Rachel+M

=__   ﻿ ﻿ ﻿ Mission to Mars __=

Electronics and Why They Are Important For a Space Mission
=== An analog signal varies smoothly and moves smoothly like your hand does when moving up and down, whereas a digital signal varies in jumps or steps and doesn’t move smoothly. The reason that semiconductors are useful in electronic devices is because they make up an integrated circuit and integrated circuits are used in computers and other devices. A diode is a solid-state component that allows electricity to flow in one direction only. Diodes are used in most electronic devices. One thing that diodes are in is LED (light-emitting-diode) light bulbs. A transistor can be used to amplify signals and is used as an electronic switch. Lastly, an integrated circuit is smaller than transistors and is used for smaller devices such as computers. === === I think that electronic devices are necessary for astronauts to have when going on a mission to Mars because they need to power items inside the space shuttle. The astronauts would need to power satellites and radars so that they can keep on track. They would need to be able to send out a robot to search the planet and report back information and photos for them so that they can analyze what they know. Also, the astronauts would need to be able to communicate with the people on Earth to warn them of anything or report news to them. They would need to have computer type devices and control panels to operate and steer the shuttle. They would most defiantly need to have electronic devices on a shuttle during a space mission. ===

History of Rockets
=== The first inv ention of something similar to a rocket was by the Chinese in 1232. A tube at one end full of gunpowder and a stick on the other end were what the fire-arrows were made of. The Chinese people were fighting off the Mongols with the fire-arrows in the battle of Kai-Keng. The Chinese would light the powder produced fire, smoke, and gas which pushed its way out to the tube and created a thrust. The stick on the end of the tube operated as a guidance system to ensure that the arrow went in a straight line. It is not clear whether these arrows were effective but they defiantly left a psychological effect on the Mongols. ===

=== The invention of the fire-arrows lead many other parts of the world to start creating rockets of their own, but mainly as fireworks and weapons at that time. Later on though, the invention of rockets spread to Europe and that is when a Russian school teacher, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, started to take an interest in rocketry. He proposed the idea of space travel and exploration with rockets and suggested the use of light propellants for them in order to have better results. Tsiolkovsky wrote and published his idea in 1903 and stated that the range and speed of a rocket were only limited by the exhaust velocity of escaping gases. For his discovery he was named the father of modern astronautics. === === After Konstantin's rocket research, an American, Robert H. Goddard preformed practical rocketry experiments. In his earlier experiments he worked with solid-propellant rockets, but after that didn't work too well for him he tried using liquid-propellant rockets. Nobody had successfully done that though. If he wanted all to try it he would need many extra materials and machines. Despite all of the things needed, he was the first person to fly a rocket propelled by liquid. The rocket didn't fly far compared to rockets now, but back then it was a great accomplishment. Goddard was name the father of modern rocketry. === === Rockets have grown and have gotten better over the years. Finally the idea that Konstantin Tsiolkovsky had become possible. People actually sent rockets and satellites into outer space and they have affected how we live our lives today. ===

My Rocket Data
=== During our flight the rocket smoked as it flew off of the launch pad and traveled at about 150 mph. After about 3 seconds our rocket reached its apogee of around 140.2 meters high and ejected its parachute so it could recover safely. During this experiment we wanted to experience what it was like to build and launch a rocket. First, we built the model rocket using a kit but altering the instructions once in a while. After that, we painted the rockets however we wanted so that it would last for more flights. In order to launch the rocket we first put the rocket on the launch pad so the rocket would launch in a straight line. After, that we connected it to alligator clips, which were then connected to an electrical device. The electrical device created a short circuit which traveled through the clips onto a metal wire that caused the motor, located inside the body tube, to ignite. The rocket flew up into the air then once it reached it's apogee the parachute ejected and the rocket recovered. A group standing 100 meters away, measured using a trundle wheel, figured out the angle of the rocket by using an angle gun and finding it when it was at its apogee. ===

[[image:rem_graph.JPG width="467" height="285" caption="Graph of the altitude vs. mass"]]
=== Using the data collected it was concluded that with a low mass the rocket flew high but not as high as the rockets with an average of 43 grams. They flew about 96 meters high. In order for our rocket to fly better I would add more recovery wadding because our rocket's parachute got burned a little bit. Nothing broke off of our rocket when it landed or when it was launched so I believe that it was well constructed. Also, our rocket didn't get any damage on the body tube or the fins and I think that was because we painted the rocket and the paint acted as a shield for the rocket. ===

The Importants of Astronomy In the Search for Life on Mars
=== My thoughts on the importants of astronomy in a search for life on Mars is that you need to know it in order to locate yourself. By knowing the different groups of stars, constellations, you can find out where you are very easily. Another reason is so that you avoid things that need to be avoided. If you know what places in the solar system not to go to it will make your treck faster. These reasons are the most important reasons why knowing astronomy is crutial in a search for life on Mars. ===

History of Robotics
=== There have been many books and ideas written about robots in the past, and now I am here to tell you about them. Before robots were invented people only had thoughts and hypothesizes about them, now people are creating robot arms to perform surgeries and many other kinds as well. In 1961, Heinrich Ernst developed the MH-1, a computer operated mechanical hand at MIT. Soon after, in 1962, the first industrial robotic arm was introduced, the Unimate. The Unimate was designed to complete repetitive or dangerous tasks on a General Motors assembly line. Many other companies and industries used the idea of a robot to complete difficult tasks for them. === === After many inventors learned about robotic arms, people started looking into making full robots. In 1966, the first mobile robot, named Shakey, was created. It was the first robot to know and react to its own actions. Later, in 1969, Victor Scheinman, a Mechanical Engineer working in the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, created the Stanford Arm. This design became the standard design for robotic arms. People still use that design today when building them. This is a breif history of robotics, but if you check out this link, [], you will find much more information. ===

