Space Exploration Flashcards
A/An __________is a human-made object that is placed in orbit around a body in space.
ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE
________ is a government agency that runs the space program in the United States.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
A vehicle that is designed to move about and collect data from the surface of a planet is called a ________.
ROVER
Identify four ways in which people can directly explore space.
suborbital crewed missions, orbital crewed missions, space shuttles, and space stations
What are five ways in which people can explore and study space without physically going there?
space probes, orbiters, landers, rovers, artificial satellites
Describe three achievements in space exploration that involved the United States.
In 1961, the first crewed suborbital space flight was made by Alan Shepard; the first human to set foot on the moon was Neil Armstrong in 1969; NASA’s many space shuttle missions, and the construction and
maintenance of the International Space Station.
Is this an image of an orbiter or a rover? How do you know? (pg 565)
This is an Orbiter because a rover explores the planet’s surface, and this image has an object in space examining/orbiting a planet.
How is preparing for a space mission similar to planning for a camping trip? How is it different?
Astronauts have to think about what they need to meet the basic requirements of life, such as food, water, sleep, a source of heat, and shelter. However, preparing for space also requires bringing oxygen, becoming physically capable of surviving in a weightless environment, and protection from solar radiation.
What type of technology would you want to use to study the gas giant planets?
You would want to use space probes to fly by the planet or orbiters to orbit the planet because the gas giant planets have no surfaces on which to land.
What is a reusable crewed spacecraft?
a Space Shuttle
What is a kind of artificial satellite?
Orbiter
What often has mechanical arms to gather rock samples?
a Rover
What is more suited to the long-term study of a planet or moon?
an Orbiter
What has detachable capsules that contain the crew?
a Rocket
Give an example of how weather satellites are used to observe Earth:
Weather satellites are used to track storms.
Why is most space exploration accomplished with spacecraft that do not have crews onboard?
Humans experience health problems during prolonged periods in space. Also, there is no current way to store the fuel and supplies needed by humans for long
space journeys.
What are four future goals of crewed space travel?
Four future goals of crewed space missions are to explore cis-lunar space, the moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars.
What is one advantage of using an orbiter to study objects in space?
An orbiter can study a planet or moon for years without having to send humans there.
Which spacesuit feature provides oxygen to an astronaut? (pg 581)
the life support pack
How is the spacesuit designed to protect the astronaut outside of a spacecraft? (pg 581)
The suit protects the astronaut from cold and the vacuum of space. It provides oxygen and allows for the elimination of carbon dioxide. The outer layers of the suit protect astronauts from micrometeoroids.
Why do you think it’s important to map a planet’s surface before a spacecraft, such as a lander, takes astronauts there?
You need to find a safe landing spot for the lander.
Why will astronauts need equipment to extract resources at future bases in space if they stay for a long time?
The astronauts will be far from Earth and will need more resources than they can bring
with them.
