crabtree publishing company HIGH-TECH SPACE SCIENCE MEGAN KOPP SPACE TECH
FAR OUT Human beings have always been fascinated by the universe We are curious by nature We want to explore the unknown We want to discover new worlds Space travel allows us to push the boundaries of our knowledge It tests the limits of our abilities Space travel allows us to question our role in the universe It helps us understand the history of our solar system Space travel allows brilliant minds to create solutions to problems It is challenging to build a ship to go into space Spaceships must be able to exit Earth’s gravity survive extreme temperatures and handle the impact of space debris In many cases they must also be able to make the return trip to Earth When it is a manned mission many other challenges arise Humans are needy beings Every day we must meet our basic needs for food water shelter and oxygen Spaceships have to fulfill these needs They must also protect astronauts from the hazards of space The risks of space travel are magnified when astronauts step outside their protected environment This is sometimes necessary for maintenance and repair of the spacecraft Stepping out into space requires the right knowledge and the right tech 4 UP UP AND AWAY
Scientists and researchers must plan for every possibility In the case of the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon brainstorming was done on the fly An oxygen tank exploded before the lunar landing The crew’s living area was losing oxygen One of the astronauts famously reported Houston we’ve had a problem Scientists and engineers on the ground then had to come up with a quick solution to save the lives of the crew Discovery exploration problems and solutions all go hand-in hand with space technology It is a new frontier that brings out the inventive spirit in people It is an exciting challenge waiting to be met Days are long and full of wonder when astronauts leave Earth’s gravity behind as they head for the Moon and beyond 5
