Space Exploration - What's Out There?
The first Space Exploration started in 1957 with the launch of
the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, sent into space by
the Soviets. Since ancient times people have dreamed of leaving
their home planet and exploring other worlds not known to man.
Every era through out history has had a belief as to what the
"heavens" are made form. The Greeks believed that the stars and
space were made of a material called "Quitenses", and other
culture once thought that the stars were made of their peoples
passed away.
We know now what stars are really made of; they are made of
various gases that explode over and over again. Up until about
43 years ago people did not have the means to travel to or send
objects into space. The hardest part of traveling into space was
developing rockets that were powerful enough and reliable enough
to boost an object into space.
Common heard of Space Exploration terms are Comets and
Asteroid's. A comet is basically small, rocky, and icy and
revolves around the sun. When a comet passes close to the sun
some of the ice turns to gas. This gas and some loose dust
creates a long, bright tail that trails behind the comet.
If a comet was to hit the earth, it would cause some serious
damage. As an example even if something relatively small in size
hit the earth, it would cause great damage. Small from an
comet's point of size is around 200 metres in diameter and if
this was to hit an ocean it would create devastation to all
cities within a large radius.
Asteroid's are described as small or minor planets that are
members of the solar system and move in what are called
elliptical orbits. They are usually found between the orbits of
Mars and Jupiter.