Exercises: Risks and benefits of space exploration

Name three benefits that space exploration has brought to everyday life on Earth, for example satellite weather forecasting.

State two risks to astronauts during a long mission in space.

Explain what is meant by "space debris" and state one problem it can cause.

A mission to Mars would take about $7$ months each way, with about $500$ days on the surface.

1. a) Calculate the total length of the mission in days, taking a month as $30$ days.

1. b) Give two health risks for the astronauts resulting from the length of the journey.

1. c) Give two supplies that would have to be carried or produced for the crew.

A space agency spends €2 billion on a robotic probe to study Jupiter's moons. A councillor in Cork argues that the money should be spent on hospitals instead.

1. a) Give one argument in favour of the councillor's view.

1. b) Give one argument in favour of space exploration spending.

1. c) Explain why using a robotic probe rather than a crewed mission reduces some risks.

Satellites used for communications and GPS orbit the Earth. Explain two ways in which our daily lives would be affected if all satellites stopped working, and explain how an increase in space debris could make this more likely.

A company proposes launching $10,000$ small satellites to provide internet access in remote parts of rural Ireland.

1. a) Discuss two benefits of the proposal.

1. b) Discuss two risks or drawbacks, including one for astronomy and one for the space environment.

1. c) Give and justify your own conclusion on whether the project should go ahead.

Some scientists propose mining asteroids for metals and sending humans to settle on Mars.

1. a) Discuss two scientific or technological benefits that could result.

1. b) Discuss two ethical or environmental concerns, for example contaminating other worlds with microorganisms from Earth.

1. c) Explain why it is important that decisions about space exploration involve more than scientists.

The International Space Station orbits the Earth at about $7.7$ km/s.

1. a) Calculate the distance it travels in $90$ minutes (one orbit), in km.

1. b) Explain why astronauts on the ISS experience apparent weightlessness although gravity there is still about $90\%$ of its strength at the surface.

1. c) Explain two radiation risks faced by astronauts outside the protection of the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field, and suggest one way to reduce them.