The Study Of The Universe

Question 1

How many countries participated in the construction of the ISS?

Answer 1

More than 16 countries participated in the construction of the ISS.

Question 2

Describe how Canadarm works. In which ways is Canadarm like a human arm?

Answer 2

The Canadarm’s “skin” (made of titanium, stainless steel and graphite) protects the internal parts of the arm from hot and cold temperatures in space. It’s “nerves” are copper wiring. It’s “bones” are graphite fibre. It’s “muscles” are electric motors and it’s “brain” is a computer. The Canadarm also has joints: 2 shoulders, 1 elbow and 3 wrist rotating joints that allow it to move loads in space. Just like a human arm, the Canadarm has many parts in order for it to function.

Question 3

2 experiments currently being performed on the ISS

Answer 3

1. Studying the physics and chemistry of how different liquids undergo mixing (will enable the oil industry to operate more efficiently)
2. Investigating how blood pressure and fainting can affect both space travellers and people back on earth

Question 4

Describe 3 ways that Canadians have contributed to space exploration.

Answer 4

Canada has contributed to to space exploration by installing the Canadarm2 on to the ISS. This arm helps with construction and repair work on the outside of the ISS. Canada also designed a meteorological station on board monitored Mars’ weather on a daily basis. Canada also constructed the original Canadarm. This device has been installed on most space shuttles since 1981. It is used like a construction crane to lift parts, capture and deploy satellites and assist astronauts moving in space.

Question 5

What are two planets that humans have explored with space probes? What do scientists hope to learn from these missions?

Answer 5

Two planets that humans have explored with space probes are Mars and Venus. Scientists hope to learn new information on the planets that cannot be obtained by a telescope.

Question 6

Explain how spacecraft are launched into orbit. What are some of the challenges that must be overcome.

Answer 6

In order for spacecraft to be launched into orbit it must be equipped with powerful rockets that can reach a speed that will take the spacecraft beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and past its gravitational pull. These rockets require massive amounts of fuel in order to propel the spacecraft in to space. Some of the challenges that must be overcome are getting past the gravitational pull and atmosphere of the earth and calculating the perfect speed that the spacecraft should travel at.

Question 7

Describe what scientists mean when they refer to a microgravity environment. How might yo experience what a microgravity environment feels like?

Answer 7

A microgravity environment is an environment is which objects behave as though there is little gravity affecting them. You can experience a microgravity environment on a plunging roller coaster. Although the gravity on the roller coaster is relatively strong, the continuos falling motion causes unsecured objects inside the aircraft to appear to float.

Question 8

Describe the health issues the astronauts experience when they are working aboard the ISS.

Answer 8

Astronauts experience dizziness, disorientation, send nausea the first few days of exposure to microgravity. Astronauts also experience dehydration when microgravity causes the blood in their bodies to pool in the upper portion of the body which affects the body’s ability to regulate water. Also, astronauts bones weaken, they experience back pain and there blood cells change in shape.

Question 9

Why do x-Ray telescopes need to orbit beyond the atmosphere to make observations? Name an example of an X-ray telescope.

Answer 9

X-ray telescopes need to orbit beyond the atmosphere to make observations because types of EM radiation emitted by distant celestial objects are not detectable from the surface of the earth because they are filtered out by our atmosphere. An example of an X-ray telescope is the Chandra X-ray telescope.

Question 10

Absolute magnitude

Answer 10

The brightness of stars as if they were all located 33ly from Earth; for example, Polaris’s absolute magnitude is -3.63

Question 11

Apparent magnitude

Answer 11

The brightness of stars in the night sky as they appear from Earth; for example, Polaris’s apparent magnitude is 1.97

Question 12

Astronomical unit

Answer 12

Approximately 150 million kilometres; the average distance from Earth to the Sun

Question 13

Celestial body

Answer 13

Any object that exists in space

Question 14

Light year

Answer 14

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1 year (365.25 days); equal to 9.46 x 10^12

Question 15

Star

Answer 15

A massive collection of gases, held together by its own gravity and emitting huge amounts of energy.

Question 16

SCISAT

Answer 16

A Canadian satellite used to monitor the Earth’s environment. This satellite measures how much ozone is in the Earth’s atmosphere. And how much it is being reduced due to human-produced pollution. This satellite was launched in 2003 to monitor the state of the Earth’s atmosphere over the Arctic. The satellite is important because there are concerns about the ozone layer. Without the ozone layer the earth would have a lack of protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Question 17

How has Canada contributed to space exploration?

Answer 17

Canada has contributed to face exploration in many different ways. Canada has installed the Canadarm, Canadarm2 and DEXTRE.

Question 18

Describe Canadarm

Answer 18

Since 1981, all space shuttles have been equipped with the Canadarm, a 15.2 m long robotic arm designed and built by Canadians. This robotic device is used like a construction crane to lift part, capture and deploy satellites and assist astronauts moving in space.

Question 19

Describe Canadarm2

Answer 19

Canadarm2, a technologically more sophisticated Canadarm was installed on the ISS in 2001 with the assistance of the CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield. This robotic device has one more joint than the Canadarm. It is used to manipulate 115 tons of equipment and transfer cargo from space shuttles to the ISS.

Question 20

Describe DEXTRE

Answer 20

In March 20, 2008 Canada installed a robotic hand onto Canadarm2 called DEXTRE. This device is used to do construction and repair work on the outside of ISS. It is outfitted with movable jaws at the end of its multi-joint arms.

Question 21

Describe the international space station

Answer 21

The ISS is the ninth space research facility to be built in orbit. It was launched in 1998 and is the largest human made object to orbit Earth. The station can be seen with the unaided eye and is as big as a football field. 16 countries has spent 100 billion to build the space station.

Question 22

Challenges of living on the ISS

Answer 22

There’s a limited supply of water, therefore water vapor that is exhaled and urine that is produced is recycled and put through a water purifying unit.