Nasa’s Chandra x-ray observatory was launched on July 23, 1999, and with a length of 45 feet is the largest satellite ever launched. The observatory was first proposed to NASA in 1976, funding began in 1977, and after more than 20 years it was finally launched into space. It was previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), but after a contest in 1998 it was renamed to Chandra after Nobel-prize winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. “Chandra's main mission is to teach us about the Universe that we live in which has indirect benefits, e.g. by inspiring students to take an interest in math and physics, or showing people how complicated and beautiful the Universe is.”(Chandra’s official website, faq)The Chandra x-ray Science Center (CXC) can be found in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Harvey Tananbaum is the Center’s director. The flight is directed by the Science Control Center that also executes the observing plan of the observatory, and receives the scientific data. The mission planning and service operations are the responsibility of Science Support. Chandra is the most sophisticated telescope in space and is used by scientists around the world. The observatory exists of three major parts, the x-ray telescope, the science instruments and the spacecraft. The electrical power required to operate the spacecraft and the instruments is 2 kilowatt that is how much it takes to operate a hair dryer. The Chandra observatory orbits up to an altitude of approximately 139,000km that is about a third of the distance to the moon and returns it to 16,000km away from the Earth. It takes Chandra 64 hours and 18 minutes to complete an orbit that is about two and a half days. In 1992 Chandra’s orbit ...
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...t the universe we live in. We now know that most main sequence stars emit X-rays. That helps us with developing other X-ray telescopes in order to investigate more in our galaxy. It also showed us scenarios we never knew of before, like a galaxy cannibalizing another in order to gain in size. The extension of Chandra’s mission, based on its extraordinary work also speaks for it. The observatory has also helped Scientists around the world to expand their knowledge and new data. Another advantage of it are the results, NASA uses a lot of pictures taken by Chandra in the press. It has also helped solving a lot of mysteries about black holes, exploding stars and other such phenomena. I think that it was a good decision to build and launch Chandra. It has brought a lot of great results and has helped and will continue helping Scientists until the end of its mission.
The spacecraft structure greatly influenced the impact of this mission on science history. The spacecraft itself weighed 503 kilograms, or 1,108 pounds. The fuel weighed twenty-nine kilograms, or sixty-four pounds. The adapter weighed thirty kilograms, or sixty-six pounds (Hamilton 1). Measuring the spacecraft diagonally resulted in 1.39 meters, or 4.56 feet. The depth measurements came out to .457 meters, or 1.5 feet (Hamilton 1). Two solar panels were strategically placed on top, both 2.7 meters, otherwise known as 8.86 feet, in perimeter measurements (Hamilton 1). This eight-sided spacecraft was also equipped wi...
history. It managed to send the first human into orbit and to the moon. The discoveries, NASA have made in the recent decades have enabled us to have more knowledge of planets and stars, and resources way beyond this planet. In another hand, reasons as to why the U.S. Government should continue to fund NASA 's space program is a huge deal today. With the ideals that American tax dollars should be spent on more important things and that companies are now able to construct their own rockets that are able to send people on excursions into space, really is what challenges government support and true betterment of
This experiment sought to utilize melting point, boiling point, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and the index of hydrogen deficiency (IHD) to identify the structures of two unknown compounds. To ensure the successful identification of the unknowns, the molecular formula for each compound was found first. What the molecular formula does is that it allows chemists to identify elements present in a compound as well as the quantity of each element. The issue with this is that there are various compounds that share the same molecular compound yet are different in reactivity and connectivity. To resolve this problem, other measures such as finding functional groups based on IR spectroscopy, determining the boiling or melting point of a compound, and identifying the bond/ring structures using IHD are taken.
...e realization that telescopes were for far more than just looking at and charting the stars and that there is so much more out there than just our eyes can see. Through the Hale telescope, new theories formed about how the stars and galaxies formed and evolved. Hale helped establish the then new science of astrophysics and through that, we have learned not only of objects existing space unseen to the naked eye or lesser telescopes, and it helped us not only learn where objects were but also what they were and if they changed over time or remained the same. The discovery of Dwarf Planets were possible due to the hale. Through Hale, our view of the universe changed, boundaries disappeared, curiosity grew, a nation and the world were enriched, and dreams became possibilities and knowledge. Yes, The Hale telescope truly opened up the skies in ways we never imagined.
