From Earth to Moon: Difference between revisions

|content= Lesson 2 of a series of 6 entitled “Astronomy masterclass” (SC0018).

 

|Learning Objectives=By the end of the session students should be able to:<br />• Understand the historical events of the "space race", <br />• Appreciate the technical challenges involved in going to the moon and the ways in which these were overcome, <br />• Understand why no one has yet gone to Mars nor back to the Moon in recent years.

|format=A Narrated Screencast of Session 2 from the Astronomy Masterclass. This looks at the story behind the American moon missions of the 1960's and the potential for a future mission to Mars<br />1. Session 2 narrated video 40mins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ORTlwIqb4g&feature=relmfu<br />2. Session 2 prezi is slides 24-67 of the 241mb file: https://www.box.com/shared/aqnk3lvr09<br />http://prezi.com/2hk390sfkqjh/the-astronomy-masterclass/<br />3. Astronomy masterclass.pdf use pages 24-67 for Session 2<br />The overview Masterclass Prezi (all 6 sessions) can be viewed online http://prezi.com/2hk390sfkqjh. <br />The full set of resources for the 6 sessions can be viewed online at: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Astronomy-Masterclass-6070303/ (This also includes a link to the associated 7 videos on YouTube).

|resources=For session 2 of the Astronomy Masterclass, see p24 to 67 of the full PDF at https://www.box.com/shared/aqnk3lvr09 

}}

The title of this session comes from the HBO series fronted by Tom Hanks made in the years following the Apollo 13 Movie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Earth_to_the_Moon_(TV_miniseries)

The main aim here is to tell the story of how, why and when people last walked on the Moon.  

• The moon has always been an important mysterious light in the nights sky<br />

• Many myths and historical events are linked to the sky, moon and stars<br />

- Stonehenge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge<br />

- Egyptian pyramids laid out in the pattern of constellations (Orion) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_Correlation_Theory<br />

- Aristarchus – First heliocentric model – Eclipse calendars etc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristarchus_of_Samos<br />

- The Middle Ages... not much else happened – in fact a lot was forgotten... pictures are some examples of the best lunar drawings of the era.<br />

• Eugene Shoemaker, first theories of crater dynamics, first planetary geologist, involved in the proof that there were many asteroid craters on the moon – potential to be an astronaut until diagnosis with rare condition. Trained all Apollo astronauts in geology. http://en.wikipedia.org<br />/wiki/Eugene_Merle_Shoemaker#Astrogeology_and_Apollo

• Video - JFK speech @ Rice University Texas, http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/jfk-space.htm<br />

• JFK would die before his dream could be realised. America’s decision to go to the moon was as much political as it was scientific. Introduce cold war dynamics.<br />

• Ranger 7 – First USA probe to take close up images of the moon. Impact mission – not really a “landing” – July 1964. Rangers 1-6 either broke down before reaching the moon or missed it entirely... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_program<br />

• Luna 9 – first soft landing on the moon – Russian Probe. Later Luna missions would land – collect and return soil samples. The Russians would focus on this technology whilst the Americans focused on manned missions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_programme<br />

• Gemini program. USA series of missions to test all technologies needed for a moon shot. Video - Following on from the mercury program with Alan Shepherd becoming the first American in space – Gemini was a great success paving the way for Apollo. <br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gemini<br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Mercury<br />

• Apollo 1 – Tragic loss of life during a “plugs out” test on the launch pad. Required a major redesign. I often demonstrate something burning in a pure oxygen environment to show the risks of this approach. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1<br />

• Apollo 4, 5 and 6 were unmanned tests.<br />

• Apollo 7 – Manned Earth orbit Test. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_7<br />

• Apollo 8 – Lunar Manned Free Return Test, Earthrise Picture taken http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8<br />

• Apollo 9 – Test on lunar Lander in Earth Orbit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_9<br />

• Apollo 10 – Test on full system in Lunar Orbit<br />

- Got to within 16km of the surface of the moon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_10<br />

• Apollo 11 – Landed  Video – Apollo 11 landing on the Moon<br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11<br />

• Apollo 12 – Landed next to Surveyor 3 (previous unmanned probe) to allow collection of parts of the lander for analysis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_12<br />

• Apollo 13 – A successful Failure – Used Apollo 8’s pre-tested free return trajectory. Video – Apollo 13 movie trailer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13<br />

• Apollo 14<br />

- Played golf on the moon using a makeshift club<br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_14<br />

- US public starting to lose interest<br />

• Apollo 15<br />

- Longer stay on the moon than before – Lunar rover used<br />

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_15<br />

• Apollo 16 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_16<br />

• Apollo 17<br />

- First scientist on the moon (Schmitt)<br />

- First night launch<br />

- Last mission (USA had beaten the Russians and so little political will remained for huge costs.)<br />

- Schmitt last man on the moon.<br />

- 3D picture – works with red and Green Gels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17<br />

• Video is off 17 leaving the surface. Had to be controlled remotely and with a 4 second time lag from Huston. Video – Apollo 17 leaving the Moon<br />

• Moon Map – Green Triangles are Apollo landings<br />

- Reds and Yellows are unmanned probes. <br />

- Apollo near equator to aid take-off due to angular momentum.<br />

• The Future – Potential for mars? Eden project... Mars 500 program. Technical challenges etc. Video – Barak Obama Cancels a return to the Moon<br />

• ESA Astronaut tests

- http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Astronaut_Selection/SEMJOSRHKHF_0.html

• Build a Model Moon Base