Claire+D

= The Search for Life on Mars = By //Claire D//

= __From the Big Bang to Galaxies__ = = = Over 15 billion years ago, our universe exploded and created the big bang. The universe exploded out of nothing, and now is the biggest thing imaginable. Before the explosion the universe was very hot and packed in. It is thought to be about the size of an atomic nucleus. Once it did explode, it expanded rapidly and particles of matter were made. After that the universe expanded at a steady rate and the temperature was also dropping quickly. When the temperature finally drops to 3000 degrees kelvin, electrons began to orbiting protons and creating atoms. The first structures start to form. After 2 billion years after the big bang, the first galaxies started to form. Big sphere like clouds of gas started to form galaxies, (which are still of course are still here today).

= **__The Milky__** **__Way__** =

The entire galaxy is turning, each star and gas cloud at its own pace. The sun takes 250 million years to go around the entire galaxy once, traveling at 250 K per second. The arms of the galaxy is where matter piles up temporally; but doesn’t turn with the galaxy. The way our galaxy turns tells us that is surrounded by an invisible corona, containing 10 times more material then we see.

= = = ** __Solar__ __System__ ** =

4 1/2 billion years ago the sun formed. A ball of matter was formed around the sun, which flattened around it and became a disk. Solid materials started to collect in the disk, which became larger and larger, and were called planet-tesimals. They collided, broke apart, grew bigger and became planets. The 4 biggest became Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. They grew discs for themselves, called moons. The moon was probably created by a collision between earth and a planet the size of mars. Icy planet-tesimals from the ouster solar system became comets. Rings around big planets are the result of comets and planet-tesimals being torn apart by gravity. = =

=History Of Rockets Over Time= It is unknown when rockets were first invented. However one of the first known rocket like machines called the Aeolipile, (invented in 100 B.C.), by a man known as Hero Alexandria. It was a structure similar to a water kettle, which used steam as propulsive gas. In the first century A.D., the Chinese had invented a form of gunpowder to create explosions for religious festivals. They filled bamboo tubes with the gunpowder and lit them on fire. Then they began attaching arrows to the bamboo tubes and launching them with bows. They figured out that the tubes filled with gunpowder could launch themselves.

In the year 1232 the Chinese and Mongols were at war with each other. The Chinese were able to repel the Mongol invaders with what was called “arrows of flying fire.” These “arrows of flying fire” were a simple form of a solid-propellant rocket. They were made up of a tube sealed at one end and filled with gunpowder. The other side was left open and attached to a long stick. When the powder caught fire, it then produced smoke and gas. The stick was a guide to the rocket that kept it heading in one direction.

Following the battle between the Mongols and the Chinese, the Mongols invented rockets of their own. Because of this advancement, rockets spread all over Europe. Throughout the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries many civilizations advanced the science of rocketry.

In France, Jean Froissart discovered that launching rockets through tubes increased their accuracy. In England, a monk named Roger Bacon advanced the formulations of gunpowder so that rockets could travel farther. In Italy, Joanes DeFontana invented a rocket powered torpedo used for setting enemy ships on fire.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Robert H. Goddard conducted experiments with rockets. He became fascinated in the possibility of reaching higher altitudes than air balloons possibly could. He began to experiment with using different types of solid fuels and measure the gasses that they burned. Goddard thought that a rocket would be able to travel faster using liquid fuel. Because nobody had ever built a rocket using liquid fuel, it was a rather difficult task. Despite many obstacles, Goddard invented the first successful rocket using a liquid propellant. Throughout the years, Goddard’s rockets became bigger and more advanced.

New inventions began to develop after Goddard’s discoveries. Germany invented a rocket used epically for space travel, which also lead to V-2, (a rocket used against London during World War II). However this rocket was used to late in the war, and London had won the battle. Because of the fall of Germany, many German rocket scientists came to the US.

The US and the Soviet Union both discovered the possibility of using rockets as military weapons and began experimenting. Finally, missiles were invented, (that would soon get astronauts to space). On October 4, 1957 a satellite was launched by the Soviet Union called Sputnik I. Soon after, a dog was launched but later died seven days after due to lack of oxygen.

Soon after the US launched a satellite of their own. In October that year, NASSA was formed with the goal of exploring space to benefit mankind. After that many machines were built and launched into space. Astronauts landed on the moon, satellites and different robots were invented.

Throughout even the very beginning of humankind, rocketry has been explored and has evolved greatly.