Atomic Absorption (AA) Spectroscopy is a quantitative analysis technique that uses the absorption of light through a flame and gaseous chemicals. AA Spectroscopy can be used for a multitude of purposes, most notably finding the concentration of one or a few elements in a compound. AA Spectroscopy can work in two different ways using an open flame and gaseous chemicals or a graphite furnace. Flame AA Spectroscopy works by taking a compound or element and disassociating it into an aqueous solution. The solution is then blown through an incredibly small nozzle which nebulizes the liquid into a very fine mist. The nebulized liquid is then blown through a flame with a very small beam of light passing through it. This light beam detects different elements in the flame and uses the known light absorbance of the element to determine the concentration of the element in the solution. The other form of AA Spectroscopy uses a graphite furnace to heat up and incinerate a sample. A solid compound is placed in the furnace which then heats up to 2000-3000 C effectively atomizing the compound and in the process turning the rest into ash. The light beam is then shot through the furnace as the solid is being heated and subsequently atomized and the machine records the absorbance rate much like the Flame AA Spectroscopy would. The difference between flame and furnace spectroscopy is in the atomization of the sample; because the Flame Spectroscopy uses pressure to atomize the compound, much of the compound is lost when sprayed
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory or SOHO for short is a cooperative joint effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The main mission of this project is to study the internal structure of the Sun, its extensive upper atmosphere, as well as to determine the origin and characteristics of the solar wind.
... not put a price on knowledge, and the advancement of the human race, and even if you did, the 7 billion dollar/year price tag on Hubble is nothing compared to some of the other things our country spends billions on. The Hubble Telescope has completely re-written everything we know about the galaxy we live in, and taught us things that will allow us to grow as explorers, and advance as a civilization, and continue to learn, and THAT is priceless.
These are the reasons why I believe there should be more investment in space research and technology. It would be a time consuming and financially draining quest, but the pay off in new technology, applications, resources, and expansion opportunities make it a goal to strive for. As our rate of consumption of Earth’s natural resources continues to increase, it is imperative that we invest in the research of outer space as a possible solution to sustaining the human race.
It is cost-effective and works as well as any other propulsion system. There is still much farther to go in space. So much more to discover! At the speed of a current spacecraft, it would take 80,000 years to reach the nearest star to Earth (108). How are we supposed to learn about other places when it would take about 2,000 generations of scientists before we could finally reach a star?
When considering this topic, one might ask themselves why explore space? We explore space to compare other planets with the earth and to study the sun, to explore the universe while finding if intelligent life exists, for satellites to improve communications, weather forecasting, navigation, resource monitoring, and “to create a focal point for a new intellectual renaissance” (Ruzic).
Tyler, Pat. Supernova. NASA’s Heasarc: Education and Public Information. 26 Jan. 2003. 22 Nov. 2004
Mankind has always been fascinated with exploring the unknown. From sailing to distant lands to someday setting foot on other planets, the spirit of exploration is the same. Bur now with the current economic situation and the high cost of sending people to space, NASA is being looked at as a way to free up some much needed funds. Although, there is many problems here on planet Earth that need addressing, the benefits of space exploration far out weight the disadvantages. Space exploration has given us more advanced technology, advances in the medical field, and a boost to the economy and these facts cannot be disputed.
Most people think that the costly downside to funding space exploration is a reason to avoid spending money on sciences and instead spend it on problems here on earth, but such funding for space exploration actually promotes economical as well as scientific benefits. Space exploration is an important expenditure for the high cost because of the potential for numerous benefits such as the possibility to find useful resources to cultivate, space exploration and satellites produce many thousands of jobs in our economy, and it creates and discovers newer and better technologies through research and development.
By being in a very technologically advanced era, scientists can invent revolutionary devices never thought of. NASA is doing that right now and has been doing that since it began. They are not only climbing the stairs in space exploration but in the medical industry, too. Nevertheless, they are forever changing millions of lives by using all they have discovered. Most of all, they are teaching people a life lesson, to always use the things you have for the greater good. NASA has achieved profound success ever since their start in 1958 and they will continue to make discovery and innovation their first and foremost goal for years to come.
Space exploration is very beneficial to humankind because it creates new technologies, it brings different countries together, and gives people a better understanding of our Earth.