Today, we witness the joining of space exploration and technology into various aspects, which is a feature of modern society.
It is now possible to take amazing photos of other planets, communicate with astronauts in space via communication satellites, and even map out directions with the help of artificial intelligence due to the advancements in space sciences made nowadays.
Nevertheless, what really is space science? How did it begin? And why do people find this area so interesting? Join us in exploring the amazing field of space science and learning everything about this interesting branch of science!
What is Space Science?
Space science is the study of all celestial bodies and everything in space including stars, planets, moons, comets, asteroids etc.
On a wider note it includes analysis of the gravitational force and radiation; studying about the beginning and growth of the galaxies; as well as studying the motion properties of spacecraft among others.
In simple terms it may be described as the branch of knowledge that deals with outer space. Space science brings together physicists, chemists, biologists, geologists and astronomers to study in an integrated way a very wide field.
The complexity of the universe can be studied through different scientific methodologies employed in space science such as naked eye observations aided by telescopes or modern satellites, experimentation in laboratories, as well as computer models and simulations.
The History of Space Science
Space has always caught the attention of humans. People from the first known societies used to gaze at the sky in amazement and weave mythologies about them.
In spite of humanity’s age-long interest in space, significant progress towards comprehending the universe only began in the 20th century.
The commencement of modern space science can be traced back to the launching of the Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. It was quite an accomplishment for man since he had never before been able to look at the space beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Despite Yuri Gagarin’s human spaceflight taking place in 1961, it took Neil Armstrong a short period of eight years to land on the moon in 1969.
These great accomplishments ushered humanity into an age of space exploration, and created global interest in the cosmos.
The Exciting Applications of Space Science
There are a lot of ways in which space science contributes to advancements that we see and use in our daily lives such as telecommunications, navigation, meteorology, environmental monitoring, and even disaster management.
In fact, we make use of some interesting applications of space science every day as outlined below:
1. Communications
Communication is made easy through the use of satellites which are very important in worldwide communication systems such as television and internet.
With these satellites it is much easier to communicate with others all around the globe today than ever before.
2. Weather Forecasting
The information provided by satellites is important in monitoring hurricanes and cyclones as we can get ready and reduce their effects.
3. GPS Navigation
The field of space science has transformed the GPS systems with the introduction of artificial satellites.
Today, we take for granted our dependence on space technology for such things as getting directions on cell phones and locating misplaced items.
4. Earth Observation
Image source: orbitaltoday.com
The data provided by cameras and sensors in satellites is very important in the monitoring of agricultural, climatic, hydrology as well as natural hazard related resources like crops, forests, water among others.
Why is Space Science So Exciting?
The exploration and discovery capabilities provided by space science are without limits. Every mission that is taken beyond our atmosphere provides a better understanding of the cosmos, which in turn facilitates us in moving forward and determining where we stand with regard to some very basic issues.
In spite of our curiosity driving us to explore what is beyond our reach, be it stepping into other planets or going past the outermost planet of the solar system, there still lies a lot hidden under the canopy of space which we have not been able to unveil up to now– and this is what makes space an unbelievably engrossing area for research.
Furthermore, technological progress has made it possible for scientists to construct very efficient telescopes and space shuttles which can take pictures at a very high resolution even from billions of miles out. As a result we are able to see amazing views like the one of Orion Nebula and Saturn’s ring that leave all people amazed.
The Future of Space Science
Space science has a very promising future given its current pace. There are plans by scientists for human travel to Mars, settlements on the moon and exploration of other exoplanets with life within our neighboring stars too.
The rise of firms like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic indicates the possibility of space travel and tourism for the public in the future. Achieving this will not only represent a huge advancement in science and technology but it will also create wider areas for financial expansion and increase the possibilities of carrying out various types of research.
In addition, due to the increasing menace posed by changes of weather patterns, monitoring of the environment as well as finding some ways that can be used for lessening the impacts on humanity through space science will be very important.
The data collected from satellites fitted with sophisticated sensors monitoring pollution level, deforestation rate, as well as sea temperatures will be instrumental in determining and assessing the state of our planet’s health.
Concluding Thoughts
Space science started small but it has really advanced. The new findings are interesting and at the same time it affects our lives in so many ways since we can apply what we have learned.
This is an area which poses very many questions to us because, with all that is being done now and the great plans for the future, how can one help being caught by the study of this enormous universe that is our home?
Therefore, we should keep on being curious about space science and remember that there are still many things left to discover by studying it so interestingly!
