Mission 6:Research about Space Rockets, make notes in your notebook and then try making your very own Space Rocket (see link).
The Moon Landing
In President Kennedy's
speech to Congress, on May 25, 1961, he expressed a
concern that the United States was falling behind the
Soviet Union in technology and prestige. He challenged
the nation to put a man on the moon before the end of the
decade.
On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 launched from
the Kennedy Space Centre.The Apollo 11 Crew
The
Apollo 11 crew from left to right: Neil Armstrong,
Commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and ,
Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pile
Walking on the Moon
| On July 20, 1969, Commander
Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon. He said
the historic words, "That's one small step for a man, one
giant leap for mankind."
A camera in the Lunar
Module provided live television coverage as Neil
Armstrong climbed down the ladder to the surface of the
moon. Watch the video clip of the first landing on the moon. |
 |
|
Returning To Earth After re-entering the
Earth's atmosphere, parachutes opened to safely lower the
Columbia into the Pacific Ocean. After landing in the
Ocean, the crew were retrieved by a helicopter and taken
to the recovery ship, the "USS Hornet."The
crew and lunar samples were placed in quarantine until
their health and safety could be confirmed.The Command Module "Columbia" returned to
Earth on July 24, 1969. Apollo 11 had successfully
completed its mission. President Kennedy's objective to
land men on the moon and return them safely to Earth had
been accomplished. |
Read a story of how a little technology goes a long way! Click on the book below.
Follow the instructions of how to make your very own Space Rocket that can fly.
Click on the rocket image below to take you to the instructions.
|
The Space Shuttle
What is the Space Shuttle?
It is an ingenious cross between an
airplane, and a rocket (Apollo 11). Lets explore all the different parts of the
shuttle using the diagram below.
Click on the aeroplane picture to
find out how they fly.
find out how they fly.
For more images of space shuttles and space technology click on the rocket
Imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut traveling in the shuttle.
How long has NASA been using the Space Shuttle?
The U.S. Space
Shuttle Columbia completed its first mission in April 1981 and made
several successive flights. It was followed by the Challenger, which
made its first mission in April 1983. There after there have been many
successful flights in a number of different shuttles.
What does NASA use the Shuttle for?
As we discussed
above, the Shuttle Program is one of NASA's most exciting endeavors.
Through the work done by astronauts during these shuttle missions
scientists learn the effects of weightlessness on humans, they learn how
to make better equipment, they develop invaluable medical, and
technological advances, and they set the stage for future exploration.Today only astronauts can visit Outer Space, This is
because a space shuttle mission is very expensive. However NASA is
developing new space crafts that will eventually replace the Space
Shuttle such as the x34 and x33. These space craft will make it several
times cheaper to fly a space mission, and may eventually allow everyone
to take a vacation in space.
The future of Space Travel
Ask Dr. Marc
Click on Dr. Marc to find his answers to some technology questions.
The
future of space travel is as difficult for us to imagine as it would
have been for the ancient Romans to contemplate and understand our
modern space shuttle program. The technologies found in the space
shuttle are too revolutionary and completely different from anything
they would have experienced.
Likewise,
the technologies of future space craft are likely to be so completely
new and revolutionary, that for us to try and guess what they will
consist of is very difficult. Perhaps future transportation will not
even use craft at all, but take advantage of such exotic ideas as worm
holes.
Warp Speed
Warp
speed has been the subject of science and science fiction for many
years. Scientists dream of technologies that will allow us to travel
through the many galaxies at faster than light speed. Science fiction
authors use these dreams to create wonderfully entertaining stories.
In
order to qualify as "Warp Speed", a craft must be able to travel at
speeds faster than light speed. There is a lot of debate as to whether
or not this is even possible. Many scientists say that light speed is
the absolute fastest possible rate of travel. Others say that just
because we have not found a way to travel faster than the speed of light
does not mean it is not possible.
If
science is able to create a way to travel faster than the speed of
light, there are many interesting and strange effects. These effects
include the possibility that time slows down for the space traveler.
These means that while on a journey they may age at a slower rate than
everyone back on Earth. As a result, when they return, they might be
several years younger than people who were the same age as them when
they left. Perhaps you will be the one to discover this type of technology.
Click here for more information
People and Technology
Click here for more information
People and Technology
