3. The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA )is an independent agency
of the executive branch of the United States
federal government responsible for the civilian
space program, as well as aeronautics and
aerospace research.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower established
NASA in 1958[10] with a distinctly civilian
(rather than military) orientation encouraging
peaceful applications in space science. The
National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed
on July 29, 1958, disestablishing NASA's
predecessor, the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency
became operational on October 1, 1958.
4. From 1946, the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics (NACA) had been experimenting with
rocket planes such as the supersonic Bell X-1.[20] In
the early 1950s, there was challenge to launch an
artificial satellite for the International Geophysical
Year (1957–58). An effort for this was the American
Project Vanguard. After the Soviet launch of the
world's first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) on October 4,
1957, the attention of the United States turned
toward its own fledgling space efforts. The US
Congress, alarmed by the perceived threat to national
security and technological leadership (known as the
"Sputnik crisis"), urged immediate and swift action;
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his advisers
counseled more deliberate measures. On January 12,
1958, NACA organized a "Special Committee on Space
Technology", headed by Guy ford Stever. On January
14, 1958, NACA Director Hugh Dryden published "A
National Research Program for Space Technology"
stating.
5. The Apollo Program (1961-72) The first person
to stand on the Moon was Neil Armstrong,
who was followed by Buzz Aldrin, while
Michael Collins orbited above. Five
subsequent Apollo missions also landed
astronauts on the Moon, the last in December
1972. Throughout these six Apollo
spaceflights, twelve men walked on the Moon.
These missions returned a wealth of scientific
data and 381.7 kilograms (842 lb) of lunar
samples. Topics covered by experiments
performed included soil mechanics,
meteoroids, seismology, heat flow, lunar
ranging, magnetic fields, and solar wind.[57]
The Moon landing marked the end of the
space race; and as a gesture, Armstrong
mentioned mankind when he stepped down
on the Moon.
6. NASA's facilities are research, construction and communication
centers to help its missions. Some facilities serve more than one
application for historic or administrative reasons. NASA also operates
a short-line railroad at the Kennedy Space Center and own special
aircraft, for instance two Boeing 747 that transport Space Shuttle
orbiter.
John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is one of the best-known NASA
facilities. It has been the launch site for every United States human
space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on pause,
KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities
for America's civilian space program from three pads at the adjoining
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
7. What is Space PROBE ?
A probe is a spacecraft that travels through
space to collect science information. Probes
do not have astronauts. Probes send data
back to Earth for scientists to study.
The First Probes
Sputnik 1 was the first probe to go into space.
It was launched on Oct. 4, 1957, by the
former Soviet Union. On Jan. 31, 1958, the
United States sent a probe called Explorer 1
into space. These first probes studied Earth
from space. They also learned what it's like to
be in space. This was the beginning of the
Space Race between the United States and
Soviet Union.
8. Who Were The First People in Space?
On April 12, 1961, a rocket stood on a launch pad in the soviet union. A
cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin waited inside. He was about to do what
no human had done before. He was about to travel to outer space. No
one knew if his brain would function in space or if he would be instantly
killed by radiation.
Later that day, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit earth. He is
flight lasted 108 minutes. News of his success was quickly broadcast
around the world.
9. What is ESA ?
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to
shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in
space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA is an international organization with 22 Member States. By coordinating the
financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes
and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
What does ESA do?
ESA’s job is to draw up the European space programmes and carry it through. ESA's
programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space
environment, our Solar System and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-
based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. ESA also
works closely with space organizations outside Europe.
10. Who belongs to ESA?
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate
Member. Canada takes part in some projects under a cooperation
agreement.
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia have
cooperation agreements with ESA. Discussions are under way with
Croatia.
11. Where is ESA located?
ESA's headquarters are in Paris which is where policies and programmes are decided.
