Tools for Space Exploration

Tools for Space Exploration

Astronomers Use Tools To Explore and Learn About Space

Telescopes: Hubble

• What It Is: Uses lenses and light to make objects far away appear closer and larger

• Purpose: Learn more about the bodies in space (galaxies, planets, moons, stars, black holes, comets, asteroids, meteors)

Multiple Select

What two things make objects appear larger in a telescope?

• light

• dark

• sand

• lenses

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the telescope that was released in space in 1990 and is still exploring today?

• Spitzer

• Fermi

• Hubble

• Bank

Satellites

• What Is It: Object that orbits around a body in space. Moons are natural satellites.

• Purpose: Artificial - learn more about planets including Earth (weather, oceans, land) and their moons

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a natural satellite?

• galaxies

• moons

• stars

• comets

Multiple Choice

Which type of satellites allows us to learn more about planets?

• artificial

• natural

• telescopic

• microscopic

Space Vehicles: Rockets and Shuttles

• What Is It: Rocket-launched vehicles that make trips around Earth (some has gone as far as the moon). Some manned, some unmanned

• Purpose: Research the effects of space on living and nonliving things.

Multiple Choice

All space rockets are manned.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The purpose of space vehicles is to test the effect of space on

• living things

• nonliving things

• both of these

• neither of these

Rovers

• What Is It: A planetary surface exploration device designed to move across the solid surface of a planet. If not manned, they are remote controlled.

• Purpose: Collect samples of planetary materials like soil, rocks and liquids.

Multiple Choice

Rovers can be remote controlled from Earth.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What kind of materials can rovers collect on their missions?

• soil

• rocks

• liquids

• all of these

Space Probes

• What Is It: Unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about it's surroundings.

• Purpose: Gather scientific information about other planets, stars, and other celestial bodies

Multiple Choice

People travel on space probes.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of these are the name of the two probes launched into space in 1977?

• Mercury

• Gemini

• Voyager

• Hubble

ISS: International Space Station

• What Is It: Modular space station that maintains a low orbit around Earth (every 90 minutes)

• Purpose: Serves as a home for astronauts and a unique science laboratory

Multiple Choice

The lSS acts as a home to

• astronauts

• policemen

• teachers

• animals

Multiple Choice

The ISS stays in low orbit around

• the sun

• Mars

• Earth

• Venus