Better Technology For Further Space Exploration

 Hello, and welcome to my first action project for the second unit, "Space" of my S.T.E.A.M core class, "Frontiers". In this unit, we learned about the history of humanity's understanding of space, how people in ancient times looked to the stars to guide them with directions and record events, and the history of space exploration. We also read Astrophysics For People In A Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson which helped us understand the many variables and components within space. For our field experiences, we meet with An Li over zoom. She presented us with her research from her observation program with NASA in 2020. She was a part of a group that studied the Mars rover "Perseverance" and focused specifically on the X-ray spectrometer of the rover called "PIXL". From this field experience, I was able to further research instruments and technology used for space observation and exploration. For this action project, I was challenged to write a research paper based on a grand challenge to space exploration and to describe the future of space exploration according to modern research. I choose to focus on how advancements in technology can result in more accurate and higher resolution of data collection and observation in space. During the process of drafting and finalizing this research paper, I felt that this project was important to learn about space even though the majority of humanity won't physically reach space anytime soon. I hope you enjoy my project below and thank you for visiting my blog!

Better Technology For Further Space Exploration

How can further advancements in technology contribute to a more accurate and higher resolution of data collection and observation in space? 

Space exploration has become a more common and eye-catching topic throughout the 21st century. Though most of humanity won’t reach space within the next few years or decades even, we invest billions and trillions of dollars into space exploration. I often ask myself “Why is it important to explore space? “Why do we invest so much money towards space exploration if we won’t be able to physically go there yet?” Throughout my research, I found the answers I was looking for and I hope this paper helps you understand the importance of space exploration. According to Nasa, “Human space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system. Through addressing the challenges related to human space exploration we expand technology, create new industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection with other nations.” 

Humanity started studying space in ancient times. From using the stars as directions and guides to documenting an idealogy of perceiving the stars as higher beings to humanity. According to Northern Arizona University, “The ancient Babylonians viewed the Universe as a flat disk of land surrounded by water. They were the first people to keep detailed records of the paths of planets. Like most ancient people, Babylonians believed that studying planetary movements could help them predict the future.” Before recent advancements in technology,  human space exploration was limited to the instruments and tools such as telescopes to see the stars and our imaginations to dream of what could exist beyond the stars in the sky. Human space exploration started in the 1950s when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. The “Space Race” was a competition between two Cold War adversaries, the Soviet Union and the United States, to achieve superior spaceflight capability from 1955 to 1975. NASA was founded and opened for business on Oct. 1, 1958, following the launch of the Sputnik satellite.  Since then technology has been ever-growing and evolving to solve problems on a micro to macro scale. “NASA’s first six decades of discovery have benefited our lives in many ways. Numerous tools and technologies for solving seemingly impossible challenges in the harsh and unforgiving environment of space have been adapted for Earth-bound use. NASA makes sure that these alternative applications, or spinoffs, are made available to the public. The benefits are making an impact worldwide in better health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer products, computer technology, environmental and agricultural resources, and industrial activity.” 

Some of the most notable and most known space technologies are the international space station, space and land rovers, telescopes, satellites, and spacesuits.  “Spirit and Opportunity are the two successful Mars rovers that helped us with many discoveries on Mars and were advanced enough to be controlled from the Earth. They each landed on almost opposite sides of Mars. Their purpose was to conduct field geology and make atmospheric observations. They ended up providing the US with the first, color and clear images of Mars’ surface, as well as discovering the intermittent flow of water on Mars in 2015. Both of the rovers exceeded their 90-day expected lifetime by several years making them one of NASA’s most successful inventions.” The Kepler space telescope was low-cost and was only expected to last three to four years but ended up lasting almost ten years. It was built to find planets outside our solar system that are similar to Earth. “The Hubble space telescope was introduced in 1990 and resided 569 km above the Earth’s surface. It’s responsible for explaining most mysteries of space. Its technology avoided atmospheric distortion, which allowed it to bring thousands of jaw-dropping images back to Earth. It has helped explain many of the greatest space mysteries such as determining the age of the universe, showing us the existence of dark energy, discovering planets, quasars, and 6much more. The antennae on the telescope send and receive information to the Goddard Space Flight Centre. Using satellites, the engineers are able to communicate with it by sending commands.”

