THE MARVELS OF SPACE EXPLORATION

Content Number: 07
Author Name: Amna Liaqat
Author I’d: SBPWNC – A07
Educational Institution: University of the Punjab, Lahore
Content Title: The Marvels Of Space Exploration

Introduction

This article is going to tell us about the scientific study of the universe that consists of information about celestial bodies, astronautical robotics, and establishing human colonies on other planets like Mars.

SPACE AGENCIES

Many agencies are working on space, some of these are:

“DON’T TELL ME THE SKY IS THE LIMIT WHEN THERE ARE FOOTPRINTS ON THE MOON”

Objective

This study focuses on the spectacular nature of space, exoplanet discoveries, and pieces of evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Research and discoveries

MISSION TO MOON:

Two space scientists, on July 20, 1969 from NASA became successful in walking on the Moon: o          Neil Armstrong

o             Edwin Buzz Aldrin

SPACE MISSIONS:

Some recent and upcoming space missions include:

1- Artemis II: The Artemis II program is funded by NASA in the struggle against a human’s

presence on the moon. It has been scheduled for launch in 2026.

2- Lunar Trailblazer: Lunar Trailblazer is also scheduled by NASA. It has been designed to launch in January 2025 to study water on the moon.

3- Hera: It is designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the Didymos dual asteroid system. It was launched on October 07, 2024, and will give the evaluation results of NASA’s DART mission.

4- Beresheet 2: It has been funded by Israel and is scheduled to launch in 2025. This mission will send 2 small landers and an orbiter to the moon.

5- Parker Solar Probe: It is funded by NASA and launched in 2018. It is the fattest human-made object and has gotten closer to the Sun.

6- JUICE: JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) was funded by ESA and launched on April 13, 2023. It has been designed to explore Jupiter and its icy moons.

EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE?

Extraterrestrial life or Alien life, might be possible to exist beyond Earth. Some things have been observed by scientists in the search for extraterrestrial life in space such as Extremophile organisms. Biologists have observed that life is possible without moderate warmth, organic molecules, photosynthesis, and also even without sunshine.

e.g. Ancient Martian Bacteria

NASA scientists in 1998, observed the fossilized ancient Martian bacteria in a meteorite.

Figure 1 Mirofossils of martian bacteria

BLACK HOLES

A place in space where gravity pulls so much that no radiation can escape.

e.g. Sagittarius A* (supermassive black hole in the Milky Way).

Formation: When the massive stars collapse at the end of their lives, black holes created.

Observation: Although black holes are not visible , but astronomers can observe them through the effects of gravity on nearby stars and matters.

DOPPLER BEAMING: The accretion disk near a black hole spins so fast that light from one side moving towards us appears brighter and blue in color while the light from the other side appears dimmer and red in color.

EXOPLANETS

These are the planets present in the outside of our Solar System. Some of the popular exoplanets are:

CONCLUSION:

In short, extraterrestrial life still doesn’t exist beyond the Earth according to scientifically proven. But the Space Exploration is advancing cosmic information and breaking the boundaries of human-limited discoveries. The Sky is no longer the limit- there are entire universes to be explored!

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