Updated Discover 470 Space 56 Science 172 Astronaut 1 Space Ace 42 STEM 241 DrScotti 43 Dr. He’s one of 100 finalists in the Mars One Project, which aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. He’s aspired to be an astronaut since he was three. Working for NASA is a dream come true for George. He also studies planetary science at the University of Central Florida. George Hatcher is an avionics engineer at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S. He works on electrical systems of uncrewed rockets. Watching the first astronaut launched into space inspired his interest in space exploration, and he enjoys sharing his enthusiasm about science and space with kids. His background is in developing lighter, stronger materials and structures for aircraft and spacecraft. Steve Scotti is Brilliant Star’s STEM Education Advisor and a Distinguished Research Associate at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, U.S. He’s now the Senior Advisor for Engineering Development at NASA’s Langley Research Center.ĭr. He traveled 5.8 million miles during his two weeks in space. He flew on the return-to-flight mission of Space Shuttle Discovery (see below) in 2005. This was probably the most fun for someone used to only playing and working on the surface of the Earth.Ĭharlie Camarda is our guest contributor for this issue. Once you reach space, you are in a near 0-gravity environment, and you can float out of your spacesuit and seats. This means that during launch your arms feel heavy and the pressure on your chest and rib cage increased, almost like having someone sit on your chest. You are inside your spacesuit during launch and strapped in tightly, with belts across your shoulders, chest, and waist to hold you securely as the vehicle accelerates to three times the acceleration of gravity. It is very much like some of the rides you may have ridden at an amusement park (like the roller coaster). Launching in space inside a spaceship is very exciting and can be a little noisy, with some vibrations. It was a much smaller vehicle which transports only three people to space, whereas the space shuttle used to fly as many as seven astronauts at one time to space. I also trained on another space vehicle built in Russia, called the Soyuz. ![]() However, when it returns to Earth, it glides like a plane with the engines turned off and lands on a runway. It flies much like a typical rocket and blasts off straight up during launch. I actually rode to space one time in the space shuttle. What is it like to be inside of a spaceship?-Nika, age 7 ![]() It’s a new space race, and odds are good you’ll see humans on or near Mars in the 2030s.-George SpaceX has already successfully developed and launched their own rockets, and founder Elon Musk hopes to send humans to Mars in the next decade or two. The Dutch non-profit foundation Mars One is shooting for a permanent departure in 2027. NASA plans to send humans into Mars orbit by 2039 at the latest. There are thousands of people around the world who are actively preparing to send humans to Mars. Tidal forces are believed by some to have broken up a moon of Saturn which formed Saturn’s rings, so perhaps a nearby planet would become rings around the Earth!-SteveĪny progress with sending people to Mars?-Luvuyo, age 13 But if a planet as big as the Earth were right next to us, the tidal forces would be very large, perhaps large enough to tear the two planets apart. The tides that you see in the Earth’s oceans are caused by gravity forces from the moon, but these forces are not very large, because the moon is much smaller than the Earth, and it is about 239,000 (384,000 km) away. What would happen if there was a planet, as big as Earth, right next to Earth?-Luthando, age 10Ī planet as big as Earth that was right next to us might not last long because of something you are already familiar with-tides. Send your questions (with your name and age) to use our Contact form. Curious kids asked questions, and we sent them to scientists who work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Our universe is full of mysteries, and some of the most mind-boggling are in space.
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