Module 10: Astronomical Organizations and Space Exploration

Do you know who was the first person to walk on the Moon? What about the first person in space? Would you believe that the development of rockets started in the 13th century? In this module, you will examine a brief history about the exploration of space. To understand how humans eventually made it into space and then to the Moon, you will need to learn about rockets. Rockets would eventually propel satellites, animals, and even humans to space. Once humans conquered getting off of the planet, they then sent themselves to the Moon. Now, there is a permanent home outside of space.

In addition, you will explore the worldwide astronomy organizations to which scientists and amateur astronomers belong. Then, you will learn about the current and future projects currently led by NASA. Hopefully, these projects will continue the influx of data and new discoveries about the universe. Lastly, you will explore the possibility of life outside of planet Earth and ponder the question "are humans along in the universe?"

Getting Started

Some people call space "the final frontier." This phrase has also been assigned to the study of the ocean, the human brain, as well as the medical sciences. Why do you think that these studies are all final frontiers?

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

closed system	MIR	Sergei Korolev
drag	Newton's Third Law of Motion	SETI
Drake equation	open system	space race
escape velocity	Project Apollo	Skylab
extraterrestrial	Project Gemini	Sputnik I
International Astronomical Union	Project Mercury	thrust
International Space Station	rocket	Wernher von Braun
lift