The different types of space sciences
There are a large range of different space sciences, covering a wide spectrum from astrophysics to astrobiology. In this section we will look at some of the non-astronomy space sciences being conducted in Western Australia.After astronomy, the next two most prominent space sciences being conducted in Western Australia are space tracking and space weather monitoring.
Space Tracking
Space tracking simply involves tracking manned and unmanned space crafts. While it sounds pretty simple, it’s far from it. Communications are carried out using radio frequency waves, and as such use antenna similar to radio telescopes. At times radio telescopes are used as relay stations for incoming data, but, unless they are also fitted with a powerful transmitter, are useless for sending data or instructions back to the craft.
As the Earth is constantly spinning organisations which launch crafts into space need to have a number of stations around the globe, so that they always have line-of-sight to the craft.
One of the more recent, and publicized, examples of an unmanned spacecraft is the Cassini-Huygens probe. Once the probe reached Saturn it was transmitting a continual stream of data back to Earth. The Parkes dish was used to receive these transmissions while other NASA stations were below the horizon. If this hadn’t been done, almost one third of the data would have been lost!
Space Weather
Common thought would lead us to think that space weather monitoring might be a bit of a waste of time, because there are no clouds, wind or rain in space. All of these thoughts would be wrong! There are definitely clouds, wind and rain in space, just not in the way we might think: interstellar dust clouds, solar wind, and electron and radiation showers.
Okay, so the clouds don’t really affect us on a daily basis, but the solar wind, electron showers and radiation showers definitely do!
The majority of these are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, and don’t make it to the ground. But the space stations in orbit, and all of the satellites that we have come to rely on so heavily are regularly bombarded. Each of these is a multi-million dollar investment, and the last thing any one would want is to see them destroyed by something they could have prevented.
There is a number of space weather and near-Earth monitoring observatories all around the world, keeping an eye on the radiation levels, solar wind strength and any solar activity that might affect satellites or space stations. This will allow them to make any changes to orbits that may help limit the damage.
As well as these two space sciences, there is a host of other research being conducted in Western Australia, interstate and all around the world. Some of the other more well-known space sciences include: propulsion systems, astrobiology, astro- and extraterrestrial-geology, and chemistry.
Most physical sciences have some form of application to space, planets, stars or the universe, so a full list of space sciences would be very long!
Space Tracking
Space tracking simply involves tracking manned and unmanned space crafts. While it sounds pretty simple, it’s far from it. Communications are carried out using radio frequency waves, and as such use antenna similar to radio telescopes. At times radio telescopes are used as relay stations for incoming data, but, unless they are also fitted with a powerful transmitter, are useless for sending data or instructions back to the craft.
As the Earth is constantly spinning organisations which launch crafts into space need to have a number of stations around the globe, so that they always have line-of-sight to the craft.
One of the more recent, and publicized, examples of an unmanned spacecraft is the Cassini-Huygens probe. Once the probe reached Saturn it was transmitting a continual stream of data back to Earth. The Parkes dish was used to receive these transmissions while other NASA stations were below the horizon. If this hadn’t been done, almost one third of the data would have been lost!
Space Weather
Common thought would lead us to think that space weather monitoring might be a bit of a waste of time, because there are no clouds, wind or rain in space. All of these thoughts would be wrong! There are definitely clouds, wind and rain in space, just not in the way we might think: interstellar dust clouds, solar wind, and electron and radiation showers.
Okay, so the clouds don’t really affect us on a daily basis, but the solar wind, electron showers and radiation showers definitely do!
The majority of these are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, and don’t make it to the ground. But the space stations in orbit, and all of the satellites that we have come to rely on so heavily are regularly bombarded. Each of these is a multi-million dollar investment, and the last thing any one would want is to see them destroyed by something they could have prevented.
There is a number of space weather and near-Earth monitoring observatories all around the world, keeping an eye on the radiation levels, solar wind strength and any solar activity that might affect satellites or space stations. This will allow them to make any changes to orbits that may help limit the damage.
As well as these two space sciences, there is a host of other research being conducted in Western Australia, interstate and all around the world. Some of the other more well-known space sciences include: propulsion systems, astrobiology, astro- and extraterrestrial-geology, and chemistry.
Most physical sciences have some form of application to space, planets, stars or the universe, so a full list of space sciences would be very long!