Studies in Space Exploration

Overview

This unit aims to present the basic principles of space exploration, a brief history of manned and unmanned spacecraft, and the challenges facing current and future missions.

Learning outcomes

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• Ground-based space exploration: telescopes, detectors, limitations of ground-based observations.
• Unmanned space exploration: orbiting observatories, planetary missions.
• People in space: manned versus robotic missions, space stations, colonisation and terraforming.
• Evolution of human space flight: from fireworks to V-2 rocket, Sputnik to Gargarin, the Moon, Skylab to Space Station, living and working in space, future space flight.
• Spacecraft design, launch and navigation: a probe for every purpose, lift-off and boosters, docking and course correction, navigating in space, basic orbital mechanics and calculations.
• Imaging and remote sensing: instrumentation, telemetry, communication, space observatories, data processing and manipulation.
• Fuelling interplanetary missions: energy sources and techniques, present and planned space missions, relative benefits, risk analysis.
• Costs, risks and benefits: scientific, legal and ethical dimensions: science goals, public perception, legal implications and ethics