What you'll learn:
- We are inspired by human space exploration, but these space robots can go places humans could never go – and for longer periods of time. Much of the exploration we’ve accomplished in the solar system is because of our ability to make robots and send them to explore. They travel as speeds humans could not endure, they don’t need water, heat or food and they don’t need to be entertained - they just work. Explore the many different kinds of robot emissaries we’ve sent into the solar system and what unexpected discoveries they’ve made for us.
- Definition and characteristics of robotic exploring
- Robots in society and popular culture
- Advantages and disadvantages of space exploration using robotic craft
- Comparing and contrasting human and robotic spacecraft and exploration
- The dangers and challenges of manned space flight
- Why we explore
- Current robotic missions throughout the Solar System
- Types of robotic missions and their applications in the Solar System: Multistage rockets The space shuttle
- Flyby Robots: Fuel savings, Chinese Moon observations, Studying comets
- Orbiting Robots: Long-term observations of Mars, including the Reconnaissance Orbiter, Deceleration using air breaking and the first law of motion, Long-term power from the Sun and power storage, Communicating over large distances, Cassini orbiter around Saturn
- Robotic Landers: Landing techniques and challenges using rockets, airbags and parachutes, Early Venus landings by the Soviet’s Venera, Venus Express, Early Moon landers: Luna and Ranger, Landing on a comet: the Philae lander
- Robot Rovers: Entry, decent and landing, Landers delivering rovers, Sojourner and Opportunity rovers on Mars, Distance limits, self-maintenance, energy and communication techniques, Escaping from the landers after delivery
- Robotic Penetrators: Penetrator form and function, Moon penetrator LCROSS looking for water, Martian penetrators
- Robotic Observatories: Earth and Sun orbiting craft, including the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer, Advantages and disadvantages of observatories orbiting the Sun and Earth
- Robotic Communication Crafts: Primary functions, Deep-space communication systems and Solar System exploration
- Robotic Atmospheric Crafts: Function of atmospheric crafts, Atmospheric studies done on Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan, Detailed explanation of Huygens probe on Titan, Multiple-category crafts and Terrestrial planets
- Robotically Exploring Mercury: Brief description of Mercury History and of crafts to Mercury, including Mariner series Current crafts, studying the planet, Future missions to Mercury, including BepiColombo
- Robotically Exploring Venus: Brief description of Venus' History of crafts to Venus, including Venera and Mariner series, Future missions to Venus
- Robotically Exploring Mars: A Brief description of Mars' History of crafts to Mars, Communication delays with robots on Mars, Current crafts studying the planet and their durations, Future missions to Mars, Space travel using the “Gravity Assist” method – description of the physics and practical application, Crafts leaving the Solar System: Voyager and Pioneer series
- Test Questions and Answers
- Cross-Curricular Activities
We are inspired by human space exploration, but these space robots can go places humans could never go – and for longer periods of time. Much of the exploration we’ve accomplished in the solar system is because of our ability to make robots and send them to explore. They travel as speeds humans could not endure, they don’t need water, heat or food and they don’t need to be entertained - they just work. Explore the many different kinds of robot emissaries we’ve sent into the solar system and what unexpected discoveries they’ve made for us.
This Course includes the following great BONUS LESSONS:
What on Earth is Astronomy?
Mini-Lesson: Eclipses
Mini-Lesson: Meteor Showers
Mini-Lesson: Aurora
Robotic Space Exploration
1. Objective
2. Warm-up activities
3. Glossary of terms
4. Definition and characteristics of robotic exploring
5. Robots in society and popular culture
6. Advantages and disadvantages of space exploration using robotic craft
7. Comparing and contrasting human and robotic spacecraft and exploration
8. The dangers and challenges of manned space flight
9. Why we explore
10. Current robotic missions throughout the Solar System
Types of robotic missions and their applications in the Solar System
11. Multistage rockets
12. The space shuttle
Flyby
13. Fuel savings
14. Chinese Moon observations
15. Studying comets
Orbiters
16. Long-term observations of Mars, including the Reconnaissance Orbiter
17. Deceleration using air breaking and the first law of motion
18. Long-term power from the Sun and power storage
19. Communicating over large distances
20. Cassini orbiter around Saturn
Landers
21. Landing techniques and challenges using rockets, airbags and parachutes
22. Early Venus landings by the Soviet’s Venera
23. Venus Express
24. Early Moon landers: Luna and Ranger
25. Landing on a comet: the Philae lander
Rovers
26. Entry, decent and landing
27. Landers delivering rovers
28. Sojourner and Opportunity rovers on Mars
29. Distance limits, self-maintenance, energy and communication techniques
30. Escaping from the landers after delivery
Penetrators
31. Penetrator form and function
32. Moon penetrator LCROSS looking for water
33. Martian penetrators
Observatories
34. Earth and Sun orbiting craft, including the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer
35. Advantages and disadvantages of observatories orbiting the Sun and Earth
Communication Craft
36. Primary functions
37. Deep-space communication systems and Solar System exploration
Atmospheric Craft
38. Function of atmospheric crafts
39. Atmospheric studies done on Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan
40. Detailed explanation of Huygens probe on Titan
41. Multiple-category crafts
42. Terrestrial planets
Mercury
43. Brief description of Mercury
44. History of crafts to Mercury, including Mariner series
45. Current crafts studying the planet
46. Future missions to Mercury, including BepiColombo
Venus
47. Brief description of Venus
48. History of crafts to Venus, including Venera and Mariner series
49. Future missions to Venus
Mars
50. Brief description of Mars
51. History of crafts to Mars
52. Communication delays with robots on Mars
53. Current crafts studying the planet and their durations
54. Future missions to Mars
55. Space travel using the “Gravity Assist” method – description of the physics and practical application
56. Crafts leaving the Solar System: Voyager and Pioneer series
57. Test questions
58. Cross-curricular activities
