Space Technology

WHAT IS SPACE TECHNOLOGY ?

Space technology is technology developed by space science or the aerospace industry for use in spaceflight, satellites, or space exploration. Space technology includes spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and support infrastructure, equipment, and procedures and space warfare. Space is such a novel environment that attempting to work in it requires new tools and techniques. Many common everyday services such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, GPS systems, satellite television, and some long-distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure. Of the sciences, astronomy and Earth science benefit from space technology.New technologies originating with or accelerated by space-related endeavors are often subsequently exploited in other economic activities.

The earth on which we live is a more-or-less spherical planet which orbits a medium-sized star, the Sun.The Earth is one of the eight planets which orbit the sun. These planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. In his 1970 science fiction novel Ringworld, Larry Niven imagined a civilization that created a rotating wheel space within the habitable zone around its star that rotated sufficiently rapidly to maintain artificial gravity. Future space technology may well encompass similar concepts to allow human civilization to expand further into the solar system and beyond.

History of space technology

The first country on Earth to put any technology into space was Russia, formally known as the “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” (U.S.S.R.). A satellite, Sputnik1, was launched on October 4, 1957, and put into an elliptical low Earth Orbit. The U.S.S.R. had several objectives for the satellite to accomplish to declare a mission success.
1.      Test the method of placing an artificial satellite into Earth orbit

2.      Provide information on the density of the atmosphere by calculating its lifetime in orbit

3.      Test radio and optical methods of orbital tracking

4.      Determine the effects of radio wave propagation though the atmosphere 5.

FUTURE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS EFFECTS

Space technology is growing exponentially and turning sci-fi dreams into reality. Space organizations are funding more research and development programs for space exploration. Private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have also joined the race, to innovate space technology, by starting private space missions and pioneering space tourism. With steady growth in the space exploration sector, the future of space exploration is only getting brighter. Some interesting predictions about space technology include space tourism and space colonization. Private organizations such as SpaceX have already announced space missions like MarsOne that plans to colonize Mars. Blue Origin, on the other hand, is testing reusable rockets that have the potential to make space travel cheaper. Additionally, astronomers are discovering new stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial bodies to gain a better understanding of the creation of the universe. Space technology is being constantly used for finding life and resources on other planets.

With new inventions and discovery of better alternatives in space technology, existing technologies are getting cheaper and more advanced. The improvements in space technology will facilitate a better understanding of climate and faster broadband connections. Furthermore, the development of space shuttles and rockets are going to change the way we travel. Suborbital point-to-point travel solutions like Hyperloop, are considered to be possible in the future. Imagine taking off from New York, flying into space and landing in London within an hour or so, this can be possible with hypersonic travel alternatives.

The advancements in space technology will revolutionize various industries. Industry sectors like manufacturing will find incredible opportunities to manufacture the parts required for space shuttles and rockets. Software companies need to hire professionals with niche and cross-functional professionals to develop software products and solutions for space exploration. Engineers and researchers must exploit artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive space exploration.

Spacecraft and rockets will need large amounts of fuel for space missions. Hence, the energy sector must focus on developing renewable and alternative fuels for this purpose. Organizations can deploy big data analytics to understand and predict trends in space technology or its impact on their field of business.

With new players joining the field of space technology, space research and exploration is only getting more advanced and competitive. Hence, it is essential for organizations to understand the potential of space technology and adapt to the changing industry trends to ensure a significant position in a competitive market.
space exploration technology, and other discoveries and technologies that arise because of it, are incredibly influential and beneficial; not only does space research improve the economy by keeping scientists and engineers employed, it also results in new tech and gadgets—some of which we use in our everyday lives.

How Space Tech Becomes Everyday Tech

You might be perplexed by this concept, but the premise is easy to understand. Scientists need to conquer all kinds of new challenges when traveling to space, including:

• Traveling efficiently. It takes an inordinate amount of fuel to launch a rocket into space, so scientists are constantly developing new measures to make travel more efficient. These include new fuel types, new materials, and more aerodynamic designs.

• Traveling safely. NASA engineers also need to make sure the travel is safe for the people on board. That means developing safer, more durable materials for the vehicles and better equipment for the people on board.

• Improving human health. Astronauts face a variety of tough conditions in space, including low gravity and exposure to radiation. Accordingly, scientists have to incorporate new methods and materials to compensate for these health challenges.

• Discovering new things. Along the way, researchers are constantly discovering new things about space and Earth-based life we take along for the ride.

Examples of Space-Related Tech

That all sounds good in theory, but what actual results have we seen from pursuing space-related advancement?

