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=Electronics on Mars =

Electronic devices are very important in our life. Things such as VCRs, TVs and CDs are used daily. Electronics produce signals that are either analog signals or digital signals. Analog signals are fluid, smooth signals that glide through the information as time passes, and can be found in TVs. Digital signals are more chopped up and flip suddenly from one data point to another, and can be found in CDs. Semiconductors are metalloids that conduct electricity better than a nonmetal but worse than a metal. Semiconductors are used often in electronic devices to either make electrons flow a certain way, amplify the electric signal, or act like a switch. There are two types of semiconductors: n-type and p-type semiconductors. N-type semiconductors release electrons and p-type semiconductors receive them. In a circuit, if there is both an n-type and a p-type semiconductor, a diode is created, causing the electrons to flow one way: n-type semiconductor to p-type semiconductor. Transistors are made up of either a p-type semiconductor in between two n-type semiconductors or an n-type semiconductor in between two p-type semiconductors and can amplify electrical signals or be used as switches. Integrated circuits are tiny chips that have lots of diodes and transistors together in them that are used often in computers.

Electronics are very important when searching for life on Mars. First of all, analog and digital signals will be used in recording the data found. Analog signals will be for the more precise measurements, and digital signals will be used for the overall discovery in more spread out graphing. In analyzing all of the data found, many computers and other electronics will be used, requiring many diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. Everything from the spaceship to the computers all use electronics. Tape recorders will be used, and so will various machines that can take samples of the planet and analyze them. Without electronics, a trip to Mars definitely wouldn't be possible.

=History of the Rocket =

Rockets are a great invention showing the development of human technology and innovations over the years. One of the first main inventions using the principles of rocketry was an aeolipile, a rocket-like device. Then, Hero of Alexandria, a Greek inventor living in Greece at around 100 BC, invented a device in which a sphere was put on top of a water kettle that turned water into steam, causing the sphere above it to spin. True rockets, however did not begin to be used at a certain time, but were created sporadically, often as accidents. The Chinese began to attach tubes of their special form of gunpowder to arrows and launch them at enemies. They soon realized that the tubes could travel without being shot from a bow, and the idea of rocketry grew.

One of the first recorded dates of the use of rockets was 1232. The Chinese and the Mongols were amidst a war, and the Chinese began shooting these gunpowder-filled rockets as mentioned above at the Mongols. After the war, the Mongols used this same principle and created their own rockets. Soon, rocketry began spreading throughout the world. Scientists everywhere came up with additions to the rockets. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky of Russia and Robert Goddard from America were some of the more recent inventors. Tsiolkovsky came up with the idea of traveling in space with rockets, and Goddard worked on creating rockets powered by solid fuels, until he switched to liquid fuels, which was more difficult.

After Goddard, Tsiolkovsky, and many others had paved the way, rocketry grew all over the world. The Verein fur Raumschiffahrt, or Society for Space Travel, was developed in Germany. The Society for Space Travel was a source that led to the creation of many new innovations, including the V-2 rocket, a deadly weapon. The USA and Soviet Union joined in. The Soviet Union created Sputnik I and sent it into space. They also sent a dog into space, who survived for seven days. The US responded by sending Explorer I to space on January 31, 1958. That same year, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created. After this, the world sent many rockets, satellites, and people into space. The invention of rockets has helped the world make many new discoveries, and certainly will lead to many more to come.

=Rocket Stages Animation =

Below is a video of the stages of a rocket in flight.

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=Diagram of the Parts of a Rocket =

Below is a diagram showing the parts of a rocket.

 =Rocket Experiment =

The purpose of this experiment was to find out if the mass of a rocket affects how high it flies. This experiment was conducted by first building and painting a rocket. The rocket was built from a kit, including the body tube, nose cone, recovery system, recovery wadding, and more. The rocket could have been painted with whatever colors and amounts of paint that the group wanted. The motor was added to the rocket along with an igniter, and the rocket was then ready to be flown. The rocket was put on a launch pad, and the igniter was attached to alligator clips so that electricity could flow through it. When everything was hooked up, the rocket was launched. A group used a trundle wheel to stand 100 m away from the launch pad, and they measured the angle of the rocket when it hit its apogee using an angle gun. The angles of all the rockets were compared, along with their masses that were taken before the experiment.

From the data gathered, it was found that the lighter the mass of a rocket was, the higher it flew. For example, when the rocket's mass was 41.4 g, it flew about 111.1 m. When the rocket was 47.6 g, it flew about 65.0 m. This is because the igniter did not have to push as hard on the lighter rockets to make them lift off and go higher. Also, the lighter the rocket is, the less the pull of gravity is on the rocket. My hypothesis was correct.

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<span style="color: #3500ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in;">After waiting about 5 seconds, our rocket began to smoke and then slid rapidly off the launch pad. It flew the highest out of the group, its apogee being at about 140 m. Once it hit that point, the rocket's top opened and its parachute flew out, allowing the rocket to float down to the ground. Since our rocket was on the lighter side, it flew higher. When painting the rocket, we did not put too much paint on, so the rocket wasn't as massive. We did a good job constructing the rocket. Next time we launch the rocket, we should put more recovery wadding in the rocket, since our rocket got burnt last time we flew it.

