

Studying the Sun Chandra X-ray Observatory observes a solar flare on the Sun… Why is this telescope in space?

Studying Mars Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity –Landed in Jan 2004 –Has driven about 35 km as of its eighth anniversary on the planet –Monitors the surface and interior of Mars

Left: sibling to Spirit and Opportunity Front: Sojourner (first Mars rover, landed in 1997) Right: Curiosity (landed on Mars in August 2012)

Life on Mars? Land formations on Mars’ surface are consistent with those of dried up river beds Land formations on Mars’ surface are consistent with those of dried up river beds No liquid water has been found on Mars yet, but it MAY have existed when temperatures were hotter No liquid water has been found on Mars yet, but it MAY have existed when temperatures were hotter Methane was recently discovered in Mars’ atmosphere... Curiosity will investigate further Methane was recently discovered in Mars’ atmosphere... Curiosity will investigate further

Studying Saturn Cassini spacecraft took these images of the moons Titan (left) and Tethys (centre). View is obscured by Saturn’s rings.

End of an Era… Space shuttle Atlantis is retired after having travelled about 200 million km during its 33 flights

Next-Generation Space Flight Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle called “Orion” …looks similar to Apollo era spacecraft, but has dozens of upgrades

Peering deep into space… Hubble Space Telescope The HST takes images of far away stars and galaxies When we look out into space, it’s like looking back in time We can learn what the universe was like long ago

When Galaxies Collide…

Earth-Like Planet: KOI-172 KOI-172 is 1.75 times larger than Earth… the smallest “Earth like” planet ever discovered.. It lies in the “habitable zone,” the right distance from its star to have liquid water and daytime temperatures of about 22 degrees Celsius. Its year is 150 Earth-days long.

Tour of the ISS: Part 1 – Labs, Gym, Space Suits Part 1 – Labs, Gym, Space Suits Part 1 Part 1 Part 2 – Bedrooms, Bathroom, Kitchen Part 2 – Bedrooms, Bathroom, Kitchen Part 2 Part 2 International Space Station

The Canadarm Its uses: - repair satellites - put satellites into orbit - service the space shuttle and ISS How the technology helps us on Earth: - services nuclear power stations - weld and repair pipelines on the ocean floor ocean floor - clean up hazardous wastes … stuff that’s too dangerous for humans!

Moons of our Solar System Largest: Ganymede Largest: Ganymede –orbits Jupiter –larger than Mercury –discovered in (Galileo Galilei) Candidate for Life? Europa Candidate for Life? Europa –orbits Jupiter –oxygen atmosphere –liquid water under ice Most Atmosphere: Titan Most Atmosphere: Titan –orbits Saturn –liquid water exists on its surface –discovered in 1655 (Christiaan Huygens)

Astronomy Timeline universe/uts/timeline.html universe/uts/timeline.html