#MOST AMAZING SPACE PHENOMENA HOW TO#
Based on the experience of astronauts, humanity can learn how to better conserve the planet’s resources. Space travel is a great opportunity to test the circular economy. The EDEN ISS project, meanwhile, aims to develop ways to cultivate food crops in extraterrestrial environments in order to provide food for the ISS and, eventually, for space exploration vehicles and planetary outposts. All these experiments being handled by astronauts inside the ISS will be re-used in the near future to improve not only the medical sectors, but many others as well. One of the many scientific experiments contained in the cargo module involves the testing of a drug that could be used for the treatment of leukemia. In October 2020, a Cygnus craft delivered essential supplies to the ISS, including food, water, oxygen, propellant, and space parts. With this kind of printer, astronauts could eventually produce any spare parts they need directly aboard ship.
In 2015, for example, a Cygnus 3 cargo spacecraft carried a 3D printer into orbit to conduct tests under zero-gravity conditions. So new techniques had to be developed to make sure it’s completely safe to drink. Most of the water consumed on the ISS, for example, is derived from urine and other recycled wastewater. How is it doing that?Īstronauts have to survive on limited food, raw materials, sunlight, energy, water and oxygen. It’s educating us about our responsibilities to the Earth and its resources.
Space exploration is a driving force in our efforts to address the major challenges facing society today. © Thales Alenia Space, E.Briot So space is a crucible for innovation? Monitoring them in space and after they return to Earth is a chance to learn about the effects of ageing and support research into conditions like osteoporosis.ĭrawing on our experience in pressurised modules and orbital infrastructure, we’re currently working on a habitation module that could be used in remote or hostile locations like polar bases, desert camps, military outposts and offshore oil and gas platforms. Astronauts suffer loss of muscle mass and bone density, as well as accelerated wear and tear on the circulation system. Long-duration missions are tough on the human body. Let me give you another practical example. The current COVID-19 pandemic brings the importance of this kind of research into sharp focus. These new materials have considerable potential for public health and safety applications in hospitals, public transport and the food industry. One of the experiments conducted by French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet on the International Space Station (ISS 2), for example, involved testing innovative materials designed to prevent bacterial growth.
Materials tested in space, under unique conditions that are difficult to replicate on Earth, can help us to develop stronger, lighter, higher-performance products. Some applications - like ceramic coatings in our kitchens, air purification systems, smoke detectors and scratch-resistant glass - are already part of our daily lives. Many innovations in fields ranging from metals and alloys to biology and medicine are the result of space exploration. Does space exploration have any more practical benefits? This is the objective of the Euclid 1 mission being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Scientists today are especially interested in dark matter and dark energy to better understand their role in the hidden mass and accelerating expansion of the Universe. Studying the solar system, for example, has brought us insights into such phenomena as gravity, the magnetosphere, the atmosphere, fluid dynamics and the geological evolution of other planets. Space exploration allows us to prove or disprove scientific theories developed on Earth. I’d answer that question with a quote from Goethe: “If you want to reach the infinite, then explore every aspect of the finite.” Space is first and foremost a fantastic "playground" for scientists - an endless source of knowledge and learning that’s helping answer some of the key existential questions about Earth’s origins and our place in the Universe. Why spend such vast sums of money on space exploration and missions to far-distant celestial bodies where most people will never go? If we take the risk of venturing beyond our terrestrial home, it’s also to learn more about ourselves and our planet, improve life on Earth, and maybe, just maybe, find or create a new future for our children, says Walter Cugno, Vice President Exploration and Science Domain at Thales Alenia Space. Space exploration isn’t simply a sign of humanity’s hubris or a brazen desire to find new places to live and new sources of wealth.
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