History of Space Exploration
Who is Mae Jemison?
Former astronaut and head of the 100-Year Starship project.
What are the main goals of the 100-Year Starship?
Develop the tools and technology to fly to another star/planet; foster enthusiasm for interstellar travel.
What is a propulsion system?
Parts of a rocket that push it through air and space.
What is the biggest threat to a manned mission to another planet?
Chronic boredom.
Interstellar means...
Among or between stars.
Name the spacecraft launched in 1977.
Voyager 1.
What does the 100 stand for in the name 100-Year Starship?
The goal of flying to another planet/star within the next 100 years.
What are astrophysicists?
Scientists who study how objects in space behave.
What is the distance to Proxima Centauri in terms of time?
With our current technology, it would take 70,000 years to get to Proxima Centauri.
Planetary means...
Belonging to planets.
What organization is responsible for space exploration in the U.S.?
NASA.
Name one challenge the 100-Year Starship faces.
With our current technology, it will take too long to travel to another star/planet.
How can space exploration impact Earth?
Space exploration often leads to innovation and unexpected technology that make an impact on Earth-based programs.
Why is public enthusiasm important for space exploration?
Public enthusiasm leads to funding.
Colonize means...
to cause to become a colony.
What was the significance of Neil Armstrong's moon landing?
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.
Name the four examples of professions named in the article that are included in the 100-Year Starship project.
Astrophysicists, engineers, science-fiction writers, artists.
How do artists and science-fiction writers contribute to the space program?
They help foster enthusiasm for space exploration.
What does "warp space-time" mean?
Changing the amount of time it takes to move through space.
The root -inter- means
among or between.
Name the second astronaut to walk on the moon.
Buzz Aldrin.
What does DARPA stand for?
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Name both new ideas the 100-Year Starship project is exploring.
1) a method to warp or shrink space-time 2) a new propulsion system
Why might some people oppose funding for space exploration?
There are better things to spend money on here on Earth.
The root -stell- means...
star