ESA also has sites in a number of European countries, each of which has different
responsibilities:
EAC, the European Astronauts Centre in Cologne, Germany;
ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre, in Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid,
Spain;
ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany;
ESRIN, the ESA centre for Earth Observation, in Frascati, near Rome, Italy;
ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, the
Netherlands.
ECSAT, the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications,
Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
ESA Redu Centre, Belgium.
ESA also has liaison offices in Belgium, USA and Russia; a launch base in French
Guiana and ground/tracking stations in various parts of the world.
12. How many people work for ESA?
There are around 2200 staff working for ESA, from all the Member States and include
scientists, engineers, information technology specialists and administrative
personnel.
Where do ESA’s funds come from?
ESA’s mandatory activities (space science programmes and the general budget) are
funded by a financial contribution from all the Agency’s Member States, calculated in
accordance with each country’s gross national product. In addition, ESA conducts a
number of optional programmes. Each Member State decides in which optional
programme they wish to participate and the amount they wish to contribute.
How big is ESA’s budget?
ESA's budget for 2017 is €5.75 billion. ESA operates on the basis of geographical
return, i.e. it invests in each Member State, through industrial contracts for space
programmes, an amount more or less equivalent to each country’s contribution.
13. How much does each European spend on ESA?
European per capita investment in space is very little. On average,
every citizen of an ESA Member State pays, in taxes for expenditure on
space, about the same as the price of a cinema ticket (in USA,
investment in civilian space activities is almost four times as much).
How does ESA operate?
The Council is ESA's governing body and provides the basic policy
guidelines within which ESA develops the European space programme.
Each Member State is represented on the Council and has one vote,
regardless of its size or financial contribution.
ESA is headed by a Director General who is elected by the Council
every four years. Each individual research sector has its own
Directorate and reports directly to the Director General. The present
Director General of ESA is Jan Woerner.
14. What is Diwata -1?
Diwata-1[6] also known as PHL-Microsat-1 is a Philippine microsatellite
launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in March 23, 2016, and
was deployed into orbit from the ISS in April 27, 2016. It is the first
Philippine microsatellite and the first satellite built and designed by
Filipinos.
15. Background
Hokkaido University and Tohoku University of Japan initiated a project
to send 50 microsatellites into space by 2050. The project will
photograph aftermaths of natural disasters, partnering with
governments, universities and other organizations based in Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, and
Vietnam. Two satellites are commissioned for the Philippine
government.
Diwata-1 is the first satellite of the venture and is also a part of the
Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Scientific Earth
Observation Micro-Satellite (PHL-Microsat) Program[11] which was
initiated in December 2014 by the government agency.[5] The satellite
is an updated version of the Raijin-2, which was developed by the two
Japanese universities.
17. Background
A team of nine Filipino engineers from the DOST-Advanced Science and
Technology Institute (ASTI) and the University of the Philippines, dubbed
the "Magnificent 9", were responsible for the production of Diwata-1
and collaborated with scientists and engineers from the two Japanese
universities.[6][14] They were sent to Japan in October 2015.[15] The
second (unnamed) microsatellite will be developed later. Assembly and
testing of Diwata-1 was completed in December 2015.[16]
Diwata-1 was handed over to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) on January 13, 2016, at the Tsukuba Space Center in Tsukuba,
Japan.[6][8][16] On January 18, 2016,[17] JAXA sent the satellite to the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in the United
States, after conducting final tests on the satellite.
18. Launch and mission
The launch of Diwata-1 occurred on March 23, 2016, at Cape
Canaveral, Florida in the United States. It was a payload of Orbital
ATK's Cygnus spacecraft which was launched through the Atlas V
rocket as part of a supply mission to the International Space Station
(ISS).[20][2][18] Initially the plan was reportedly to launch Diwata-1
through a vehicle by SpaceX, from either California or Florida to the
ISS.[16] Earlier, an orbital slot was secured from JAXA for Diwata-
1.[21] Cygnus managed to reach the ISS in March 26. The
spacecraft unloaded its cargo, including Diwata-1, to the ISS in the
span of two weeks.