Cadet Phase I & II Aerospace Dimensions Space Environment (Module 5)

1. Cadet Phase I & IIAerospace DimensionsSpace Environment (Module 5) Session 1: Chapter 1 ‘Space’ Session 2: Chapter 2 ‘Solar System (ONLY for all Cadets that have not yet passed corresponding AE test, and Cadet Mentors) Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

2. Space • SPACE is the place outside the planet Earth • Atmosphere gradually thins until it is effectively vacuum • Space is not a true vacuum, but atoms and molecules are so far apart that for practical purposes it is, since they do not interact • USAF & NASA count space as past 50 miles altitude • The UNIVERSE contains Everything - Galaxies, Stars, Planets, Plants, Animals, People etc. • Characteristics of Space: • Microgravity - NOT zero, but MUCH less than on Earth • Can be simulated by falling at an acceleration equal to that due to gravity, ie. 9.8 m/s², as on NASA’s ‘Vomit Comet’ Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

3. Space • Regions of Space: • Cislunar Space - between Earth and the Moon • Distance varies, but average is 237,087 miles • NOT a vacuum, contains part of Earth’s magnetosphere, and can contain meteoroids, asteroids and comets • Interplanetary Space - center of the Sun to the orbit of the outermost planet (Pluto) = 4,56,000,000 miles • Contains 9 planets, Asteroid Belt, Charged Particles, Magnetic Fields, Dust, Gas and more. • Commonly called the ‘Solar System’ • Interstellar Space - the Space between neighboring Solar Systems • Relatively empty, but still contains dust, gas, asteroids, comets and more. Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

4. Space • Contents of the Universe • Galaxies - An enormous collection of Stars, arranged in either a Spiral, Elliptical or Irregular Pattern • 100,000 to 3,000 Billion Stars each • Our Galaxy is Called the Milky Way - Spiral, ~ 100 - 200 Billion Stars and Solar Systems, Central Bulge and 4 Arms, overall about 150,000 light years across • Light Year ~ 6,000,000,000,000 miles • Nebulae - Giant Clouds of Gas and/or Dust • May be Dark or Bright • Dark Nebulae may be matter that has not condensed to form a star • Bright Nebulae may be the remnants of a Star, after is has gone Supernova (exploded) • May Spin and Move Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

5. Space • Stars - Bodies of Hot Gas, usually Hydrogen and helium • Very large, with enormous gravity fields, which holds the gas together in a sphere • Resulting Pressure and Heat initiates a Nuclear Reaction which becomes self sustaining • Stars give off huge amounts of Heat, Light and other Energy forms • Eventually Stars die (reaction stops), either gradually, or in a dramatic explosion called a Supernova • Constellations - A grouping of stars, which form a shape, and are named, often from ancient mythology • e.g. Ursa Major (Great Bear) • Modern Astronomers use 88 Constellations Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

6. Space • Binary Stars - Two Stars orbiting together around a single gravitational center • Quazar - Huge Luminous bodies (Solar System sized) - thought to be gases spiraling into a central Black Hole • Emits up to 10,000 times more Energy than the entire Milky Way Galaxy • Pulsar - Star which emits flashes of electromagnetic energy • may be the result of spinning fields, orbital wobble, twin systems or invisible bodies near the star • Black Hole - A former star which became so massive that it collapsed in on itself • So dense that its gravity is immense, drawing everything in, even light! • One theory posits that our galaxy has a super-massive black hole at its center Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

7. Space • Space Environment Around the Earth • Ionosphere - contains charges (ionized) gas particles • Cased by radiation bombardment ‘knocking’ electrons loose from their atoms • Ranges from 60 to 600 miles above earth’s surface • Reflects Radio Waves • Magnetosphere - Magnetic Fields of Force surrounding the Earth • From 215 miles into Interstellar Space • Distorted by bombardment by the ‘Solar Winds’ • Van Allen Belts - Radiation Bands around the Earth, filled with charged particles • 2 Crescent shaped shells • Astronauts and Satellites must avoid these belts, due to the extreme radiation Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

8. Space • Important Names (Quiz): • Black Hole • Cislunar Space • Constellation • Galaxy • Interplanetary Space • Interstellar Space • Microgravity • Nebulae • Pulsar • Space • Star • Universe • Van Allen Belts Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

