Space ExplorationSpace Exploration

By Mrs. BlackmerBy Mrs. Blackmer

Early Space ExplorationEarly Space Exploration

People have been observing the night sky People have been observing the night sky for thousands of years. Their observations have for thousands of years. Their observations have been recorded in cave paintings and rock art. been recorded in cave paintings and rock art. These early observations were made without the These early observations were made without the use of telescopes or any other devices. They use of telescopes or any other devices. They were able to see the phases of the moon, some were able to see the phases of the moon, some of the larger features of the moon, some planets, of the larger features of the moon, some planets, and many stars. Basically they were able to see and many stars. Basically they were able to see what you are able to see with your own eyes in what you are able to see with your own eyes in the night sky. the night sky.

Early Space ExplorationEarly Space Exploration

The Early Mayans in Central America had The Early Mayans in Central America had built many observatories to study the night built many observatories to study the night sky. There is one in Chichsky. There is one in Chichén Itzá, in Mexico, én Itzá, in Mexico, that was built about 900 A.D.that was built about 900 A.D.

The TelescopeThe Telescope

When the telescope was When the telescope was invented about 400 years ago, it invented about 400 years ago, it changed the way people saw changed the way people saw objects in space. It allowed objects in space. It allowed people to more details of the people to more details of the objects in space. objects in space.

The first possible person to The first possible person to use a telescope to observe the use a telescope to observe the sky was an Italian scientist by the sky was an Italian scientist by the name of Galileo. He first used his name of Galileo. He first used his telescope in 1609. He used his telescope in 1609. He used his telescope to observe the moon, telescope to observe the moon, sun, and planets. It had two sun, and planets. It had two curved pieces of glass, or lenses. curved pieces of glass, or lenses. There was one lens at each end There was one lens at each end of a long tube. of a long tube.

The TelescopeThe Telescope

Then about fifty Then about fifty years later in 1668, years later in 1668, an English scientist an English scientist by the name of Sir by the name of Sir Isaac Newton Isaac Newton invented a telescope invented a telescope that produced sharper that produced sharper images of the objects images of the objects in space. His in space. His telescope had two telescope had two mirrors and one lens. mirrors and one lens.

The TelescopeThe Telescope

The first radio The first radio telescope was built telescope was built in 1936 by Grote in 1936 by Grote Reber of Wheaton, Reber of Wheaton, Ill., U.S. It was Ill., U.S. It was built to detect radio built to detect radio waves coming from waves coming from objects in space.objects in space.

Space RaceSpace RaceThe modern age of The modern age of

space exploration, the space exploration, the Space Age, began on Space Age, began on October 4, 1957 when the October 4, 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. Sputnik 1 was Sputnik 1. Sputnik 1 was an artificial satellite that an artificial satellite that was about twice the size of was about twice the size of a soccer ball. It carried a soccer ball. It carried instruments to measure the instruments to measure the density and temperature of density and temperature of Earth’s upper atmosphere. Earth’s upper atmosphere. It orbited Earth for 92 days. It orbited Earth for 92 days.

Space RaceSpace RaceThree months later Three months later

the United States sent the United States sent Explorer 1 to orbit the Explorer 1 to orbit the Earth. The space Earth. The space exploration race was now exploration race was now on. In October 1959 the on. In October 1959 the Soviet Moon probe, Luna Soviet Moon probe, Luna 3, sent back the first 3, sent back the first pictures of the dark side of pictures of the dark side of the Moon. the Moon.

In 1961 Soviet In 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first man to leave was the first man to leave the Earth’s atmosphere the Earth’s atmosphere and orbit our planet. Also and orbit our planet. Also in 1961 the United States in 1961 the United States Mercury program sent the Mercury program sent the first Americans into space.first Americans into space.

Space RaceSpace Race

The race continues…The race continues…An unmanned landing on the moon An unmanned landing on the moon was accomplished in 1966 with the was accomplished in 1966 with the Soviet craft Luna 9. The US Apollo Soviet craft Luna 9. The US Apollo 8 carried men around the moon in 8 carried men around the moon in 1968 and Apollo 11 carried the first 1968 and Apollo 11 carried the first men to walk on the surface of the men to walk on the surface of the moon in 1969. Manned flights have moon in 1969. Manned flights have not gone farther than the Moon, but not gone farther than the Moon, but many unmanned probes have been many unmanned probes have been sent close to planets like Saturn, sent close to planets like Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.Uranus, and Neptune.

