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The history of space exploration
The history of space exploration
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Space travel began in the 1960s with sending humans on single missions into space. Rockets launched into the air and just the tip would land in the ocean after parachuting back to Earth ("Space Shuttle Program," par. 4). The focus of space exploration changed during the 1980s; shifting from the desire for human space flight to the desire to create a reusable spacecraft. Originally called Space Transportation System (STS), NASA created the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) (Heiney, par. 1-2). It wanted a shuttle that was more economical because it could be launched, landed and relaunched and could gather better information. The 1980s began a new era in space exploration and had one the biggest tragedies in the history of space travel.
A shuttle is the size of a jetliner, lifts into space using powerful boosters, and returns to Earth as a glider due to its aerodynamic wings. Launching like a rocket, it orbits the earth like a spacecraft and lands like an airplane ("Shuttle Basics," par. 1). It takes eight and a half minutes for the shuttle to reach space, it travels at 17,500 miles per hour, and the crew can see the sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes ("Space Shuttle Program," par. 3). The shuttle consists three main parts: the Orbiter Vehicle, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and the External Tank.
The Orbiter Vehicle (OV) is "the brains and heart of the Space Transportation System" ("The Orbiter," par. 1). Also called the fuselage, it has a cabin for the crew, a large cargo bay and three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). The forward part of the orbiter is the crew cabin; it is where the cockpit and living quarters can be found and where mission experiments are performed. The middle part of the orbiter is large open bay and it i...
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...A. NASA, 20 July 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"Solid Rocket Boosters." NASA. Ed. Jim Wilson. NASA, 5 Mar. 2006. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"Space Shuttle Program." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"Space Shuttle System Overview." NASA. Ed. Jim Wilson. NASA, 22 Aug. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-1." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-2." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 14 Mar. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-5." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
"STS-51B." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-6." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-7." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
"STS-8." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 23 Nov. 2007. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"STS-9." NASA. Ed. Jeanne Ryba. NASA, 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
Before going any further with this paper, I would like to take a moment to thank the crew of the space shuttle challenger for their bravery, courage, determinations and and sacrifice for this great nation. Francis R. Scobee (2), Commander, Michael J. Smith (1), Pilot Judith A. Resnik (2), Mission Specialist 1, Ellison S. Onizuka (2), Mission Specialist 2, Ronald E. McNair (2), Mission Specialist 3, Gregory B. Jarvis (1), Payload Specialist 1, Sharon Christa McAuliffe (1), Payload Specialist 2 (science.ksc), were parents, friends, children, husbands and wives, heroes, smart human being that were killed on this tragic day. May God be with your soul and may your memories and courage and passion shall not be forgotten but instead drive future generation determination and passion. The crash of the space shuttle
May 14, 1973 marked the beginning of the Skylab mission trips (Howell, “Skylab”). Launched by a Saturn V rocket, Skylab 1 was the first unmanned American space station to enter orbit (O'Callaghan, “The Story of Skylab”). But about sixty seconds after liftoff, Skylab went awry when a meteoroid shield fell off which caused overheating inside the s...
Lethridge, C. (2012). The Challenger Legacy. Retrieved from Spaceline-Covering the Past, Present and Future of Cape Canaveral - Challenger: http://www.spaceline.org/challenger.html
During the age of space exploration, many new types of technology were created and introduced for public usage based on technology used for space exploration related research. These types of technology include artificial limbs, anti-icing systems for planes, firefighter gear, enriched baby food, and portable cordless vacuums4. These forms of technology became popular due to how useful they were and became essential parts of people's lives across the world. Another way that space exploration influenced social change was is how it created unity amongst the world. Events such as the moon landing in 1969, the first American women astronaut by the name of Sally Ride being launched into space in 1981, or even the tragic event that happened in 1986 where Challenger burned up and killed all crew members on board in a mere 73 seconds after lift off inspired the entire world to put aside their differences and unite together in order to fully appreciate the accomplishments and advances in technology and information that had been being made rapidly right before their very eyes5, 6. Space exploration led to many new discoveries about the world around us and outside our reach, and led to the creation of many new forms of technologies that are now essential parts of our lives, thus having a major impact on social change both during the past and in the
The 1960’s were full of questions, and one of the biggest questions the world was pondering about was regarding the Space Race: was the USA going to beat their communist enemy, the Soviet Union? The Space Race was a series of events that helped to symbolize and determine in the worlds’ eyes which form of government was better, communism (Soviets) or democracy (United States)? In the beginning of the race, the Soviets had the lead, and it was not looking good for America. Then the United States picked up the pace and spent well over eight billion dollars funding the space studies. This period of time made many scientists and astronauts heroes in the eyes of Americans. The Space Race was a combination of determination, intelligence, space projects, and American pride, all used to reach our exploration goals and surpass the Soviets.