Robot Programming
=== In order to program a robot to use its motors you must first ensure that it works, to do that you twist the orange circles on the front of the robot and if it makes noises then you know that it works. After you have done that, you should be positive that it is moving in the prefered direction. The last thing that you should check is how fast the motor is going to move, if it is moving too quickly it might go out of control. When programming a robot's engines you may either move forward, backward, left, or right. You can also create move intricate programs that could move then turn then move again. Some challenges of programming a robot to move would be that you have to make sure that if you are moving forward, both motors are moving not just one side. Just doing one side will cause it to turn in a circle. ===

[[image:motor_function.JPG width="204" height="174" caption="A simple program that allows your robot to move forward"]]
=== Sensors are used to sense different things. They preform all of the senses exept for smell, they replaced that with the Ultrasonic Sensor. The different kinds of sensors are the touch sensor, the light sensor, the ultrasonic sensor, and the sound sensor. The touch sensor detects touch, it detects it by pushing the button in. The light sensor detects the darkness and lightness of lights. To detect the light it must be facing down onto the light. The ultrasonic sensor can detect distance. The ultrasonic sensor looks like a pair of eyes and they go on the top of the robot. They detect the distance then you can to many different things from there. The last sensor is the sound sensor, it detects sounds that are made near it and then it can do many things following the detection. These sensors are very helpful when you are creating a program that must go through an obstacle course. The sensors will assist you in passing the obstacles. ===

Characteristics of Life
=== The first characteristic of a living thing is that it is made up of cells. Cells are fundamental units of living things, and anything smaller than a cell is not living. The cells in animals are spherical while the cells in plants are rectangular. Cells have many different parts called organisms. A few of the different kinds of cells are animal cells, plant cells, and bacteria cells. Bacterial cells eat anything they can find therefore they reproduce quickly, and they don't think about it when they are reproducing. The next characteristic of a living thing is that it needs materials. All living things need water, minerals, and air. Living things take all that they need from the environment. Humans and plants need a few different kinds of materials; humans need calcium for our bones and iron for our blood, while plants need CO2 and water in order for them to perform photosynthesis. Plants get their materials through their roots. The third characteristic of living things is that they are homeostatic. Homeostatic means that their internally living things stay about the same despite environmental changes. Living things expend a large amount of energy to maintain homeostatic. Humans try and keep their body temperature and heart rate the same and about 95% of your energy goes to that. The remaining energy goes to your movement, thinking, and anything else. Another characteristic of living things is that they respond to stimuli. A stimulus is anything that causes living things to react. There are two types of responses to stimuli, one is a positive response, moves towards the stimulus, and the other is a negative response, moves away from the stimulus. The fifth characteristic of a living thing is that it can reproduce. Reproducing is the process by which organisms produce offspring of their own kind. There are two ways that plants and animals can reproduce, one is sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction is when there are two parents involved. The other method is asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction is when there is only one parent involved. Another characteristic of a living thing is that it grows. All things develop from being a lower or simpler thing to a higher or more complex thing. In humans, the proportions of body parts to the actual body changes as we turn from embryo to adult. Mostly when you think of grow you think of getting taller, but it could also be regenerating; growing new body parts to replace old ones, cancer; uncontrolled cellular growth, or it could be galls; a harmful plant growth. The second to last characteristic of a living thing is adaptation. Adaptation is modifications that make an organism suited to its way of life. Birds have adapted so that they can fly better by having hallowed bones, and fish have fins in order for them to swim quickly and effectively. The final characteristic is respiration. Respiration is releasing energy stored in chemical bonds of sugar, or food. In humans, cells use oxygen to release energy that is stored in food molecules and CO2 then is produced as a waste product. Some organisms have to take in food to sustain life, a consumer. A few examples of consumers are animals, bacteria, fungi, and protists. Some other organisms produce their own food, they are called producers. Plants, bacteria, and protists are all producers. These eight characteristics are the characteristics of a living thing. ===

Detecting Life on Other Planets
=== Detecting life on Mars has been tried before, but nobody could find specific living organisms. There are a few ways of detecting life that we have come up with, though. One is that all living organisms need water or a form of liquid to survive. On Mars, we have discovered that underneath the surface of the planet, there is a little layer of ice. This small layer of ice proves that at some point in the past there has been water, in its liquid state. This discovery shows that there could have been life on Mars in the past. This method doesn't show us that there is life on Mars now, but it does show that there could have been living organisms in the past. The only way we can actually tell if there is life is by looking at Mars and determining if the conditions there are suitable to living things. Right now, we have the Hubble Telescope floating around in space, taking pictures of things it sees and sending them back to Earth. If the Hubble Telescope could take highly zoomed in pictures of Mars, there might be some way we could detect life without having to send people there. If a telescope wouldn't work, people could always travel there and collect samples of the rock that is on Mars and bring it back to Earth to be examined. The rock will assist scientists because we can drill into them in search of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen, the main things living things need, then that could help us in our search. ===