| In Our Class We Wonder �. �how powerful is the moon's gravity �How people discovered the moon and how it got it's name and what it looks like on the moon? �if you can breathe on the moon like you can on Earth? Is there gravity on the moon? What is inside the moon? Could the moon change it's orbit or colors? �if the moon could ever fall from space into earth? �how big the moon is compared to the Earth. � is a man in the moon and who has been on the moon? �if our moon is the same as the other moons in the solar system and if it is different, why are the others called moons too? �what kind of craters the moon has. Also, is there any water on the moon, which means I have to wonder if there�s life on the moon. �if the moon ever turns different shades. I know the moon has a darker and lighter color, but does it turn yellowish or goldish color? Is the moons surface hot or cold? How many craters are on the moon? �if the moon grows or shrinks because it looks smaller at times. �how long it takes for light from the sun to reach the moon. Or even if light does reach the moon �how the moon changes like upside down and all around. �what the moon is made of �how many craters are on the moon and if it changes colors as it seems to. Why is there one day of every year where the moon is REALLY big? �if the moon stays one shape or is it always changing to a new phase. Last night it looked like it had stayed the same phase �is there �stuff� in the moon�s craters? � If when craters hit the moon do they break or do they float away �if the moon changes colors if there�s a lot of light or not a lot reflecting on it. �when willl be the next time the moon will have the gas stuff around it to make the moon different colors �why the moon sometimes looks orange and reddish �if there is still a flag on the moon �if the moon has days, month and years like the earth �if the moon can come close to the earth and revolve around the world and not be seen for a couple of days and then seen again? �why people think the moon is made of cheese �why haven�t people tried to inhabit the moon yet? Why is the moon the only place we have gone to yet? Why does the Earth have only one moon? �why the craters don�t make the moon fall apart when the asteroids hit the moon? �why the moon is sometimes half and sometimes whole. IF OUR CLASS HAD ALL THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOON, THEN WE WANTED TO EXPLORE IT MORE AND INFORM OTHERS ABOUT IT. |
| Why Explore the Moon? Because .... |
| Inevitable Uncertainties |
| President Bush on January 14, 2004 said "We need to see and examine and touch for ourselves, and only human beings are capable of adapting to the inevitable uncertainties posed by space flight." It was proposed that the United States will focus its space program on going to the moon and setting up a colony. It will not be easy forming a colony on the moon. It is indeed a harsh environment. There is almost no atmosphere and no water as we know it. It is mostly rocky with ice craters at the poles. There is no magnetic field and the gravity is much lower than that on Earth. The temperatures vary widely from 273 degrees F on the sunny side in the daytime to minus 234 degrees F on the dark side. High energy particles, micrometeorites and solar radiation strike the surface continuously. How can people survive in this harsh environment? The most important thing is air. We would need a place with an artiificial atmosphere. Space suits with air can only be worn for so long. We would need just the right mix of oxygen and nitrogen. The Earth's air is 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. But the space shuttles are 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen and space suits are 100% oxygen. The space suit itself must be durable for harsh environments. With its high oxygen, astronauts have problems reentering the craft, so pressure must be looked at. Spacesuits also have a liquid cooling to control body temperature. It must also remove harmful gases like carbon dioxide. It is also very important that the people in harsh environments, whether in a spacesuit, colony or craft, have communication. They need to communicate with each other, their base and Earth. We need water to live in any environment. Since the moon cannot provide this, we need a way to make water. Experiments have been done to make urine into drinkable water. Food is another necessity for living in harsh environments like the moon. Space explorers need nourishment that is light in weight, in disposable containers, and provides all the vitamins and minerals they need. We have explored on Earth how to grow food in harsh environments like without soil (hydroponics), in sand, water and on rocks. Astronauts have grown tomatoes and plants in space. It is possible that we can grow food in the harsh environment of the moon to sustain life. |
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