The first big step to getting into outer space all started with the invention of the rocket. Since rocket usage allows humans to go beyond the view of the naked human eye, we now have a better understanding of how outer space functions. Originally, the rocket was primarily used by the Chinese for ceremonial and military purposes. Finally, after years of experimenting, a rocket powerful enough to overcome the force of gravity was developed. The rocket was created in Russia, by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky; in the United States, by Robert Goddard; and in Germany, by Hermann Oberth. This then lead to the first man to actually go into space, Alan Shepard. Not only was he the first man in space, he was one of seven men who were NASA’s first astronauts ever. Shepard’s trip took place on May 5th, 1961 on the Mercury-Red 3, also known as the Freedom 7. His time in space averaged out to be about 9 days and 57 minutes. Even though Alan Shepard’s trip was one of the most advanced and influential trips in history, it may arguably be the most
The space race was the product of the Cold War. It was an effort to prove technological superiority but on the other hand, it was also feared on both sides that weapons of mass destruction will be placed in orbit. In 1957, the Soviet Union sent the 184 pound Sputnik 1 satellite into Earth’s orbit. It was the first artificial satellite and the first manmade object to be placed into Earth’s orbit. Following that, they also sent the first animal into space, Laika the dog. In 1958, the United Sates also launched their first satellite into orbit, dubbed Explorer 1. The Soviet space program advanced once again in 1959. The Soviet Union launched Luna 2, which was the first space probe to hit the moon. In April 1961, the Soviet Union had the ultimate success, sending the first human into space. The name of the Russian cosmonaut was Yuri Gagarin, who made a 108 minute suborbital flight in a Vostok 1 spacecraft. One month after that, Alan Shepard became the American in space aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft. Continuing from there, each nation step...
Thesis: I'd like to start by giving attention to unmanned spaceflight, looking into a few notable discoveries made by these technologies. I will then bring together how these findings have fueled the desire for a continual presence of mankind in space, which can seen through the inception of the International Space Station.
middle of paper ... ... NASA Marshall. Marshall: Launching the Future of Science and Exploration. 15 February 2010 http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html>. NASA Public Affairs.
People have been venturing out into the universe for many years now. In addition to satellites, both women and men astronauts have traveled into space to collect data about the universe. The first human being, the first animal, and the first spacecraft in orbit, were all achievements of the Soviet Union.
Detractors of public sector space agencies like NASA frequently argue that expending money and resources on sending humans into space is wasteful and irresponsible during shaky economic times. After all, in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau in recorded 46.2 million people in poverty, the largest number in the 52 years the figure has been published. Putting tax dollars into a shuttle and sending it on an extraplanetary voyage is uneconomical in the eyes of many. However, beneficial developments of the space program can be found in airports, hospitals, laboratories, and homes around the world. Foam created for protecting the outside of a shuttle passing through the harsh atmosphere has found use as a durable, light-weight molding material for artificial limbs. Research and development for NASA'S programs has parented a network of hundreds of communication satellites used around the world on a daily basis and monitored by NASA. Robotic arms used for repairs, maintenance, and hazardous labor in sp...
(Source K) Flowers, Sarah. “Understanding: Space Travel.” Rev. of Understanding: Space Travel. PoQuest. N.p., Aug. 2000. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. .
In the past 100 years, we have made much advancement in all areas of society. The way people live has changed drastically just in the past century. Technology in particular has advanced more in these last 100 years then all previous time combined. For example, because of the research done by many innovative and dedicated individuals such as the Wright Brothers who were the first to sustain flight in a powered airplane, we are able to fly all over the world in a matter of hours in jet propelled pressurized aircraft. One hundred years ago, the thought of man flying in a machine was insane. The Wright Brothers helped to realize the dream of manned flight. Many years later, after the idea of manned flight becoming a reality, space exploration was the next step. In 1969, many people did not believe what happened. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. They posted an American flag, explored, collected space rocks and came back home. Many Americans did not believe that the technology existed to go that far. Today, several missions a year are launched using manned space shuttles that can be flown back to earth like gliders and reused on future space missions.
“Sheltered as we are by Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field, which deflect lethal radiation from space, we are like coddled children who have never ventured into a tough neighborhood” (Folger 2). Humans have been fascinated with space since the beginning of our time. Just like children and rough neighborhoods, we have tackled obstacle over obstacle to make it home again. In the end, we have a better knowledge and strength than before. The future of space exploration can assist us in answering the everlasting question of how the universe came to be. The more we explore the infinite galaxies, the more we can scientifically discover and create new technologies as science advances. As we continue to discover, we can create new fields and occupations for aspiring young students like myself.
Preview: Today I am going to discuss with you how the International Space Station was built and what are some components required for its day-to-day functioning.