9. Solar System • The Solar System consists of the Sun, nine Planets which revolve around it, their Moons, plus various Asteroids, Comets and other Celestial Bodies • The Sun • A medium sized Star, 100 times Earth’s diameter, which provides our light, heat, and the gravity which holds the Solar System together • It is 90% Hydrogen gas, 9% Helium, the Hydrogen is continuously being converted to Helium by Nuclear Fusion • It is HOT, 15,000,000 °C at the center, and ‘only’ 4,200 °C in the darker cooler Sun Spots on its surface • The Sun regularly discharges material into space with huge explosions called Solar Flares, of which the biggest and longest lasting (thousands of miles and several months duration) are called Prominences Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

10. Solar System • The Moon • A cold ball or rock and dust, ¼ the Earth’s diameter, which orbits the Earth once every 27 days (i.e. 1 Moon Day), at between 252,000 and 221,000 miles distance • One side ‘the Dark Side’ always faces away from us • Moon surface temperatures range from +250 to -250 °F • The surface is covered in impact craters, and is made of Basalt and Anorthosite rock • The Planets - Nine in total, all quite Different: • Mercury - Closest to the Sun (36 Mil. Miles) • Dusty, Rocky surface, with almost no atmosphere • Surface temperatures range from +800 to -300 °F • An 88 day year (Earth days), with a Mercury day lasting 59 Earth days Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

11. Solar System • Venus - 2nd closest to the Sun • Poisonous Desert planet, with an atmosphere of 96% Carbon Dioxide, 4% Nitrogen, with Water and Sulfuric Acid clouds • Surface temperatures above 850 °F, which makes it the hottest planet in our Solar System • 225 day year (Earth days), with a Venus day lasting 243 Earth days • The ONLY planet which rotates Clockwise • Earth - The only place we know of that supports life • 67% Water on the surface, with an atmosphere of 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen • Mars - The ‘Red Planet’ • Atmosphere of 95% Carbon Dioxide, 3% Nitrogen • Red Color is due to Iron Oxide dust (rust) on the surface • Surface has huge mountains and Volcanoes, with temperatures ranging from +65 to -130 °F • Gravity ½ Earth’s, Day almost the same, Year twice as long Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

12. Solar System • Jupiter - Our Largest Planet • 3 times the mass of ALL our other planets combined • 11 times larger than Earth • Atmosphere of 90% Hydrogen • Temperatures ranging from +60,000 at the center to +220 °F in the upper cloud layers • 1 Jupiter Year = 11 Earth Years, but I day is only 10 Earth hours, which means VERY fast rotation • Atmosphere is very turbulent, with one storm (the Red Spot) 30,000 miles wide by 10,000 miles high! • It has 16 moons • Saturn - The Ringed planet, with 17 Moons • VERY cold, made of liquid hydrogen and helium • The rings are made of rock, ice and dust, 1 mile thick • 1 Saturn Year = 29 Earth Years, but I day is only 10 Earth hours, which means VERY fast rotation like Jupiter • ‘Surface’ Temperatures range from +130 to -330 °F Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

13. Solar System • Uranus - Blue/Green Gas Giant • 3rd largest planet • Rock core, with a liquid/ice water, ammonia, and methane surface, with a hydrogen, helium and methane atmosphere • Temperatures are fairly constant at about -340 °F • 1 Uranus Year = 84 Earth Years, but I day is only 18 Earth hours, but, due to a 60 ° axis tilt, it has 42 years of night followed by 42 years of day! • Like Saturn Uranus has rings, and moons, but it rings are faint, and it ‘only’ has 15 moons • Neptune - The Windy Planet (1,500 mph winds!) • Another Gas giant, essentially the same composition as Uranus, but appears slightly bluer • 1 Neptune Year = 165 Earth Years, but I day is only 19 Earth hours • It has faint rings, and 8 moons Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

14. Solar System • Pluto - The smallest and Farthest Planet • Rock core, with water/ice surface, and methane frost • 1 moon, which is nearly half its size • I Pluto day is about 6.5 Earth Days • Unusual tilted, elliptical orbit • Other Bodies • Asteroids - Chunks of rock ranging from Dust Particles to the size huge Mountain ranges • Most found in the Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter • Comets - Giant dirty snowballs, head a few miles across, the tail (gas and dust) can be millions of miles long • Meteorites (Meteor, Meteoroid, Micrometeorite) -Dust/Rock Particle/Ball • Micrometeorite = Dust particle • Meteoroid = Sand Grain • Meteor = Meteoroid which enters the atmosphere • Meteorite = what actually survives to impact the surface Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing

15. Solar System • Important Names (Quiz): • Solar System • Comet • Asteroid • Meteoroid • Meteor • Solar Flares • Solar Prominences • Sunspots Dr. R.A. Bartholomew - Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing