Science 9 Unit E Section 4.0

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Science 9 Unit E Section 4.0

• Society and the Environment are Affected by Space
  Exploration and Technologies

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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)

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• Due to the risks involved, much planning 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

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• 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

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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

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• Canada has also launched a number of satellites,
  including Anik 1, which provided all of Canada
  with telecommunications coverage

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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

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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

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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

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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

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• 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)

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Issues with Space Exploration and Exploitation

• There are several issues to consider with space
  exploration and the use of the materials found
  there
• Political
• Who owns space?
• Who has the right to use those resources?
• Who will determine how space is used?

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• Ethical
• Is it right to spend money on space exploration
  when it is needed here on Earth?
• Do we have a right to alter materials in space to
  meet our needs?
• How can we ensure that resources will be used to
  benefit all of mankind instead of only one nation
  or group?

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• Environmental
• Who is responsible for protecting space
  environments from alteration?
• 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.

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End of Section

• Assignment Section Review p. 469
• 1 8
• Unit Review p. 474 475 2 20