Transcript Science 9 Unit E Section 4.0

Science 9 Unit E Section
4.0
Society and the Environment are
Affected by Space Exploration
and Technologies
4.1 – The Risks and Dangers of
Space Exploration
 Space exploration is very hazardous
 There have been several deaths associated with
space flight, including the destruction of the
Apollo I capsule (on the launch pad) and the
Space Shuttles Challenger (shortly after launch)
and Columbia (upon re-entry)
 Due to the risks involved, much planning
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and training goes into manned missions
Limited supplies of fuel and oxygen, as
well as dangerous radiation, floating debris
and meteoroids must be dealt with
In particular, space junk is a growing
problem
Every spacecraft that is launched leaves
little bits of junk in space
Even a tiny bolt, screw or bit of paint
moving at thousands of kilometers per
hour can punch holes in spacecraft
 As well, space debris can fall to Earth
 In 1978, a Soviet satellite crashed into the
Great Slave Lake area in NWT
 During re-entry, the disintegrating satellite
showered radioactive debris from its
power plant over a 124 000 km2 area
 The clean-up carried out by the Canadian
and US military cost about $15 million
4.2 – Canadian Contributions to
Space
 One of the main Canadian contributions to
space is the “Canadarm”, a robotic arm
used on board the space shuttle
 This arm has been used to place and fix
satellites, and to construct the
International Space Station
 Canada has also launched a number of
satellites, including Anik 1, which provided
all of Canada with telecommunications
coverage
Canada and the ISS
 Canada has provided
the ISS with the
Canadarm 2, an
improved version of the
original Canadarm
 The new arm has
“fingers” for delicate
assembly work and can
move itself around the
station along a set of
rails
Canadian Achievements
1839 – Sir Edward Sabine establishes first magnetic
observatory & discovers that the Northern Lights are
associated with solar activity
1962 – Canada launches its first satellite, Alouette 1
1969 – Canada provides the landing gear for the first lunar
lander
1984 – Marc Garneau is the first Canadian in space
1992 – Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman in
space
1997 – Canada provided the ramp used by the Mars
Pathfinder mission
2001 – Chris Hadfield becomes the first Canadian to walk
in space while delivering the Canadarm 2 to the ISS
4.3 – Issues Related to Space
Exploration
 Space exploration is very expensive – it
costs billions of dollars per year
 Many people suggest that the money
would be better spent somewhere else
(such as healthcare and education)
 Others argue that space exploration is
necessary because it may help us to find
improvements to our way of life here
Space and its Resources
 Space may have numerous resources to
offer
 It is estimated that a single 200 000 tonne
asteroid could yield $350 billion worth of
resources
 As well, if we found fuel and other
resources needed for space travel in
space, it would be much cheaper to travel
to other planets
 For instance, rocks on the Moon could be
used to obtain both hydrogen and oxygen
(both of which are used for fuel)
Issues with Space Exploration and
Exploitation
 There are several issues to consider with
space exploration and the use of the
materials found there:
Political:
1. Who owns space?
2. Who has the right to use those
resources?
3. Who will determine how space is used?
Ethical
1. Is it right to spend money on space
exploration when it is needed here on
Earth?
2. Do we have a right to alter materials in
space to meet our needs?
3. How can we ensure that resources will
be used to benefit all of mankind instead
of only one nation or group?
Environmental
1. Who is responsible for protecting space
environments from alteration?
2. Who is responsible for cleaning up space
junk, and who should pay for it?
 One possible solution is to treat space
like Antarctica
 In 1959, the 12 countries that had bases
on Antarctica agreed that “Antarctica
shall continue forever to be used
exclusively for peaceful purposes and
shall not become the scene or object of
international discord.”
End of Section
 Assignment: Section Review p. 469
#1–8
 Unit Review p. 474 – 475 # 2 – 20