INTRODUCTION

Ministerul Educaiei i Cercetrii tiinifice

Colegiul Naional Pedagogic tefan Odobleja

Atestat de competen lingvistic pentru absolvenii claselor cu predare intensiv a unei limbi strine limba englez

Profesor coordonator Candidat Vlceanu Lidia Neagu Ctlin-Daniel

MAI 2015

CONTENTS

CONTENTS1INTRODUCTION2A BRIEF HISTORY3THEIR WORK TODAY4ORGANIZATION5JOURNEY TO MARS6THE ISS7FAMOUS ASTRONAUTS8KEPLER SPACE TELESCOPE9PROJECT APOLLO10SPACE AND DAY-TO-DAY LIFE12CONCLUSION14PHOTOS15SOURCES17

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INTRODUCTION

NASA is our most important connection with anything beyond our planet. Their goal is to answer some simple questions that the humankind has been trying to for decades: What's out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth?I must admit that I am fascinated by the Universe and the mysteries it contains, so it is only natural that these questions should cross my mind, at one point or the other, and, like many others, answering them is either impossible or imply pure speculations.Therefore, anyone who is seeking the truth behind those speculations and come forward with scientific explanations and evidence, should be highly regarded and worthy of admiration as this matter is very complicated and requires a tremendous amount of time, money and carefulness.

Some people consider their efforts meaningless because ,finding answers for questions no oneasks, is a waste of time. But, what they dont know is that pursuing those answers will not only benefit the world around us in a practical manner, but it will also present us with the opportunity to satisfy our hunger for the worlds most important resource: knowledge.

To reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind. This vision should encourage people to recognize and support the efforts of those who try to make the world, our planet, a better place by unraveling the mysteries that arouse fear in the hearts of humans, just by thinking about them and push them forward to break the barrier born from fear and ignorance that kept the humanity from getting a step closer to truth and ultimately, to break the last frontier.

A BRIEF HISTORY

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite the previous year. NASA grew out of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which had been researching flight technology for more than 40 years.President John F. Kennedy focused NASA and the nation on sending astronauts to the moon by the end of the 1960s. Through the Mercury and Gemini projects, NASA developed the technology and skills it needed for the journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first of 12 men to walk on the moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge.Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the aeronautics research pioneered by NACA. It also conducted purely scientific research and worked on developing applications for space technology, combining both pursuits in developing the first weather and communications satellites.After Apollo, NASA focused on creating a reusable ship to provide regular access to space: the space shuttle. First launched in 1981, the space shuttle flew more than 130 successful missions before being retired in 2011. In 2000, the United States and Russia established permanent human presence in space aboard the International Space Station, a multinational project representing the work of 15 nations.NASA also has continued its scientific research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder became the first in a fleet of spacecraft that will explore Mars in the next decade, as we try to determine whether life ever existed there. The Terra, Aqua and Aura Earth Observing System satellites are flagships of a different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, designed to help us understand how our home world is changing. NASA's aeronautics teams are focused on improving aviation, so it meets the explosive growth in global demand for air services.Throughout its history, NASA has conducted or funded research that has led to numerous improvements to life here on Earth.

THEIR WORK TODAY

In the early 21st century, NASA is extending our senses to see the farthest reaches of the universe, while pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight farther from Earth than ever before.

Humankind is poised to take itsNext Giant Leap, far beyond the frontiers of exploration we've reached to date. On Earth and in space, the agency is developing new capabilities to send future human missions to an asteroid and Mars. Mars once had conditions suitable for life. Future exploration on ourJourney to Marscould uncover evidence of past life, answering one of the fundamental mysteries of the cosmos: Does life exist beyond Earth?An unprecedented array of science missions is seeking new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system and the universe.

We're studying Earth right nowthrough current and future spacecraft helping answer critical challenges facing our planet: climate change, sea level rise, freshwater resources and extreme weather events.A fleet of robotic explorers is on and around Mars, dramatically increasing our knowledge about the Red Planet, paving the way for future human explorers.Multiple NASA missions are studying our sun and the solar system, unraveling mysteries about their origin and evolution. By understanding variations of the sun in real-time, we can better characterize space weather, which can impact exploration and technology on Earth.

TheNew Horizons spacecraftnears Pluto for a July 2015 rendezvous, which will provide the closest views we've ever had of the dwarf planet.The Juno spacecraftis poised to reach Jupiter in 2016, and will peer beneath its dense gas to reveal the mysteries of its core.

NASA telescopes also are peering into the farthest reaches of the universe and back to its earliest moments of existence, helping us understand the universe's origin, evolution, and destiny. Entering its 25th year, theHubble Space Telescopecontinues to explore as NASA develops its successor,the James Webb Space Telescope, which will capture light from the universe's earliest stars.

