Presentation: Exploring Outer Space: Fact vs. Fiction

Environmental Science Institute; Fowler, Wallace

Presentation: Exploring Outer Space: Fact vs. Fiction

dc.creator	Environmental Science Institute	en
dc.creator	Fowler, Wallace	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-08-04T15:55:26Z	en
dc.date.available	2014-08-04T15:55:26Z	en
dc.date.issued	2004-11-19	en
dc.description	Outer space is a topic that easily captures the human imagination. But whether we are thinking about satellites circling the Earth or Star Trek, most people have at least a few misconceptions about space and space travel. This talk takes a close look at some of these misconceptions and myths. The misconceptions do not stand up if we apply physical and biological science to the problems or if we look at the economic realities of space exploration. For example, it is difficult for us to comprehend the real reason a person would be “weightless” while in orbit, having spent our lives securely stuck to the Earth by gravity. Most of us also have difficulties grasping the economics of sending people or satellites into space when the sums involved are in the many millions of dollars. Some myths about space, like those about space aliens and UFOs, are simply the result of wishful thinking or a desire for exciting, exotic explanations of ordinary events. A clear understanding of the exciting scientific and engineering challenges of outer space helps us gain new knowledge and improve our lives on Earth.	en
dc.description.department	Environmental Science Institute	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/2152/25312	en
dc.language.iso	eng	en
dc.publisher	Environmental Science Institute	en
dc.relation.ispartofseries	Hot Science - Cool Talks;No. 33	en
dc.subject	STEM	en
dc.subject	Science	en
dc.subject	Outer Space	en
dc.subject	Space	en
dc.subject	Space Travel	en
dc.title	Presentation: Exploring Outer Space: Fact vs. Fiction	en
dc.type	Learning object	en