First AstronautsFirst AstronautsThe first astronauts and The first astronauts and

cosmonauts (Russian astronauts) cosmonauts (Russian astronauts) were neither men nor women. They were neither men nor women. They were animals! Scientists were not were animals! Scientists were not sure what affect space travel would sure what affect space travel would have on humans. In 1948 the have on humans. In 1948 the United States began to send United States began to send monkeys up in rockets to see what monkeys up in rockets to see what happened as they left and returned happened as they left and returned to Earth’s atmosphere. The Soviet to Earth’s atmosphere. The Soviet craft, Sputnik 2, was launched in craft, Sputnik 2, was launched in November 1957 with a dog named November 1957 with a dog named Laika aboard. For the next several Laika aboard. For the next several years dogs and monkeys were the years dogs and monkeys were the first “astronauts” in space. Besides first “astronauts” in space. Besides animals, most of the first astronauts animals, most of the first astronauts were men selected from the military. were men selected from the military. The first women were selected for The first women were selected for the space shuttle programs, the space shuttle programs, although Russia used women much although Russia used women much earlier in their programs.earlier in their programs.

Early AstronautsEarly AstronautsYuri Gagarin was the first human Yuri Gagarin was the first human

being to orbit the Earth. He was aboard being to orbit the Earth. He was aboard Sputnik 2, a Soviet spacecraft. Alan Sputnik 2, a Soviet spacecraft. Alan Shepard became the first United States Shepard became the first United States astronaut in 1961. He traveled in space astronaut in 1961. He traveled in space only 15 minutes before he splashed only 15 minutes before he splashed down into the ocean. John Glenn (U.S.) down into the ocean. John Glenn (U.S.) orbited the Earth in 1962. Scientists orbited the Earth in 1962. Scientists watched him carefully as he ate a meal watched him carefully as he ate a meal to see how food was affected in space. to see how food was affected in space. Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first woman in cosmonaut, became the first woman in space when she flew Vostok 6 around space when she flew Vostok 6 around the Earth 48 times in June 1963. In 1969 the Earth 48 times in June 1963. In 1969 Neil Armstrong (U.S.) became the first Neil Armstrong (U.S.) became the first man to walk on the surface of the Moon. man to walk on the surface of the Moon. As his foot touched the Moon he said, As his foot touched the Moon he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”leap for mankind.”

Beyond the MoonBeyond the Moon

In 1977 the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 In 1977 the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes were launched. These space probes were launched. These space probes have sent back pictures of space probes have sent back pictures of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are still traveling through space They are still traveling through space beyond the solar system.beyond the solar system.

Beyond the MoonBeyond the Moon

Other early space probes include Viking I and Viking II. Other early space probes include Viking I and Viking II. They landed on Mars in 1976. They photographed their landing They landed on Mars in 1976. They photographed their landing sites and sent back data about the planet’s soil and atmosphere.sites and sent back data about the planet’s soil and atmosphere.

Since 1981, space shuttles have been used to lift heavy Since 1981, space shuttles have been used to lift heavy cargoes into orbit and as labs for carrying out scientific research cargoes into orbit and as labs for carrying out scientific research in space. They also provide a place to launch, bring back, and in space. They also provide a place to launch, bring back, and repair satellites.repair satellites.

Beyond the MoonBeyond the Moon

The Hubble Space Telescope was The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990. It takes photographs of launched in 1990. It takes photographs of space. Its images are five times as sharp space. Its images are five times as sharp as those from any telescope on Earth.as those from any telescope on Earth.

Beyond the MoonBeyond the MoonThe launch of the first modules of the International Space The launch of the first modules of the International Space

Station in 1998 marked the beginning of a new era in space Station in 1998 marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration. As many as seven scientists at a time will be able to exploration. As many as seven scientists at a time will be able to live and work in space. When finished, the station will be nearly 80 live and work in space. When finished, the station will be nearly 80 m (about 260 ft) long and have a mass of more than 455,000 kg. m (about 260 ft) long and have a mass of more than 455,000 kg. In the future, larger stations could have enough room for a thousand In the future, larger stations could have enough room for a thousand people or more.people or more.