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Professor Jack BurnsStadium Rm 120B

jack.burns@colorado.eduSee class syllabus at:

http://lunar.colorado.edu/~jaburns/astr4800/

Homework: • Read: Report to President Eisenhower on Intro to Outer Space – see link on class

webpage.• Read: Chapter 1 of McDougall (Rocketry & Revolution).

Today: Why Do We Explore Space?

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

Today’s Class

• Why Do We Explore?• The Elusive Why of Space Exploration.• How do we explore?• What Objects should we explore?

• The Moon• Mars• Europa• Exoplanets

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

Why Do We Explore Space?

President John F. Kennedy atRice University, 1962

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

Why Do We Explore Space?

“The situation today is like Europebefore 1492. Spreading out intospace will completely change ourfuture but won’t solve immediateproblems.” Stephen Hawking

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

Why Do You Think We Explore Space Today?

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

• Resources – rare earth elements, water• Scientific discovery• Economic development/impact.• Technical gaps lead to discovery of new technologieswith practical uses.• Competition with other nations – Russia, China• Unify nations via ISS• Preserve human species – multiplanetary• Inspire next generation• Answer questions like are we alone?

It’s about the why!

Why

How

What

• Very few organizations know why they do what they do. What’s its purpose? Why does the organization exist?

• Example of thinking differently – Apple.

• How about America’s Space Program?

The Golden Circle – following

Simon Sinek

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

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So, let’s be inspirational

• Humans are meant to explore. It is at our core. We explore to gain knowledge, satisfy our curiosity. Space is that next frontier. It is a simple answer to why we explore.

• Next questions: How do we explore?Where do we explore?What are the tools for exploration?

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

How do we explore space?NASA’s Orion + Space Launch System (SLS)

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

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Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

NASA’s Lunar Gateway

IAA Symposium: Toward A Moon Village and Beyond

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

What objects do we explore?The Moon AND Mars

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

How do we explore space?SpaceX’s BFR (Big Falcon Rocket)

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Europa

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

ExoplanetsExplore first with Space Telescopes

Extreme Extrasolar Space Weather in M-Dwarf Systems

Lunar farside low frequency radio telescope to observe exoplanetary space weather

Starshades to characterize exoplantets

Interstellar travel in the next century?

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy

Additional Thoughts

• Drive advances in science and technology;• Expand opportunity for everyone, everywhere in space;• Enhance and expand knowledge, education, innovation, and

economic vitality;• Advance our understanding of Earth and develop technologies

to improve the quality of life on our home world.

We must begin with the Why which leads to the How and the What of space exploration. There is room for everyone!

Ideally, a well-designed and executed, inspirational, sustainable space program will

Astr4800 - Space Science: Practice & Policy