2.5 Space programme

Natural sciences

Grade 9

The earth ,galaxies and space programmes

Module 17

Space programme

• The space era for man began on 4 October 1957 with the launch of Sputnik I by the former Soviet Union.
• It consisted of a hollow metal ball that weighed only 84 kg and contained a radio transmitter and a thermometer.
• Today there is a launch of some kind of space craft almost every week.
• Konstantin Tsoilkovsky (1857-1935) was a teacher of mathematics who realised the possibilities of rockets, space stations and satellites a long time ago.
• With their Apollo missions the Americans made it possible for humans to walk on the moon. This happened on 20 July 1969 with the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong’s words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” are well known.
• Analyses and measurements of rock fragments have shed more light on our knowledge of our own moon.
• The “Near Shoemaker” mission, made it possible for the Americans to land a spacecraft successfully on Eros a large comet fragment. This resembles the dramatic representation in the film “Deep Impact”).
• The US space shuttles have heralded a new era of technology with regard to computer programs, special metals and materials, satellite launches and much more.
• There have also been major disasters in the endeavours to master space. To date, two American space shuttles have exploded - first Challenger in January 1986 (during launching) and recently Columbia on 1 February 2003. Columbia was the oldest shuttle and was on its 28 ^th flight. It was the 113 ^th shuttle flight and the first tragedy during a landing procedure.
• The South African Internet tycoon, Mark Shuttleworth , made headlines on 25 April 2002 by being the first person from Africa to travel in space.
• Thousands of South Africans and others visited his website daily and devoured the articles and news from space.
• His mission was to perform experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) and to gain valuable experience at the same time.
• Here is a brief summary of the mission:

African in Space

• On 25 April the Sojoes TM34 rocket was launched from the Russion space centre at Baikonoer in Kazachstan. On board were Mark, Joeri Gidzenko and the Italian Roberto Vittori.
• After a successful journey the shuttle reached the International Space Station (ISS) 2 days later.
• Mark and his companions spent 8 days on board the ISS and were watched by thousands of South Africans as the ISS crossed the country.
• Mark performed a number of important experiments on behalf of leading scientists and in this way obtained important research results and information.
• The team left the ISS on 5 May 2002 and returned to earth in a TM 33 Sojoes space craft.
• Mark and his companions landed the shuttle safely, its speed was slowed down by means of a parachute once it had entered the atmosphere and landed the space craft safely.

Activity: Mini-essay

Visit www.africaninspace.com and write a mini-essay on the value of the experiments in which Mark was involved in space.

Assessment of MINI-ESSAY:

Do you realise the value of man’s discoveries and the value of the earth’s sustainable resources? Do you appreciate all of these endeavours?