What Does NASA Do?

To reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind.

Aeronautics- manages research

focused on meeting global demand for air mobility in ways that are more environmental friendly and sustainable, while also embracing revolutionary technology from outside aviation.

Science : explores the Earth, solar system and universe; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.

Human Exploration and Operations : focuses on International Space Station operations, development of commercial spaceflight capabilities and human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit

Space Technology : rapidly develops, innovates, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies that enable NASA's future missions while providing economic benefit to the nation.

A rocket-propelled guided missile that can escape the earth's atmosphere; makes observations of the solar system that cannot be made by terrestrial observation.

A probe may operate far out in space, or it may orbit or land on a planet or a moon. It may make a one-way journey, or it may bring samples and data back to Earth. Probes transmit data from space by radio.

* *

-fly on celestial bodies

-placed in orbit around a celestial body

-land on the surface of a celestial body

*examples include photographs and

information on the gravitational field of a celestial body. * records observations of temperature, radiation, and objects in space.

transmission antennae on the space probes send this data to Earth.

A telescope is an instrument that aids in the

observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light).

A space telescope is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.

* * *

*
*

-uses shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light

-uses shorter wavelengths than visible light

-uses visible light

-uses longer wavelengths than visible light

-uses longer wavelengths than infrared light

Space probes

Achievement/purpose

Date 1996 1966

USA Near-earth asteroid First to orbit an asteroid (asteroid 433 eros) Soviets Union Luna 9 First to made a soft landing on earths moon

Soviets Union Mars 3

Japan hiten

Orbiter and lander probe on Mars

A flyby and an orbiter probe to the moon

1971
1990

Voyager 1 & 2
Dawn express Targeting asteroid ceres for 2011 and asteroid vesta for 2015

1977
2007

How does it work?

To start the reaction, a jolt of electricity activates the gas, causing a stream of xenon ions to burst from the back of the ship at 124,000 kilometers per hour. The ship accelerates slowly but with time, it eventually gains the high speed of ships using conventional propellant.

Do the following by group:

Pretend as if you are a space explorer and you were able to discover or study something in the outer space. Show to the class or act out the process on how you discovered that thing using a specific space exploration instrument.