1. BENEFITS OF SPACE RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION

2. BENEFITS  Gain a greater appreciation of our home  Transportation  Faster, safer airplane trips Space Transportation Technology Type Description RocketsLift capsules with crew, equipment, or satellites into orbit and beyond Space shuttlesTransport crew and equipment to orbiting spacecraft Space stationsOrbiting spacecraft with living quarters, work areas, and support systems to allow people to live and work there Space probesContain instrumentation for carrying out robotic space exploration

3. BENEFITS  Products  Better radiation detectors on earth  Better ways of shielding people during radiation- related medical treatments ProductSpinoff use on Earth Dehydrated foodPortable camping food; emergency food supply; food storage Miniaturized computers and robotics Emergency response robots Scratch-resistant plastic coatings Coating for glasses lenses Memory foamMotorcycle and bicycle seats; pillows and mattresses for bedridden patients to reduce bed sores Antibacterial water filterBrita Infrared thermometerMedical thermometers (faster and more accurate) Ionization smoke detectorSensitive household smoke detectors

4. BENEFITS  Satellites  First one launched by Soviet Union in 1957 (Sputnik 1) Did create a concern that a nuclear weapon could be sent into orbit and then landed in another country US sent Explorer 1 into space in 1958  Enhanced communications Television channels, internet service Connected all parts of countries together  Tracking devices Wildlife researchers use them to study animal migratory movements GPS (Global Positioning System) Uses microwave signals for map-making, surveying, personal use, etc.

5. BENEFITS  Satellites contd  Remote sensing and digital imaging Shows changes over time for later analysis Assess the impact of human populations  Real-time imaging Not all satellites take pictures Can advance human understanding of phenomena Millions of pictures taken over several years can be combined to show the “full picture” of Earth (interpreted real-time images)

6. Earth’s population centres are clearly visible at night from space, as shown in this composite image

7. VOCABULARY  Spinoff: a secondary beneficial effect or product of a thing or an activity  Artificial satellite: device placed in orbit around Earth or another celestial object  Geostationary orbit: satellite orbits Earth at the same rate as Earth rotates (how long does this take?)