ORGANIZATION

NASA Headquarters, in Washington, provides overall guidance and direction to the agency, under the leadership of the administrator. Ten field centers and a variety of installations conduct the day-to-day work, in laboratories, on air fields, in wind tunnels and in control rooms.NASA conducts its work in four principal organizations, called mission directorates:

Aeronautics: manages research focused on meeting global demand for air mobility in ways that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also embracing revolutionary technology from outside aviation.

Human Exploration and Operations: focuses on International Space Station operations, development of commercial spaceflight capabilities and human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

Science: explores the Earth, solar system and universe beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.

Space Technology: rapidly develops, innovates, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies that enable NASA's future missions while providing economic benefit to the nation.

JOURNEY TO MARS

NASA is developing the capabilities needed to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s goals outlined in the bipartisan NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and in the U.S. National Space Policy, also issued in 2010.Mars is a rich destination for scientific discovery and robotic and human exploration as we expand our presence into the solar system. Its formation and evolution are comparable to Earth, helping us learn more about our own planets history and future. Mars had conditions suitable for life in its past. Future exploration could uncover evidence of life, answering one of the fundamental mysteries of the cosmos: Does life exist beyond Earth?While robotic explorers have studied Mars for more than 40 years, NASAs path for the human exploration of Mars begins in low-Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts on the orbiting laboratory are helping us prove many of the technologies and communications systems needed for human missions to deep space, including Mars. The space station also advances our understanding of how the body changes in space and how to protect astronaut health.A fleet of robotic spacecraft and rovers already are on and around Mars, dramatically increasing our knowledge about the Red Planet and paving the way for future human explorers. The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover measured radiation on the way to Mars and is sending back radiation data from the surface. This data will help us plan how to protect the astronauts who will explore Mars. Future missions like the Mars 2020 rover, seeking signs of past life, also will demonstrate new technologies that could help astronauts survive on Mars.Engineers and scientists around the country are working hard to develop the technologies astronauts will use to one day live and work on Mars, and safely return home from the next giant leap for humanity. NASA also is a leader in a Global Exploration Roadmap, working with international partners and the U.S. commercial space industry on a coordinated expansion of human presence into the solar system, with human missions to the surface of Mars as the driving goal.

THE ISS

TheInternational Space Station(ISS) is aspace station, or a habitableartificial satellite, inlow Earth orbit. It is a modular structure whose first component was launched in 1998.Now the largest artificial body in orbit, it can often be seen with the naked eyefrom Earth.The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses,solar arraysand other components. ISS components have been launched by AmericanSpace Shuttlesas well as RussianProtonandSoyuzrockets.The ISS serves as amicrogravityandspace environmentresearch laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology,human biology,physics,astronomy,meteorologyandother fieldsThe station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars]The ISSmaintains an orbit with an altitude of between 330 and 435km by means of reboost manoeuvres using the engines of the Zvezda module or visiting spacecraft. It completes 15.54orbits per day.The ISS provides a location in the relative safety of Low Earth Orbit to test spacecraft systems that will be required for long-duration missions tothe MoonandMars. This provides experience in operations, maintenance as well as repair and replacement activities on-orbit, which will be essential skills in operating spacecraft farther from Earth, mission risks can be reduced and the capabilities of interplanetary spacecraft advancedA typical day for the crew begins with a wake-up at 06:00, followed by post-sleep activities and a morning inspection of the station. The crew then eats breakfast and takes part in a daily planning conference with Mission Control before starting work at around 08:10. The first scheduled exercise of the day follows, after which the crew continues work until 13:05. Following a one-hour lunch break, the afternoon consists of more exercise and work before the crew carries out its pre-sleep activities beginning at 19:30, including dinner and a crew conference. The scheduled sleep period begins at 21:30. In general, the crew works ten hours per day on a weekday, and five hours on Saturdays, with the rest of the time their own for relaxation or work catch-up.

FAMOUS ASTRONAUTS

There have been many astronauts who have made tremendous contributions to our knowledge of space. Here are some of the most famous astronauts along with some of their accomplishments.

Alan B Shepard Jr. was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He was born November 18, 1923 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree. While in the Navy, Shepard became a pilot. Eventually, he joined NASA. One of the seven Mercury astronauts, Shepard became the first American in space. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard took his first trip into space. He was beat into space by the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin by only a few weeks. Shepard went on to lead other missions into space including theApollo XIVmission to the Moon.

Neil Armstrong is one of the most famous astronauts ever. He was born August 5, 1930 and graduated from He flew in theApollo 11to the Moon with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. He was the first person to land and walk on the Moon. A test pilot, Armstrong has flown over 200 different types of aircraft in his long career. As he stepped on the Moon, Armstrong uttered the famous words, Thats one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.