With the 21st century’s progress in space exploration and space technology, the talk of colonization of Mars and space has come up in conversation and conceptualization. Ever since we found traces of water on Mars back in 2015, the idea of living on Mars has erupted into countless ventures of technology and experimentation of what it would be like for humans to possibly inhabit Mars. Private and public space exploration companies are now figuring out how to travel to Mars and how laws and regulations about space exploration and colonization should be constituted. I believe that space exploration is important to a degree but I don’t agree with trying to colonize an area or entire planet just for the sake of it because who knows what other life existence can be out there. One very popular spacecraft engineering company is “SpaceX”. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk who is also the owner and founder of Tesla Motors, an electric automotive and clean energy company. SpaceX specializes in spacecraft manufacturing, providing space launches, and satellite communications. SpaceX was founded with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX’s mission is, “You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great - and that’s what being a spacefaring civilization is all about. It’s about believing in the future and thinking that the future will be better than the past. And I can’t think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars.” -Elon Musk As exciting as the study of and imaginable possibilities are, space exploration is a tremendously lucrative market and field. 

Here’s a chart reflecting the water mysteries of different planets: 

Comparison of Water on Different Planets

Space exploration and observation have cost more than trillions of dollars since we started in 1958. “NASA's budget in the fiscal year 2020 was $22.629 billion which represents 0.48% of all U.S. government spending. This is a 5.3% increase from the previous fiscal year.” The International Space Station is the largest and most expensive technology that has ever been built. It weighs almost a million pounds and costs an estimated $160 billion to date. A spacesuit weighs over 300 lbs and costs $22 million to create. They’re very technologically advanced and allow us to exist in extreme temperatures and conditions that humans would normally not be able to survive in for more than a couple of seconds. While space exploration and technology are very expensive, there are companies, engineers, and scientists that are working on more inexpensive technologies that will continue to further advance space technology. According to NASA, “By utilizing smaller craft – those that could fit inside the trunk of your car versus being the size of your car – the agency opens more opportunities to conduct ambitious deep space missions at a fraction of the cost.” Advancements in technology such as small spacecraft electric propulsion and 3D printed mechanical parts for things such as rocket engines are steps closer to keeping costs for space travel less expensive and more efficient. “For decades, innovators at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have been developing large, high-power electric propulsion (EP) systems that harness the power of the Sun to energize inert gases and turn them into extremely efficient thrust. Higher fuel efficiency means less propellant is needed, lowering launch costs while allowing spacecraft designers to reduce overall spacecraft weight to carry more payload mass, like technology demonstrations or more powerful scientific instruments.” Recent advancement in technology is the introduction of 3D printing in engineering. “Future lunar landers might come equipped with 3D printed rocket engine parts that help bring down overall manufacturing costs and reduce production time. NASA is investing in advanced manufacturing – one of five industries of the future – to make it possible.”

In conclusion, space is an awesome place to learn about and hopefully a place we’ll be able to visit and interact with in future generations. I was able to answer my research question through my research. Further advancements in technology will in fact contribute to a more accurate and higher resolution of data collection and observation in space by creating opportunities for further human space exploration and space tools and instruments such as drones and other robotic technologies to study space and planets at first-hand experience.

Works Cited:

 “Early Astronomy.” Nau.edu, 2022, www2.nau.edu/~gaud/bio301/content/erlast.htm. 

“Extrasolar Object Interceptor and Sample Return.” NASA, 2021, www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2021_Phase_I/Extrasolar_Object_Interceptor_and_Sample_Return/. 

Hall, Shannon. “Venus Is Earth’s Evil Twin — and Space Agencies Can No Longer Resist Its Pull.” Nature, vol. 570, no. 7759, June 2019, pp. 20–25, https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01730-5. 

‌“NASA: 60 Years & Counting - Technology.” NASA, 2022, www.nasa.gov/specials/60counting/tech.html. 

“NASA’s FY 2020 Budget.” The Planetary Society, 2020, www.planetary.org/space-policy/nasas-fy-2020-budget. 

Rabie, Passant. “Two Military Satellites Just Communicated with Each Other Using Space Lasers.” Gizmodo, Gizmodo, 19 May 2022, gizmodo.com/military-satellites-communicate-with-space-lasers-1848944526. 

“Small Spacecraft Propulsion Opens New Deep Space Exploration.” NASA, 2022, www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2022/small-spacecraft-electric-propulsion-opens-new-deep-space-opportunities. 

“The 5 Most Innovative Advances in Space Technology.” FDM Group, 17 Apr. 2019, www.fdmgroup.com/the-5-most-innovative-advances-in-space-technology/. 

“The History of Space Exploration | National Geographic Society.” Nationalgeographic.org, 2022, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/history-space-exploration. 

“3D Printed Rocket Parts and the Future of Spacecraft.” NASA, 2020, www.nasa.gov/image-feature/3d-printed-rocket-parts-and-the-future-of-spacecraft. 

‌“Why We Explore.” NASA, 2013, www.nasa.gov/exploration/whyweexplore/why_we_explore_main.html#.YpoaLXbYrrc. ‌