Transcript Slide 1
Why do we spend millions of dollars to explore the solar system? Solar System Exploration • Why do we spend millions of dollars? • What is there to gain from exploring? • What life is out there? • What can we learn from exploring our solar system? Solar System By Austin Brown Planets • How many planets are there? • How many of these planets can sustain life? • How many of these planets have moons? • How many of the planets have a ring? • • • • Mercury Venus Earth Mars Planets • • • • Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune About the Planets Moons • All planets except for Mercury and Venus have at least one moon • Saturn has the greatest number of moons with 18 and 4 more likely • All moons have a name and earth’s moon is called Luna More about the planets • Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn all have rings around them • Saturn’s ring is the most magnificent because of its bright colors and size. (can be seen from earth) Our Solar System • Links to websites: • www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets • www.nasa.com • www.spacecoalition.com What do we gain from space exploration? For over 40 years we have explored space and brought back many things that have enhanced our lives. • Water filtration systems • Ultra small electronic circuits that enhance medical advances • Plastic like metals used in jewelry and sporting goods What do we gain from space exploration? • Aviation safety systems used for pilots • Intelligent ovens that allow you to begin cooking dinner before you arrive home • LASIK surgery • Mammogram Interpretation • Sunshields • Many other things What is there to gain from exploring? • • • • Space exploration is an engine for creation Creates high tech jobs Creates high paying jobs It adds resources to our planet we once did not have • Search for supplements to life here on earth Is there life on other planets? • Polar ice caps have been discovered on Mars • Length of the day on Mars is almost identical to earth • Mars’ axial tilt is similar to earth Mariner 4 • A probe sent to Mars that returned the first pictures • Photos showed no rivers, oceans or any signs of life • Discovered the atmospheric pressure was to great for life on Mars • Started a search for bacteria on Mars instead of multi-cell organisms Viking Orbiter • • • • • Sent to Mars to search for water Found evidence of possible river Detect microorganisms in the soil Detected a higher level of carbon However no organic molecules were found What can we learn from exploring our solar system? • Learn if there is other life out there • Learn if other beings exist in other galaxies • Learn more about global warming • Learn more about environmental changes • Learn more about climate changes Why we spend millions of dollars to explore the solar system. • Technological advances • Medical advances • Inspiration of students to learn • Resources for earth • Discovery • To beat the Russians to the moon during the Cold War Is it worth the millions spent? • Medical advantages that may save lives • Resources that make life easier for us • Motivation of students to learn especially in science and math • Discovery