Transcript Slide 1
4.0 society and the environment are affected by space exploration and space technologies From cancer treatment and pacemakers, to Teflon and flat screen TV, the technological benefits from space research are everywhere 4.1 The risks and Dangers of Space Exploration Space accidents • either during operations or training for spaceflights, 22 astronauts have been killed (five percent of all people who have been in space) • The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch when hot gases escaped the SRB and cut a hole into the external tank. • The accident resulted in the death of all seven crewmembers. • Twenty-two people have died while in a spacecraft: – three on Apollo 1 – one on Soyuz 1 – one on X-15-3 – three on Soyuz 11 – seven on Challenger – seven on Columbia January 27, 1967 Apollo 1 • tragedy struck the Apollo program when a flash fire occurred in command module during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space as it prepared for the first piloted flight. • Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee died in this tragic accident. 1967 April 24: parachute failure Soyuz 1 • Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died on board Soyuz 1. • His one-day mission had been plagued by mishaps with the new type of spacecraft, culminating in the capsule's parachute not opening properly after reentry. • Komarov was killed when the capsule hit the ground. 1967 November 15: control failure X-15 Rocket Plane • Michael J. Adams died while piloting a suborbital spaceflight in a X-15 rocket plane. • The plane first had an electrical problem, then developed control problems. • During reentry from a 266,000 ft (50.4 mile, 81.1 km), the X-15 yawed sideways out of control and went into a spin at a speed of Mach 5, from which the pilot never recovered. • Adams was posthumously awarded astronaut wings as his flight had passed an altitude of 50 miles (80.5 km) (the U.S. definition of space) 1971 June 30: Crew exposed to vacuum of space • The crew of Soyuz 11, Georgi Dobrovolski, Viktor Patsayev and Vladislav Volkov, were killed after undocking from space station Salyut 1 after a three-week stay. • A valve on their spacecraft accidentally opened when the service module separated, letting their air leak out into space. • The capsule reentered and landed normally. Their deaths were only discovered when it was opened by the recovery team. Soyuz 11 Crew 1986 January 28: The Challenger: structural failure after lift-off • The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after lift-off. • A faulty O-ring seal had allowed hot gases from the shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB) to weaken the external propellant tank, and a strut that held the booster to the tank. • Challenger was thrown sideways into the Mach 1.8 windstream causing it to break up in midair • all seven crew members aboard were killed: Greg Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Michael J. Smith, and Dick Scobee. • challenger 2003 February 1: Columbia structural failure during re-entry • The Space Shuttle Columbia was lost as it reentered after a two-week mission. • Damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system (TPS) led to structural failure in the shuttle's left wing and, ultimately, the spacecraft breaking apart. • damage to the reinforced carbon-carbon leading edge wing panel had resulted from a piece of insulation foam breaking away from the external tank during the launch and hitting shuttle's wing. • Rick D. Husband, William McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel B. Clark, and Ilan Ramon were killed. • columbia • Dangers include: equipment malfunction, floating debris, meteoroids, and harmful radiation • Returning to earth also has dangers • Explain why. (see p. 458) • Space junk - pieces of debris from rockets, satellites, space shuttles and space stations floating in space • Since 1957, more than 4000 missions have been sent into space, each left some debris. • How does space junk pose a risk to earth? (see p. 459) • Space Junk • Exposure to Vacuum of Space 4.2. Canadian Contributions to Space Exploration and Observation • Landing Gear on the Eagle Lunar Lander was designed and made in Canada Canadarm • One of the most notable Canadian contributions to the international space program is the ‘Canadarm’. • Launched in 1981 it has served a very useful purpose on many missions, including launching and retrieving satellites for use or repair, fixed the Hubble Telescope and put modules of the International Space Station together. • Canadarm 2 is currently operating as a vital part of the International Space Station. • It has three main parts: – Remote manipulator system – seven motorized joints assists with docking shuttles and carrying large payloads. – Mobile base system – can travel along a rail system to move to different parts of the station. – Special purpose dexterous manipulator – uses its two-armed robotic hands for delicate assembly work. Parts of the Canadarm • Canada has also launched satellites into orbit: Canadian Satellites Name Launched Retired Purpose Alouette 1 1962 1972 Explore ionosphere Alouette 2 1965 1975 Explore ionosphere ISIS-1 1969 1990 Explore ionosphere ISIS-2 1971 1990 Explore ionosphere Hermes 1976 1979 Experimental communications satellite RADARSAT-1 1995 Still in Use Commercial Earth observation satellite MOST 2003 Still in Use Space telescope SCISAT-1 2003 Still in Use Observe Earth’s atmosphere RADARSAT-2 2007 Still in Use Commercial Earth observation satellite CASSIOPE Scheduled for 2009 Study Northern Lights Brief Summary of Canada’s Contributions in Space: • 1839 – Sir Edward Sabine establishes the 1st magnetic observatory and discovers that the Aurora Borealis is associated with sunspot activity • 1962 – 3rd nation to launch a satellite • 1969 – supplied landing gear for Apollo 11 • 1981 – Canadarm 1 used for the first time in space • 1984 – 1st astronaut – Marc Garneau • 1992 – 1st female astronaut – Roberta Bondar • 1997 – Technology for the Mars Pathfinder Mission Sojourner rover ramp • 2001 – Chris Hadfield - 1st Canadian to walk in space – he helped deliver the Canadarm 2 to the ISS.