=Rocket Stages= media type="custom" key="13894738"

= = =Rocket History=

The study and exploration of Mars has taken place for over hundreds of years. From when it was viewed from the naked eye, to telescope, to being explored by probes and rovers. Many countries have been launching equipment to Mars in order to gather more data about this planet. However with a low success rate, countries have been reluctant to fund more missions. In 1965 a probe was sent to go around Mars, to collect more accurate information about the planet. It discovered that Mars had no magnetic field, or Martian radiation belts. In 2001, NASA launched the Mars Odyssey, which was a orbiter that circled around Mars. Its purpose was to discover any volcanic activity or any evidence of water. Currently, there is still one piece of functioning equipment on Mars known as the Opportunity Rover. Its mission is to search for life, or past life on Mars.

__Parts of a Rocket __

Nose cone- guides airflow around the rocket (streamlines) Body tube- Main structural part (air frame), usually a strong paper tube Recovery system- a device for getting the rocket back safely and intact for repeat use Recovery wadding- protects recovery system from hot ejection charged gases Launch lug- Guides rocket straight off launch pad Fins-Keep rocket traveling straight Motor mount- A safe, non reusable device. A new motor is needed each flight.

Rocket Graph


Our rocket was the heaviest at 48.5 grams. It also had the biggest angle and flew the highest. I expected it to go fly the least amount because of its heaviness. Usually, if something is heavier it has more mass and therefore fly's the least amount of altitude. Our rocket was crafted very well, and had many layers of paint. All fins were intact for the launch and it fly on the first attempt.The flight went very well, the rocket's parachute exploded properly and the engine functioned. I see no where we could have improved our rocket because it flew perfectly.

=== The purpose of the 1st rocket experiment was to see if the mass of the rocket would affect how it flew. My hypothesis was that it would. However, the results showed that it didn't matter. For the second experiment, the purpose was to see if the number of fins would effect the rocket's flight. In the number of fins experiment, my hypothesis was that the more fins (the more mass) so the less altitude it would have. This however was proved wrong, the data showed that that didn't have anything to do with the altitude. It mostly varied on structure of the actual fin. ===

=== Our rocket flew poorly. The actual altitude was not as bad as some other groups, however many defects occurred when it was launched. The parachute did not explode, which caused the rocket to become a dart. ===



__History of Robotics__

The history of robots has aged back to myths and tall tales. The modern making of robots began in the industrial revolution. Digitally controlled and artificial intelligence robots have been around from the 1960's.

In the industrial revolution, the UK designed a robot that could crack enigma messages. In Germany, Konrad Zuse made the first programmable digital computer in the world. Zuse also built the first binary computer, known as the Z1; but is more famous for building the Z4, his only machine to survive World War II.

In 1951, the world's first software programmable digital electronic computer for commercial applications was invented. It was used for commercial work in order to operate work running businesses.

Eckert and Mauchly completed EDVAC in 1951. EDVAC used mercury delay lines to store its data, making it the USA's first software stored program computer.





Wiki Entry 8

Motors are used in order to move or operate a device. In our robots, the motor is responsible for moving the wheels. Without the motor, robots would be useless. On our robot, the motor is connected by a plastic beam to the wheels. It is uncertain what exactly is inside the wheels, but I would guess that is a system of pulleys that apply weight to the beams, in which they transfer to the wheels. media type="file" key="mm_driveinsquare.AVI" width="300" height="300"

Wiki Entry 9: Mars, Mars and Mars!

= Minerals can be identified many different ways. By color, particular shape/hold, by sample matching and doing other tests to the substance. A geologist might use scratch tests, taste tests, by light reflecting tests, magnetism tests and looking at the mineral under a magnifying glass. = = = = = = Curiosity is the largest rover ever sent to mars. It can gather samples, shoot lasers and most importantly collect data. Its tools enable it to analyze data, collect samples and send data back to NASA. When it collects an object or substance its analyzes its properties to see what substance or item it is. = = =



Wiki Entry 10: Life

For something to be considered a living thing it must possess many different qualities. The first quality it must possess is being made up out of cells. Cells are basic structures that all living things are made up of. To also be categorized as a living thing, it must also need materials. All living things need things to keep themselves alive. The next quality a living thing must possess is being homeostatic. This means it must be able to change its surroundings. To be a living thing it must also respond to stimuli. This means when something happens, the object needs to react in order to be considered a living thing. The next quality for living things is having the ability to reproduce. The object must be able to “clone” itself so its kind can live on. Another quality living things all have is being able to grow. In order for a living creature to evolve, it must grow. Also to be considered as a living thing, the object must be able to adapt to its environment. The object needs to be able to find a habitat where it can “settle down”. Lastly, in order to be a living thing, the object must respire. This means that in order to be called a living thing the object must “breathe” or take air in and out. In conclusion, to be considered a living thing, the object must possess all of the qualities mentioned.



To detect life on other planets, you must first look for the signs of life. For something to be considered as life it must be made of cells, need materials, be homeostatic, respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow, adapt and respire. If a scientist was to collect a sample of something on Mars, they could test the sample for these qualities. If the sample contains all of these, it is most definitely a living thing.