Space Exploration

Until the 20th century, space exploration required looking through a telescope. Beginning in the late 1950s, scientists advanced space study by leaps and bounds.

Satellites have vastly improved our ability to explore space, forecast the weather, and monitor changes to Earth’s surface.

  • 1957, Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union and it was the first satellite, or man-made object, to orbit Earth.
  • 1958 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was founded.
  • By considering the characteristics of our solar system, NASA’s space program decides what equipment, accommodations, and transportation are needed for space exploration (from orbiting Earth to putting a man on the Moon). Since space is a cold, airless vacuum, NASA scientists equip space shuttles and suits with oxygen supplies. Without this, humans could not survive in space.
  • 1958, thefirst probe sent into space by the U.S. was Pioneer 1. It reached a height of 70,700 miles above Earth’s surface. Since this first probe, the U.S. has sent many more probes further and further into space.
  • 1960The first successful weather satellite, Tiros 1, was launched by the U.S. Other uses for satellites include communications, reconnaissance, navigation, and search and rescue.
  • 1961, Cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin became the first man in space, orbiting Earth once in Vostok 1. The following year, John Glenn, Jr. became the first American to orbit Earth.
  • 1965- The first spacewalk by an American was made by Edward White II on Gemini 4. He “walked” in space for 22 minutes.
  • 1969,Apollo 11, manned by Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr., was the first spacecraft to successfully land on the Moon. Armstrong and Aldrin were the first people to walk on the Moon, with Armstrong’s famous quote as he stepped out onto the surface of the Moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” In total, NASA’s space program has launched over 100 manned space missions, from its creation to present.
  • 1972 Pioneer 10 was the first man-made object to travel through the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
  • 1979 The Voyager 2 probe was launched in 1977 and travelled past Jupiter and past Uranus in 1986.

Several probes, both orbiting and rovers, have been sent to explore Mars,

  • 1977 Pathfinder rover,
  • 2003 Mars Spirit and Opportunity rovers

1998- International Space Station. Construction on the space station began in out in Earth’s orbit. It is a facility for scientists from multiple nations to perform space research and spacecraft testing. The Space Station is as big as a football field. In terms of living space, it is the equivalent of a 5 bedroom house with two bathrooms and a gym. Construction on the Space Station is almost complete. As of 2010, there have been over 100 launches to the Space Station and over 150 spacewalks during its assembly.

Allspace shuttles and the International Space Stationhave their own oxygen supplies and all astronauts have their own spacesuit equipped with its own oxygen supply. Spacesuits are also engineered to regulate an astronaut’s body temperature and the outer layer is designed to protect its astronaut from tiny meteoroids, known as micrometeoroids. These properties of the spacesuit allow spacewalks to be possible.

While in space, astronauts experience a zero-gravity environment, meaning that there is no force acting on them, unlike Earth’s gravity when they are on Earth. NASA scientists equip all space shuttles and the International Space Station with special handles and Velcro straps to help astronauts move (and not move) while in space. They need Velcro straps in order to stay in one place and not float around the cabin when working, sleeping, and using the bathroom. Because of the zero-gravity environment, it is important for astronauts to exercise regularly, otherwise their muscles and bones will become weak and less dense.

Communication

In order to communicate with one another and with NASA’s ground team, astronauts use complex radios and computers. When astronauts in space are close to Earth, their communications can be heard on radio frequencies at the ultra-high frequency range. (This range used to be used by TV stations to transmit their shows to your TV in your house if you had a TV with an antenna.) Most of the time, astronauts use satellites to transmit their communications to each other and to Earth. These radios and computers help astronauts conduct research and repair damaged equipment. Space shuttles are complex, man-made vehicles and computers are required in order to operate and maintain them.

Future of Space Exploration

As the space program expands through technological advances, we will be able to start exploring further into space.

Many scientists think there is the potential to establish a human base on the Moon because it is the closest celestial body to Earth. This base could be used to transport resources and materials, as well as prepare for expeditions to Mars or beyond.