Week 9: Space + Art

Week 9: Space + Art

Like professor Vesna mentioned that Space exploration has always been in the subject of many fantasies and fictions, Roger Malina in the Leonardo Space Art Project said, “The space age was possible because for centuries the cultural imagination was fed by artists, writers, and musicians who dreamed of human activities in space” (Leonardo Space Art Project).

It is fascinating for me to learn that fictions about space exploration are coming to life due to scientific advancement. For instance, late last year, NASA says the basic concept of a space elevator is sound, and researchers around the world are optimistic. The Obayashi Corp., a global construction firm based in Tokyo, said it would build one by 2050, and China wants to make one as soon as 2045.

Towering 22,000 miles above the Earth's equator, a space elevator transports people and payloads to geosynchronous orbit.
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/colossal-elevator-space-could-be-going-sooner-you-ever-imagined-ncna915421

It is also interesting for me to learn how nanotechnology is applied in space exploration. For instance, Professor Vesna mentioned the idea of utilizing carbon nanotubes to make the cable for the space elevator, a system which could significantly reduce the cost of sending cargo into orbit (Vesna). Scientists also employ materials made from carbon nanotubes to reduce the weight of spaceships while retaining or even increasing the structural strength. They also work with nanosensors to monitor the levels of trace chemicals in the spacecraft to monitor the performance of life support systems.

Application of Nanotechnology in Space

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU5PSjadch4

Just like Professor Vesna mentioned, spaceflight will become more commercialized, with private companies designing and building rockets to send humans into space. The example we mentioned in the lecture, SpaceX, has a goal to set up a human colony on Mars and developed reusable rockets, which dramatically reduces the cost of spaceflight. I also read in an article that far in the future, robots will replace humans on space flights. Space exploration will become automated so that pilots will not be needed on spacecraft - instead, the rockets will fly themselves!

Mars Entry
https://www.spacex.com/mars

References:

Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.

Nanotechnology in Space, www.understandingnano.com/space.html.

“A Brief History of Space Exploration.” The Aerospace Corporation, aerospace.org/article/brief-history-space-exploration.

“A Colossal Elevator to Space Could Be Going up Sooner than You Ever Imagined.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/colossal-elevator-space-could-be-going-sooner-you-ever-imagined-ncna915421.

“National Schools' Observatory.” The Future of Space Exploration | National Schools' Observatory, www.schoolsobservatory.org/learn/eng/exp/future.

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 1. 2012. Film. 2 June 2019

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 3. 2012. Film. 2 June 2019