Unit 5 Lesson 2 Technology for Space Exploration Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Unit 5 Lesson 2 Technology for Space Exploration

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company


Florida Benchmarks


• SC.8.N.1.5 Analyze the methods used to develop a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science.

• SC.8.N.4.1 Explain that science is one of the processes that can be used to inform decision making at the community, state, national, and international levels.


Florida Benchmarks


• SC.8.N.4.2 Explain how political, social, and economic concerns can affect science, and vice versa.

• SC.8.E.5.10 Assess how technology is essential to science for such purposes as access to outer space and other remote locations, sample collection, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information.

Up, Up, and Away!


How do people travel to space?

• Large rockets are used to overcome the pull of Earth’s gravity and travel away from Earth.

• Space shuttles are reusable vehicles used to travel to and from orbits close to Earth. They launch into space using smaller booster rockets.


How do people return from space?

• The space shuttle returns to Earth on a runway, and a parachute opens to slow it down.

• Apollo mission astronauts returned to Earth in a capsule that landed in the ocean.

• Capsules also can return to Earth using parachutes to land on Earth’s surface instead of in water.



How are people limited when traveling in space?• The need for food, air, water, and protection from

the intense cold of space makes space travel difficult for humans.

• Everything seems weightless, which makes common tasks, like sleeping and eating, difficult.

• Astronauts must exercise every day because bones and muscles can weaken.



Looking Up


How can people observe distant objects in space?• Telescopes can be placed in space to prevent

distortion from Earth’s atmosphere.

• Spacecraft can fly near or land on distant objects.

• Probes can be sent into space to gather data and analyze samples.


How can people observe distant objects in space?• The Hubble Space Telescope detects light from

objects in space and sends images back to Earth. • X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes must be placed

in space because Earth’s atmosphere blocks most X-rays and gamma rays.



How can people observe distant objects in space?• Humans cannot travel to other planets because of

the harshness of space and the long distances.

• Using uncrewed spacecraft with no humans aboard is one way to explore remote places.

• A space probe is an uncrewed vehicle that carries scientific instruments to distant objects in space.



How can people observe distant objects in space?• Computers and other technologies are used to

launch and control spacecraft and instruments.

• Computers also can navigate spacecraft and collect and analyze data from space missions.



Looking Down


How are satellites used?

• An artificial satellite is any human-made object placed in orbit around a body in space.

• Remote sensing satellites are used to map and monitor Earth’s resources.

• Remote-sensing data can also provide valuable information on how Earth’s surface is changing over time.



• Weather satellites monitor Earth’s atmosphere for the events that lead to severe weather conditions.

• Weather satellites also monitor changes in cloud formation and heat coming from Earth.

• Search-and-rescue operations can be completed when satellites detect distress signals from emergency beacons.




• How can satellites help a lost hiker?




• Data from satellites can be combined into one image, or a composite image.

• Composite images can give more complete information about distant objects or features in space.




Exploring the Ocean


• Observing the ocean is like observing space in that both are dangerous for humans to explore.

• Ocean submersibles can be crewed or uncrewed.

• Hydrothermal vents are in deep locations with pressures too great for humans to explore.


• Communications satellites relay data over long distances.

• Communication signals must travel around the round-shaped Earth.

• Communication satellites allow information to be sent from one point on Earth to another point.




• The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a network of 24 satellites that orbit Earth.

• At least three GPS satellites send information at one time to a receiver on Earth.

• Technology in a receiver can determine exact locations on Earth for the purpose of navigation.




• Why are at least three GPS satellites needed for sending information to a receiver?



Documents

Unit 5 Lesson 2 Technology for Space Exploration Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company