• Arthritis improvement. In one recent study, Rush University paired up with the National Institutes of Health to make space travel easier on astronauts’ joints. Because microgravity conditions take a toll on astronauts’ bodies, scientists need a way to compensate for that damage. Their insights have broader implications for arthritis and joint pain, and could lead to new treatments and technologies to ease that pain.

• Infrared ear thermometers. When was the last time you had your temperature checked at a doctor’s office? Chances are, you used an infrared ear thermometer. This commonplace technology was supported by NASA back in 1991, as it relied on the same temperature-taking technology used to measure the temperature of stars and planets.

• Artificial limbs. In an effort to improve the capabilities of its robotic and extravehicular activities, NASA helped fund Environmental Robots Inc.’s breakthrough artificial muscle systems, which also used robotic sensing and actuation. These technologies were used for space exploration, but have also been revolutionary in creating more comfortable, functional prostheses for individuals.

• Baby formula. Baby formula seems removed from space exploration entirely, but it actually arose from a NASA research attempt to determine how microalgae could be used as a nutritional supplement on long trips. This work resulted in the invention of Formulaid, which is now a critical component of most baby formulas.

• Anti-icing tech. NASA is making the skies safer not just for astronauts, but also for everyday travelers. Their research into anti-icing technology has made flying safer for everyone, thanks to new electronic equipment, such as heating components.

• Comfortable mattresses. Remember the commercials for memory foam mattresses that claimed their comfy foam technology came from scientists at NASA? They weren't lying. Temper foam technology originally started as a project to improve the comfortability of astronaut seats. Since then, it’s been used in mattresses, shoes, and football helmets.

• Invisible braces. If you’re thinking NASA invented invisible braces to help keep astronauts’ teeth aligned, you’re way off base here. The reality is, the material primarily used for invisible braces began life as a component for an advanced missile tracking (transparent polycrystalline alumina-TPA). The material’s ability to absorb light, it’s high strength (stronger than steel), and its smoothness makes it perfect for both applications.

• Water filters. Water and similar supplies present a massive challenge to space travelers. Even in the early days, NASA knew the best way to solve the problem was to recycle water that was being excreted or otherwise wasted henceaji  water filters, which have since been adopted by commercial companies and further developed for residential use.

Rockets : Vehicle for travelling in space

A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle that obtains thrust from a rocket engine. Rocket engine exhaust is formed entirely from propellant carried within the rocket.Rocket engines work by action and reaction and push rockets forward simply by expelling their exhaust in the opposite direction at high speed, and can therefore work in the vacuum of space.
In fact, rockets work more efficiently in space than in an atmosphere. Multistage rockets are capable of attaining escape velocity from Earth and therefore can achieve unlimited maximum altitude. Compared with airbreathing engines, rockets are lightweight and powerful and capable of generating large accelerations. To control their flight, rockets rely on momentum, airfoils, auxiliary reaction engines, gimballed thrust, momentum wheels, deflection of the exhaust stream, propellant flow, spin, or gravity.
Rockets for military and recreational uses date back to at least 13th-century China.Significant scientific, interplanetary and industrial use did not occur until the 20th century, when rocketry was the enabling technology for the Space Age, including setting foot on the Earth's moon. Rockets are now used for fireworks, weaponry, ejection seats, launch vehicles for artificial satellites, human spaceflight, and space exploration.
Chemical rockets are the most common type of high power rocket, typically creating a high speed exhaust by the fuel with an oxidizer. The stored propellant can be a simple pressurized gas or a single liquid fuel that disassociates in the presence of a catalyst (monopropellant), two liquids that spontaneously react on contact (hypergolic propellants), two liquids that must be ignited to react, (like kerosene (RP1) and liquid oxygen, used in most liquid-propellant rockets) a solid combination of fuel with oxidizer (solid fuel), or solid fuel with liquid or gaseous oxidizer (hybrid propellant system). Chemical rockets store a large amount of energy in an easily released form, and can be very dangerous. However, careful design, testing, construction and use minimizes risks.

Satellite

A satellite is an object in space that orbits or circles around a bigger object. There are two kinds of satellites: natural (such as the moon orbiting the Earth) or artificial (such as the International Space Station orbiting the Earth).
There are dozens upon dozens of natural satellites in the solar system, with almost every planet having at least one moon. Saturn, for example, has at least 53 natural satellites, and between 2004 and 2017, it also had an artificial one — the Cassini spacecraft, which explored the ringed planet and its moons.
Artificial satellites, however, did not become a reality until the mid-20th century. The first artificial satellite was Sputnik, a Russian beach-ball-size space probe that lifted off on Oct. 4, 1957. That act shocked much of the western world, as it was believed the Soviets did not have the capability to send satellites into space.

Future space technologies

• Asteroid mining
• Single-stage-to-orbit
• Space-based solar power
• Non-rocket spacelaunch
• Space manufacturing