Why Are We Exploring Space

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Calipso

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Why?

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More Exploration Goals

Understand our Sun and its effects on Earth and the solar system

Changes in solar activity influence Earth by disrupting telecommunications, damaging satellites and power grids, threatening astronauts

Monitoring solar winds, magnetic field, impact on Earth’s magnetic field

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October 2006

Launched Friday/Saturday!

October 2006

STEREO

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Even More Exploration Goals

Advance our understanding of the origin and history of the solar system, the potential to life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as we explore.

Mars Phoenix Lander

Launch: August 2007

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Rovers … Still Going!

Mars Express (and MRO and Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey) … Still Going!

MSL: Fall 2009

MESSENGER:

Arrival March 2011

Chandrayaan: Launch Fall 2007

LRO Launch: Fall 2008

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http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/common/content/artistConcepts/large/KBO_Large.jpg

Dwarf Planet!

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Launch: 20 June 2007

New Dwarf Planet!

How did planets form early in the solar system …

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Yet More Exploration Goals

Discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of our universe and search for Earth-like planets

What happened during the Big Bang? How were stars and galaxies created? What happens at the edge of a black hole?

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And Another Exploration Goal

Advance knowledge in fundamental aeronautics and develop technology for safer aircraft and higher capacity airspace systems (aka: fly stuff safely)

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And the Final Exploration Goal

Understand the effects of space environment on human performance and test new technologies and countermeasures for long-term human space exploration