Gravity and Space Exploration

Gravity & Space Exploration

Understand that gravity is the force that governs the motion of our solar system (6.11B) Describe the history and future of space exploration, including the types of equipment and transportation needed (6.11C)

Poll

How much do you know about space exploration?

• a lot

• very little

• something

• nothing

The Sun-

• is the most massive object in our Solar System

• governs the motion of all other bodies in the system by the force of gravity. 

• (Bodies of the Solar System remain in their orbital paths due to a balance between gravitational forces and the constant forward motion of the celestial bodies.)

Multiple Choice

What force governs the motion of all celestial bodies in our Solar System?

• push

• pull

• gravity

Gravity

• is a force of attraction

• between

• two or more masses (objects).

Multiple Choice

What is gravity?

• Gravity is a force of attraction between two or more masses.

• Gravity is a force of attraction between one mass.

Strength of the Gravitational Attraction

• depends on the mass of the objects involved

• and on the distance between them.

Multiple Select

What is responsible for the strength of gravitational attraction?

• push

• pull

• mass

• distance

Gravity

Gravitational attraction exhibited by an object increases with increasing mass. If the distance between objects increases, gravitational attraction between the objects decreases.

Multiple Choice

Gravity-

• The path an object follows as it travels around larger objects

• The force of attraction between two or more objects

Multiple Choice

Which of the following governs the motion of our solar system?

• Magnetism

• Gravity

• Sunlight

• Friction

Multiple Choice

Gravity keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.

• True

• False

Space Exploration

Understand that gravity is the force that governs the motion of our solar system (6.11B) Describe the history and future of space exploration, including the types of equipment and transportation needed (6.11C)

History of Space Exploration

Scientific space exploration began in 1610 when Galileo Galilei looked at the night sky through a telescope. Understanding the organization and relationships of the bodies within our solar system requires careful scientific observations and mathematical calculations. As humans explore beyond Earth’s atmosphere, specialized equipment and transportation is required due to the inhospitable environmental conditions that exist in interplanetary space.

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Suit

• Space Telescope

• Space Probe

Technology Improvement

Humans have been able to move beyond the limitations of studying space through simple telescopes. Due to continued technological improvements to telescopes and other instruments great advances in knowledge have been gained about the solar system and the stars beyond. This knowledge has made it possible for humans to design space suits, tools, and vehicles so that astronauts could safely travel beyond Earth’s surface. Some of the equipment developed allowed astronauts to safely leave the protection of their spaceship for short periods of time in order to conduct repairs to orbiting satellites or to assemble the International Space Station.

Challenges

Many challenges had to be overcome in order to create vehicles for space travel, including the difficulty of safely traveling through Earth’s atmosphere and the engine thrusts need to overcome Earth’s gravitational force. Before developing vehicles that could transport humans, scientists experimented with many unmanned-vehicles. Scientists sent men to the Moon in rockets, satellites into orbit around Earth, and probes into the solar system. For many years the shuttle program took astronauts into orbit around Earth and to the International Space Station.

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Probe

• Space Shuttle

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Shuttle

• Space Probe

• Telescope

• Space Station

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Shuttle

• Space Station

• Space Probe

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Probe

• Space Rover

Multiple Choice

What am I?

• Space Shuttle

• Space Probe

• Space Suit

• Space Rover

International Space Station

The construction of the International Space Station began in 1998. Positioned as a satellite in low Earth orbit, it is a facility for scientists to perform space research and spacecraft testing. In 2012 the first commercial flights to the International Space Station began after the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle fleet. The environmental conditions and vast distances encountered in interplanetary space require specialized equipment and transportation for future exploration and travel.

ISS

• International

• Space

• Station

Multiple Choice

Why is it necessary for astronauts on the International Space Station to generate and recycle oxygen?

• Oxygen provides energy for the station’s fuel tanks.

• There is not enough oxygen in space to sustain life.

Multiple Choice

What is one reason astronauts working OUTSIDE the International Space Station need to wear space suits? The space suits —

• make it easier to identify the astronauts.

• help the astronauts float freely in space.

• have communication devices in the helmet.

NASA

• the

• National

• Aeronautics and

• Space

• Administration

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research. NASA was established in 1958