=<span style="color: #dd1313; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The Importance of Astronomy in the Search for Life on Mars =

I think that it is essential to know about astronomy, especially when planning a trip to Mars. If we didn’t know about astronomy, we wouldn’t have any knowledge about what we are exploring. If we run into something like a comet, or see an exploding star, we will be afraid and have no idea what it is. But if we know what to expect and have some knowledge about our universe, we will be able to achieve more on our expeditions to new places in space. It is important to know what is occurring and what occurred in our universe so we can predict what will happen. The more we know about astronomy, the easier it will be to navigate around and understand our universe.

<span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">To read more about astronomy click on this link. <span style="color: #ff5100; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">More about Astronomy

=<span style="color: #0fdb11; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">History of Robotics =

<span style="color: #128c57; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Over time, robots have grown extremely far. Robotics started a long time ago. The earliest recorded creation of robotics was in 350 BC, when Archytas of Tarnetum built a mechanical pigeon that was propelled by steam. In 270 BC, Ctesibus invented the water clock with movable figures on it. The years continued, and robotry grew until in 1495 when Leonardo DaVinci invented a robot that was meant to act like there was a human in it. In 1738, Jacques de Vaucanson built a duck that followed the behavior of a duck, quacking, flapping its wings and even eating food. In 1801, Joseph Jacquard built an automated loom that used punch cards that were a large part of the developement of computers.

<span style="color: #128c57; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In 1921, the word "robot" was used for the first time in the play called Rossum's Universal Robots (RUR). Writers began writing novels involving the developement of robots. Robotics kept growing rapidly. In 1959, John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky started the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Mechanical arms and hands were created and performed tasks that were dangerous for humans. In 1966, Shakey the robot is the first robot to know and react to its actions. Chess programs are created and the programs beat the creators. In 1979, Voyager 1 and 2 launch into space, and the Stanford Cart crosses a room on its own. In 1986, LEGO and Honda begin researching and working with robotics in their businesses. In 1997, the Pathfinder Mission makes it to Mars. Robots continue to develop more and more, and are now being used very often. There have been many important achievements in robotics over the years, and these are just some. Robots have made humanity smarter and have benifitted us in many ways. Based on the rapid developement of robots in the past, in the future, robots could be in use everywhere.

=<span style="color: #ff7300; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Robot Programming =

<span style="color: #f207be; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Robots can be programmed to go in certain directions at certain times, using motors. Robots can go forward, backwards, or turn any way. In the Mindstorms program, the robots can be programmed to go these different ways. If the B motor is selected, the robot will turn a different way than if the C motor was selected. Some of the challenges of moving robots using motor programs are that sometimes the wheels will not turn properly or the motor will not be working so the robot will go off course. Sometimes the degrees or rotations that are on the program do not turn out to be the same when the robot is actually moving, so you have to use a guess and check method a lot of the time. Most of the time though, the motors are a great way to make robots move. <span style="color: #f207be; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="color: #f207be; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">A sensor is another device that makes the robots move. However, with sensors, it involves sensing something that is near the robot which causes it to move, rather than programming the robot to go a certain direction. There are many different types of sensors, including the rotation sensor, light sensor, ultrasonic sensor, sound sensor, and touch sensor. When programming a robot, the sensors can be used so that the robot senses an object near it and moves accordingly. For example, when using a touch sensor, the robot will continue going in one direction until it makes physical contact with another object, and then it will go a different direction. Using the sensors, a robot can search around until it finds something using one of the sensors. Sensors are very helpful in moving a robot around objects and are very useful tools in robotics.

=<span style="color: #d704ad; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Characteristics of Life =

<span style="color: #b600ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in;">There are many different living things in the world. But all of the living things have some things in common. These things are the characteristics of life. There are many of them. First, is living things have to be made of cells. <span style="color: #b600ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in;"> Cells are the smallest and most important units that compose the living thing. There are animal, plant, and bacteria cells. Animal and plant cells can think, while bacteria cells cannot. Living things must also need materials. Almost all living things need water, minerals, and air. They take these ingredients from the environment around them. Some living things can make their own materials, such as plants, but others, such as animals, do not. All living things are homeostatic, meaning whatever their surroundings are, their cells and other internal living things stay the same. It takes a lot of work to stay homeostatic. Living things will respond to stimuli. Stimuli is anything that causes a response from a living thing. There are two types of responses that living things make: positive (it moves towards the stimulus) and negative (it moves away from the stimulus). Living things also are able to reproduce, or produce offspring that are their own kind. There are two types of reproduction: sexual (two parents) and asexual (one parent). Living things must grow, or change from something less complex to something more complex. They are able to adapt, or change their habits to fit with their environment and life. They evolve, or change through time. The last characteristic of life is respiration. Respiration is releasing energy from the body (i.e. humans take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide).

<span style="color: #9800ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">It is very difficult to find methods to detect life on other planets, but scientists have found some after a lot of research. One method that scientists use is to search the planet for substances vital to living things, such as water, oxygen/air, or minerals. If there is evidence of any of these things, there is a chance that life exists on that planet. Another method to find life is something called spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is when scientists analyze the light coming out from a substance and use it to find out information about the substance. This includes the composition of the substance, and scientists may discover something that suggests the substance may be alive. There are other different methods to find life, but these are just some. Scientists have not yet found evidence of there being life on other planets, but using these tests and others in the future, they might.