Space research
Space research is scientific study carried out in
Space exploration is also a form of space research.
History
Rockets
The United States and the Soviet Union created their own missile programs. The space research field evolved as scientific investigation based on advancing rocket technology.
In 1948–1949 detectors on
Artificial satellites
The first artificial
International co-operation
The early space researchers obtained an important international forum with the establishment of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) in 1958, which achieved an exchange of scientific information between east and west during the cold war, despite the military origin of the rocket technology underlying the research field.[2]
Astronauts
On April 12, 1961, Russian Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin was the first human to orbit Earth, in Vostok 1. In 1961, US astronaut Alan Shepard was the first American in space. And on July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human on the Moon.
On April 19, 1971, the Soviet Union launched the
Extent
Interstellar
The Voyager 1 probe launched on 5 September 1977, and flew beyond the edge of our solar system in August 2012 to the interstellar medium. The farthest human object from the Earth, predictions include collision, an Oort cloud, and destiny, "perhaps eternally—to wander the Milky Way."
Voyager 2 launched on 20 August 1977 travelling slower than Voyager 1 and reached interstellar medium by the end of 2018. Voyager 2 is the only Earth probe to have visited the ice giants of Neptune or Uranus
Neither Voyager is aimed at a particular visible object, but both continue to send research data to NASA Deep Space Network as of 2019.
Two
Two
Research fields
Space research includes the following fields of science:[4][5]
- optical and radar data from Earth observation satellites
- gravitational perturbations of satellite orbits
- space probes to study objects in the planetary system
- Astronomy, using space telescopes and detectors that are not limited by looking through the atmosphere
- micro-g environmenton orbital platforms
- space radiation environment and weightlessness, also growing Plants in space
- Physics, using space as a laboratory for studies in fundamental physics.
Space research from artificial satellites
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite was a NASA-led mission launched on September 12, 1991. The 5,900 kg (13,000 lb) satellite was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-48 mission on 15 September 1991. It was the first multi-instrumented satellite to study various aspects of the Earth's atmosphere and have a better understanding of photochemistry. After 14 years of service, the UARS finished its scientific career in 2005.[6]
Great Observatories program
), launched 2003.Origins of the Hubble, named after American astronomer
International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory
INTEGRAL is one of the most powerful gamma-ray observatories, launched by the European Space Agency in 2002, and continuing to operate (as of March 2019). INTEGRAL provides insight into the most energetic cosmological formations in space including, black holes, neutron stars, and supernovas.[7] INTEGRAL plays an important role researching gamma-rays, one of the most exotic and energetic phenomena in space.
Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer
The NASA-led
Space research on space stations
Salyut 1
Salyut 1 was the first space station ever built. It was launched on April 19, 1971 by the Soviet Union. The first crew failed entry into the space station. The second crew was able to spend twenty-three days in the space station, but this achievement was quickly overshadowed since the crew died on reentry to Earth. Salyut 1 was intentionally deorbited six months into orbit since it prematurely ran out of fuel.[9]
Skylab
Skylab was the first American space station. It was 4 times larger than Salyut 1. Skylab was launched on May 14, 1973. It rotated through three crews of three during its operational time. Skylab's experiments confirmed coronal holes and were able to photograph eight solar flares.[10]
Mir
Soviet (later Russian) station
International Space Station
The International Space Station received its first crew as part of STS-88, in December 1998, an internationally co-operative mission of almost 20 participants. The station has been continuously occupied for 23 years and 155 days, exceeding the previous record, almost ten years by Russian station Mir.[11] The ISS provides research in microgravity, and exposure to the local space environment. Crew members conduct tests relevant to biology, physics, astronomy, and others. Even studying the experience and health of the crew advances space research.
See also
- Advances in Space Research (journal)
- Benefits of space exploration
- Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
- Deep space exploration
- Lists of space programs
- Outer space
- Space Age
- Space archaeology
- Space architecture
- Space exploration
- Spacefaring
- Space law
- Space medicine
- Space probe
- Space research service (space research radio frequencies)
- Space science
References
- ^ A Brief History of High-Energy Astronomy: 1900-1958, NASA web page
- ^ Willmore, Peter: COSPAR’s first 50 years, Public Lecture
- ^ A Brief History of Space Exploration | The Aerospace Corporation. (n.d.). The Aerospace Corporation | Assuring Space Mission Success. Retrieved May 7, 2013
- ^ COSPAR Scientific Structure, COSPAR web page
- ^ Advances in Space Research, Elsevier web page
- ^ UARS Science main page. (n.d.). UARS Science main page. Retrieved May 7
- ^ ESA Science & Technology: Fact Sheet. (n.d.). ESA Science and Technology. Retrieved May 6, 2013
- ^ GEMS
- ^ Salyut 1 Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved May 7, 2013
- ^ The SkyLab Project. (n.d.). Solar Physics Branch Home Page, Naval Research Laboratory. Retrieved May 7, 2013
- ^ NASA - Facts and Figures. (n.d.). NASA - Home. Retrieved May 7, 2013
External links
- Media related to Space research at Wikimedia Commons