John Glenn Jr. was a fighter pilot and a test pilot. He was one of the first seven Mercury astronauts chosen by Americas Space Program. John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in a mission in February 1962. He earned the Space Congressional Medal of Honor for his contributions to spaceflight. After an extensive career as an astronaut, Glenn became a U.S. Senator who was reelected several times.

KEPLER SPACE TELESCOPE

Kepler is aspace observatorylaunched byNASAto discoverEarth-like planetsorbiting other stars.The spacecraft, named after the Renaissance astronomerJohannes Kepler,was launched on March 7, 2009.

Designed to survey a portion of our region of theMilky Wayto discover dozens ofEarth-sizeextra-solar planetsin or near the habitable zoneand estimate how many of the billions of stars in our galaxy have such planets, Kepler's sole instrument is aphotometerthat continually monitors the brightness of over 145,000main sequence starsin a fixed field of view..These data are transmitted toEarth, thenanalyzed to detectperiodic dimming caused by extrasolar planets thatcross in frontof their host star.How many stars like our sun host planets like our Earth? NASAs Kepler Space Telescope continuously monitored more than 150,000 stars beyond our solar system, and to date has offered scientists an assortment of more than 4,000 candidate planets for further study -- the 1,000th of which was recently verified.Using Kepler data, scientists reached this millenary milestone after validating that eight more candidates spotted by the planet-hunting telescope are, in fact, planets. The Kepler team also has added another 554 candidates to the roll of potential planets, six of which are near-Earth-size and orbit in the habitable zone of stars similar to our sun."Each result from the planet-hunting Kepler mission's treasure trove of data takes us another step closer to answering the question of whether we are alone in the Universe," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASAs Science Mission Directorate at the agencys headquarters in Washington. The Kepler team and its science community continue to produce impressive results with the data from this venerable explorer."

PROJECT APOLLO

TheApollo program, also known asProject Apollo, was the thirdUnited Stateshuman spaceflightprogram carried out by NASA, which accomplished landingthe first twelve humans on the Moonfrom 1969 to 1972. First conceived during thePresidency of Dwight D. Eisenhoweras a three-man spacecraft to follow the one-manProject Mercurywhich put the first Americans in space, Apollo was later dedicated toPresidentJohn F. Kennedy's national goal of "landing a man on theMoonand returning him safely to the Earth" by the end of the 1960s, which he proposed in a May 25, 1961 address toCongress. Project Mercury was followed by the two-manProject Gemini(196266). The first manned flight of Apollo was in 1968.Kennedy's goal was accomplished on theApollo 11mission when astronautsNeil ArmstrongandBuzz Aldrinlanded theirLunar Module(LM) on July 20, 1969, and walked on the lunar surface, whileMichael Collinsremained inlunar orbitin theCommand/Service Module(CSM), and all three landed safely on Earth on July 24. Five subsequent Apollo missions also landedastronautson the Moon, the last in December 1972. In these six spaceflights, 12 men walked on the Moon.Apollo set several majorhuman spaceflight milestones. It stands alone in sending manned missions beyondlow Earth orbit;Apollo 8was the first manned spacecraft to orbit another celestial body, while the finalApollo 17mission marked the sixth Moon landing and the ninth manned mission beyond low Earth orbit. The program returned 842 pounds (382kg) of lunar rocks andsoilto Earth, greatly contributing to the understanding of the Moon's composition and geological history. The program laid the foundation for NASA's current human spaceflight capability, and funded construction of itsJohnson Space CenterandKennedy Space Center. Apollo also spurred advances in many areas of technology incidental to rocketry andmanned spaceflight, includingavionics, telecommunications, and computers.

VOYAGER PROGRAM

TheVoyager programis a continuingAmericanscientific program that employs tworoboticprobes,Voyager 1andVoyager 2,to study theouter solar system. They were launched in 1977 to take advantage of a favorable alignment ofJupiter,Saturn,Uranus, and Neptune, and are now exploring the outer boundary of theheliosphere (the region dominated by the sun). Although their original mission was to study only the planetary systems of Jupiter and Saturn,Voyager 2continued on to Uranus and Neptune, and both Voyagers are now tasked with exploring interstellar space. Their mission has been extended three times, and both probes continue to collect and relay useful scientific data.Data and photographs collected by theVoyagerscameras,magnetometers, and other instruments revealed previously unknown details about each of thegiant planetsand theirmoons. Close-up images from the spacecraft charted Jupiters complex cloud forms, winds, and storm systems and discovered volcanic activity on its moonIo. Saturns rings were found to have enigmatic braids, kinks, and spokes and to be accompanied by a large number of ringlets. At UranusVoyager 2discovered a substantial magnetic field around the planet and 10 additional moons. Its flyby of Neptune uncovered three complete rings and six unknown moons as well as a planetarymagnetic fieldand complex, widely distributedauroras.The Voyager primary mission was completed in 1989, with the close flyby of Neptune byVoyager 2. The Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM) is a mission extension, which began when the two spacecraft had already been in flight for over 12 years.Both spacecraft also have adequate electrical power and attitude control propellant to continue operating until around 2025, after which there may not be available electrical power to support science instrument operation. At that time, science data return and spacecraft operations will cease.Voyager 1and2both carry with them a 12 inch golden phonograph record that contains pictures and sounds of Earth along with symbolic directions on the cover for playing the record and data detailing the location of our planet.The record is intended as a combination of atime capsuleand an interstellar message to any civilization, alien or far-future human that may recover either of theVoyagercraft. The contents of this record were selected by a committee that includedTimothy Ferris (scince journalist)and was chaired byCarl Sagan (astrophysicist).

