Webquest 3

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WebQuest 3

Take Me to the Moon

Task #1

A. It lights up. It is far away from the Earth. It is big and has dark spots. It is grey and cold.

B.1) What is its source of light? Does it make its own light?

2) How far away is it?

3) Why does it look different throughout a month?

C.1) How did NASA scientists ever figure out how to get to the Moon?

2) What did we expect to find out about the Moon before we sent unmanned spaceships there?

3) Where are all of the Moon samples and what did they teach us?

Task#2

I selected two unmanned missions because these allowed the Apollo astronauts to later travel there. Both are in the Surveyor series of Lunar Missions that took place during the 1960s. This was a time of nervous excitement and anxiety over the space race with our Cold War rival USSR.

Surveyor 1 ( launched May 30, 1966, landed June 2, 1966) wa the first U.S. spacecraft to land safely on the Moon. It returned 11,240 photographs and lasted for two lunar days. It landed in the Ocean of Storms at 2degrees 28minutes 45.59 seconds S and 43 degrees 20minutes 28.92 seconds W

Surveyor 7 (landed January 10, 1968) was the fifth and final spacecraft of the Surveyor series. It landed in the highland region near Tycho: a large lunar crater which is visible with the naked eye from Earth. It returned 21, 038 images and more than 100 hours of surface composition data. Landing site 40 degrees 51minutes 36.49 secondsS and 11degrees 28minutes 12.57 secondsW

Task #3

My mission to the Moon is called Selene (after the Greek Moon Goddess, and meaning Spark Extra Learning and Encourage New Exploration). After selecting this name from mythology, I found that the Japanese have used Selene as part of the name of their recent mission. I think they made an appropriate choice. Hopefully through interesting lessons and with an increased government interest in exploring space, we can challenge the next generation of scientists.

1. The Lunar Mission will be robotic. As is evident in the Concept Map, the planning and funding for a robotic mission are significant. Within the current economic times, I doubt that a manned mission could be on the horizon for NASA, but in the future, we can hope....

2.The spacecraft will be landing on the surface of the Moon at the Aristarchus Plateau (20 degrees 55 minutes 03.30 secondsN and 58degrees 48 minutes 39.48 secondsW) where large pyroclastic deposits will be studied. Their composition offers telling insight into the make-up of the lunar interior. Pyroclastic ash could be useful if the Moon is ever inhabited by humans.

3.This geographically diverse region will lend itself to many scientific experiments and it is close to resources which could be used by future lunar settlers. * when I was a child we had television shows, books, and even cartoons(the Jetsons) about living on other planets.

4. Goals: to photograph ancient rocks to help prove the theory of collision

to reignite public interest in and Congressional support for the space program

Sadly, on this 50th anniversary( May 25, 2011) of President Kennedy's address to Congress in which he said, "We intend to be first...to become the world's leading space-faring nation...We have a long way to go in this space race. But this is the new ocean, and I believe that the United States must sail on it and be in a position second to none."

From USA Today (5/25/11)

Apollo Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, amd Gene Cernan authored an article stating that,"Kennedy launched America on that new ocean. For 50 years we explored the waters to become the leader in space exploration. Today, under the announced objectives, the voyage is over. John F. Kennedy would have been sorely disappointed."

All 3 of these astronauts commanded lunar missions. Armstrong was the first human to reach the lunar surface and Cernan was the last to leave it.5. Quite a few science instruments will be utilized including: television camera

bar magnets

horseshoe magnets

spectrometer

video and radio communications

mirrors

cameras

magnetometer

6. Yes, the mission will employ an orbiter to communicate with Earth through pictures and computer images which are translated and enhanced.

7.NA/ Due to current budgetary constraints this will be a robotic/unmanned mission.

8.No, there will be no way for the lander to launch from the Moon. The images will be so spectacular and new that the mission will stimulate Congress to allocate funding for the continued exploration of space.

Task#4

The Lunar Mission Selene is named in deference to the ancient astronomers who made bold predictions in the face of scepticism and queries, laughter and criticism. The Greek Moon Goddess Selene is a link from then to now, and to those who will study space in the future.

In the 1600s Kepler made a prediction that must have appeared as unbelievable," As soon as somebody demnstrates the art of flying, settlers from our species of man will not be lacking... Given ships or sails adapted to the breezes of heaven, ther will be those who will not shrink from even that vast expanse.Therefore, for the sake of those who... will presently be on hand to attempt this voyage,let us establish the astronomy, Galileo, you of Jupiter, and me of the Moon."

from The Big Splat by Dana Mackenzie