Earth Science 11 - Fall 2000 Assignment 6: Space Technologies (Project)

Human exploration beyond the surface of the earth has stimulated the growth of new technologies, such as satellite communications and robotics. The goal of this project is for you to gain an appreciation of the ways that space technologies have transformed many aspects of everyday life.

Your project will be marked based on your discussion of four main points:

- Your description of uses of space technology (satellites, GPS, discoveries made by interplanetary probes, the results of space shuttle eperiments, etc.).

- Your description of some recent advances in space technology (technologies developed as a result of conditions encountered in space, other useful by-products of the space program, space-borne tools used to study the earth, etc.).

- Your assessment of the pros and cons of space exploration. Explore the issue from a variety of stadpoints, including financial, technological, physiological, ethical, and political.

- Your assesment of the conditions of space and the characteristics of an ideal astronaut and why you would or would not want to consider a career in space technology.

The paper should contain a minimum of four pages of text. Several diagrams and photos would be nice as well.

Sources of information could include the newspaper, scientific magazines, books, and of course the internet.