SPACE AND DAY-TO-DAY LIFE

"NASA develops technologies to push the boundaries of what's possible in space, but those same technologies also make life better here on Earth," said Daniel Lockney, NASA's Technology Transfer program executive. Here are some examples of how space exploration can benefit our day-to-day life:

Long-distance Telecommunications

Used for everything from communications and spying to research and development, with around 200 NASA satellites orbiting the Earth every day, this technology has made it possible for us to stay in touch with people on the other side of the globe instantaneously.

Invisible braces

Kids with braces have to endure taunts about being a geek and nerd. That is why this NASA Discovery come in so handy to those who dont want to go through the ordeal of having a mouth full of visible metal. Invisible Braces translucent polycrystalline alumina was created by NASA Advanced Ceramics Research in collaboration with a company called Ceradyne to protect the infrared antenna of heat-seeking missile trackers.

Scratch-resistant lenses

NASA needed a special coating to protect space equipment from dirt found in the space environment so they came up with their special plastics coating. Now, were enjoying sunglasses that are resistant to scratches. Whats better, plastic is cheaper than glass and is better at absorbing ultraviolet radiation.

Smoke detector

NASA invented the first adjustable smoke detector to let astronauts know if there was fire or if noxious gases were loose in Skylab, the first US space station. Now, were enjoying safety from fire in our homes thanks to this technology.

Cordless Tools

When man was about to land on the Moon, NASA needed equipment astronauts could use to get rock and soil samples. The tool needed to be lightweight and powerful enough to drill into the moons surface. NASA, together with Black and Decker, figured out that attaching a cord to a drill would be difficult for the astronauts so they invented a battery-operated motor drill. Now, cordless tools abound because of this invention.

Improved radial tires

NASA, along with Goodyear and Rubber company, developed a fibrous material five times more durable than steel. It was used in parachute shrouds to soft-land the Viking Lander spacecraft on Mars. Goodyear then used the discovery and produced a new radial tire with 10,000 mile tread life expectancy

LEDs

High-intensity LED (Light-emitting Diodes) units were developed for the NASA space shuttles. LED works when an electric current is applied in the forward direction of a device and a light is emitted by a semiconductor diode. LEDs are making great advances in power-efficiency and will soon play a vital role in general lighting..

Firefighting equipment

NASA and the National Bureau of Fire Standards built a lightweight breathing system of mask, frame, harness and air bottle using an aluminum composite material developed by NASA for use on rocket casings. The breathing apparatus is now widely used for protection from smoke inhalation injury. In addition to that, the inductorless electronic circuit technology developed by NASA is now used by firefighters as short-range two-way radios.

Video enhancing and analysis system

Video Image Stabilization and Registration (VISAR) technology was created by NASA to assist FBI agents investigating video footage. This tool offers frame-by-frame analysis, full-resolution video, conversion of analog video to digital formats and enhanced quality of filmed subjects without distorting underlying footage.

CONCLUSION

NASA has done astonishing work so far in developing new technologies and discovering some of the Universes secrets which humanity, at some point, thought to be an impossible task. They will remain the world's leader in space exploration and scientific discovery for years to come as their staff is working hard to develop new ideas and projects that will bring critical advances in aerospace, technology development and aeronautics that will continue to influence our lives.

They are setting new standards for others agencies around the globe to follow, ensuring ,in this way, a continuous progress in all their fields of work that leads to new ideas and discoveries that will help humanity on its road of understanding, even a little, the universe.

Furthermore, their work inspires and helps scientists to develop new theories about how the Universe was created, where we come from and other important questions that have been avoided or not known at all, theories which will lay the foundation of new fields of work, new challenges and new problems. All of this is a part of our evolution as a species, this road being required to finding our role in the Universe.

Therefore, NASA can be considered an ambassador which forms the connection between humanity and the rest of the Universe and makes sure that this connection is permanently improved and that we will, someday, uncover the truth thats hidden among the stars. NASA is an engine of innovation and inspiration as well as the world's premier space exploration agency, and we are well served by politicians working to keep it that way, instead of turning it into a mere jobs program, or worse, cutting its budget. -Bill Nye

IMAGES

SOURCES

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