The Exploration of Space
Rocket Program Robert Goddard is the Father of Modern Rocketry. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) formed in 1958. Combined all the separate rocket programs into one program. Mercury was one of the earliest rockets. Mercury Rocket
Artificial Satellites An artificial satellite is any human-made object placed in orbit around a body in space. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites orbit Earth very quickly. Weather satellites are examples of LEO satellites. Launch of Satellite
Artificial Satellites Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) satellites travel around the Earth at a speed that matches the Earth s rotational speed. GEO satellites will remain positioned about the same spot at all times. An example would be communication satellites. Satellite
Hubble Space Telescope Not all satellites look down on Earth. Among the most important satellites to astronomers is the Hubble Space Telescope which looks out toward the stars.
The Galaxy 28 million light years from Earth has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across.
The Ant Nebula lies with our galaxy between 3,000 and 6,000 light years from Earth.
The Eskimo nebula because it looks like a face surrounded by a furry hood. The hood is a ring of cometshaped objects flying away from dying star. It is 5000 light years away from Earth.
The Cone nebula is 2.5 light years in length (equivalent to 23 million round trips to the Moon.
This section of the Swan Nebula is known as the Perfect Storm is described as a bubbly ocean of hydrogen and small amounts of sulphur, oxygen, and other elements.
Starry Night is a halo of light around a star in the Milky Way galaxy.
Two eyes are the cores of two merging galaxies.
The Trifid Nebula is a nursery where new stars are born. It is 9,000 light years from here.
Space Shuttle A space shuttle is a reusable vehicle that takes off like a rocket and lands like an airplane. First shuttle was launched in 1981 and was followed by two dozen successful missions. Program ended August 31, 2011. Launch of Space Shuttle
Space Probes A space probe is a vehicle that carries scientific instruments to planets or other bodies in space. Space probes travel away from the Earth and give us our first encounters with other planets and moons. Space probes are usually sent on one-way missions. They do not return to Earth. Magellan Probe
Space Probes: Viking Mission In 1975, space probes were sent to Mars to look for signs of life. The Viking probes did find evidence that Mars was once much warmer and wetter than it is now. Viking Probe picture of Mars s surface.
Space Probes: Pioneer Mission The Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes were the first to visit the outer planets. They sent back information about the rings around Jupiter. Today they are near the edge of the solar system and still sending back information.
Space Probes: StarDust Launched in 1999 as the first probe to focus only on a comet. Arrived at the comet in 2004 and gathered samples of the comet s tail. Material arrived back to Earth in January, 2006. First time that material beyond the orbit of the moon has been brought back to Earth.
Space Stations A space station is a long-term orbiting platform from which other vehicles can be launched or scientific research can be carried out. The US and Russia launched the first parts of the International Space Station in 1998. People have been working and living on the ISS since 2000.
Benefits of the Space Program Smaller radios, computers, and televisions made for use in space are now used on Earth. Freeze-dried foods were first developed for use by astronauts. Lightweight, fireproof clothing, nonstick cookware, and sunglasses are all space benefits.
2013 Proposed Budget for NASA $17,893,000,000 2013 Proposed Budget for NOAA $478,000,000 37 times more tax dollars are budgeted to NASA than NOAA. Do you agree?