Space exploration brings a global perspective. Nothing humanity has ever done changed the world more than the space-related activities. Space exploration generated significant improvement in people’s life. Today, none of us would use a cell phone or a computer, watch satellite TV or go to an online school like APU without space exploration. It all started with expensive space flights that demanded the development of computer science for supplying the necessary equipment. Space flight required highly developed computers and miniaturization. When more equipment was added, more fuel was needed, and the research for miniaturization went even further. Today, the existence of many gadgets contributing to life improvement is actually owned to space-related activities.
Public benefits that flow from space-related activities include scientific advances that have an impact on people’s life at various levels, including intellectual stimulation, access to a manifold spectrum of applications, from commercial and economic, to personal applications, but also national defense and national security. [1] Leaving Earth offers a better, clearer view of the universe, without atmospheric obscurations. Scientific advances may seem to benefit a small niche, specific fields such as astronomy, geophysics and geology, but also life sciences – biology and chemistry, which in turn have an impact on the science medicine and pharmaceutics. The progress made in medical technology is also a byproduct of space activities. Since every single person’s life is impacted by the field of medicine, there is no doubt that scientific advances brought by space exploration had tremendous benefits for everyone. [2]
Satellites, either meteorological, of navigation, or communication, have brought comfort in everybody’s life. Remote-sensing satellites improved the commercial and economic capabilities. Exploring space allows experimentation in a free fall environment, allowing testing and developing materials. Space exploration offers access to plentiful resources such as solar energy and materials that are not existent on Earth. [3] But space is also the final frontier of exploration and therefore it offers a new and unique challenge, stimulating the inherent human quality to explore. Space activities expand humanity’s knowledge and range of action. Finally, national defense has been greatly impacted by rocket science and various types of satellites in Earth’s orbit. However, exploring space not only brings security, but also propels a nation to a higher step in the world’s hierarchy. A nation capable of exploring space is a powerful nation.
Despite all these benefits, there are people complaining that the tax-payers have to pay for an expensive space program without having any immediate advantages. On top of the fact that any scientific research is conducted for the benefit of all humanity, much of people’s comfort comes from space exploration. Nobody would give up his cell phone, computer or TV. The space program is not only worth every penny, but it is probably the most profitable there is for the entire humanity.
NASA has released an application that demonstrates how space-related activities impact everyone's life on a daily basis. The application is called NASA @ Home and City and it is worth giving it a try. [4]
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Notes:
[1] Kay, W.D. Defining NASA: The Historical Debate over the Agency's Mission. State University of New York Press, Albany, 2005, 8.
[2] Ibid, 8.
[3] Sellers, Jerry Jon. Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005, 3.
[4] NASA. NASA @ Home and City. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm (accessed March 15, 2012).
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References
Kay, W.D. Defining NASA: The Historical Debate over the Agency's Mission. State University of New York Press, Albany, 2005.
NASA. NASA @ Home and City. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm (accessed March 15, 2012).
Sellers, Jerry Jon. Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The importance of Gemini
While the Mercury project proved that man can fly in space, during the project Gemini, man learned how to fly to the Moon. This is the importance of Gemini: learning how to get to the Moon. Gemini was special because without it the Apollo program would not have been ready to fly its missions. Gemini had 10 missions planed, and with each new mission, risk was escalading. Every Gemini mission tested a critical procedure in the flight to the Moon. [1] Missions were flown just a few weeks apart in the rush to accomplish the required skills to fly to the Moon by the end of the decade. Gemini taught the astronauts how to become familiar with the rocket and capsule, walk in space, rendezvous with another vehicle, spending enough time in space to travel to the Moon and back, and docking and operating two spacecraft in space.
Launched in March 23, 1965 Gemini 3 tested the new rocket (a converted ballistic missile) and the capsule, trying to return to Earth alive. This was the first time two Americans flew together in space. They practiced changing altitude and orbit, critical maneuvers on the trip to the Moon. Reentry was faulty because the rotation of the Earth was not included in the calculations and the capsule of Gemini 3 splashed down off-target. [2] Next step was walking in space. The EVA (extravehicular activity) was a key element that had to be accomplished before going to the Moon, to learn how it is like to float and live in space. This mission had to test the efficiency of the flight suit in keeping astronauts alive. The first American space walk occurred on Gemini 4. [3]
Rendezvous with another vehicle was the next critical step. This was the mission of Gemini 6 and 7. Gemini 6 and 7 had to find each other in orbit and fly inches apart. Despite the difficulties encountered during this mission, Gemini 6 and 7 capsules were able to rendezvous and fly in tight formation for 270 minutes, three orbits of the Earth. Gemini 7 also completed a two weeks mission in space to prove that astronauts can survive a long trip to the Moon and back. [4] The last critical maneuver was docking two spacecrafts in space. This mission was accomplished by Gemini 8, despite the issues encountered during the mission that led to landing to the next closest landing area to the original landing site. [5]
Teaching astronauts how to work in the vacuum of space was next. Gemini 9 attempted the longest space walk ever, but failed, together with the following two Gemini missions. After modifying the spacesuit and training methods, the last Gemini mission, Gemini 12 tried again and succeeded three EVAs (five hours). [6] Gemini ended in triumph, setting the stage for a mission to the Moon.
The accomplishments of the Apollo program would not have been possible without Gemini. The main, most important skills required for going to the Moon and returning back to Earth alive were acquired by NASA’s astronauts during the Gemini program. Gemini provided a solid foundation of technology, a team, and the confidence to go to the Moon.
Notes:
[1] Butterworth, Tyler. When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions. Dangerous Films, 2008.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
Bibliography
Butterworth, Tyler. When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions, Episode 2: Friends and Rivals. Dangerous Films, 2008.
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