Space Basics
Why do humans explore, according to George Mallory and the article?
Because it was there.
Studying astronauts in space helps scientists understand the effects of what on human health?
Gravity.
What is the main danger of space debris?
It can damage satellites and spacecraft.
What is one reason humans should NOT colonize Mars, according to the article?
They could contaminate Mars with Earth microbes.
Which agency licenses private space trips?
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
How many working spacecraft are currently in orbit around Earth?
About 1,7000.
How does space exploration generate wealth for the U.S.?
Royalties from NASA patents.
How many pieces of space debris are larger than 10 cm?
23,000.
Why are robots better explorers than humans?
Cheaper, safer, and not harmed by space dangers.
What law prevents nations from claiming the Moon?
Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
What is RemoveDEBRIS?
A robotic garbage-collecting experiment.
Which NASA research helped develop medical devices on Earth?
Studying humans living in microgravity.
Why is space debris not a major threat to people on Earth?
Most burns up in the atmosphere.
According to a Pew survey, which NASA mission ranked low in importance for U.S. adults?
Sending humans to Mars.
Why do insurance companies want rules for space travel?
To have legal responsibility if something goes wrong.
What cany tiny debris do to the ISS?
Break windows or damage spacecraft.
Sending robots instead of humans to Mars saves money because they don’t need…
Food, water, or breathable air.
What is a long-term problem with more objects being sent into space?
It increases debris and reduces safe space in orbit.
Why might it be better to fix Earth before colonizing Mars?
To address climate change, asteroid threats, and other urgent problems.
Who argued that FAA rules could harm commercial human spaceflight?
Congressman Steven Palazzo.
What is the speed of space debris compared to a bullet?
More than 10 times the speed of a bullet.
Give one example of an Earth technology or process that benefited from space exploration research.
Digital mammography, outpatient breast biopsy, or telemedicine.
Name one method scientists have proposed to clean up space debris.
ets, harpoons, magnets, pushing debris to higher orbit, or RemoveDEBRIS.
List one physical challenge of living on Mars mentioned in the article.
Low gravity, lack of atmosphere to support humans, or high radiation.
Why is drafting new rules for space challenging, according to the article?
Because there is little past space law and few court cases to guide decisions.