Satellites were used to provide information on enemy troop formations and movements, early warning of enemy missile attacks, and precise navigation in the featureless desert terrain. Aerospace announced the expansion of its research and development operations in Huntsville, Ala., to support the rapid growth of space and missile defense research and development programs. Mars is focal point of modern space exploration, and manned Mars exploration is a long-term goal of the. Traphagan JW. 2020. Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology. Image above: Three crewmembers of mission STS-49 hold onto the 4.5 ton International Telecommunications Organization Satellite (INTELSAT) VI after a six- handed "capture" was made minutes earlier during the mission's third extravehicular activity (EVA). Have we found any signs of life? If you were researching the Endeavour and Mae Jemison through the social science lens, you would think about how this topic relates to or has impacted culture, society and humanity. The Lenses Identified. False-colour images of Mars in 2004 used colour to detail terrain in a manner different from that visible to the naked eye. The development of ballistic missiles, first used by Germany toward the end of World War II, paved the way for the launch vehicles that would fuel a space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Social Science and Natural Science Lens view of space exploration in different, Social science views space exploration as a key to our human existence , and. To accept cookies, click continue. These range from the work of serious scientists (e.g., METI International) to private initiatives (e.g., the Interstellar Beacon Project). The humanities and the social sciences in particular can shape the way we think about our relationship with space. For example, the main goal of planetary protection is often taken to be protecting the science (NRC 2006, p. 6). Humanists often seek to complicate existing answers, especially Finally, several scientists have done significant work on the humanistic side of things, including Chris McKay of NASA Ames, Margaret Race of the SETI Institute, and Carl Pilcher of NASAs Astrobiology Institute. Astrobiology 12(10):95865. Whatever the reasons for it, lack of inclusion sends a clear message: social issues are not that important. Consider the following questions that we might ask in thinking about the social science lens and how her joining NASA and completing mission STS-47 impacted the world. Technologies that were initially developed for space exploration, such as. (Image: NASA) Modern space exploration is reaching areas once only dreamed about. On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Kelly Smith is a professor in the Departments of Philosophy & Religion and Biological Sciences at Clemson University. By considering the ways in which people conceptualize extreme Earth ecologies as analogs for other planetary worlds, I have discovered an interest in tracing the relational trajectories of Antarctica and outer space. For these reasons, scientists and humanists alike should strive for more inclusive discussion, especially when it comes to questions that are extremely difficult to resolve. I am specifically interested in learning how this interplay produces collective visions of certain space futures and what other important visions of space futures might be getting sidelined or rendered less visible. Asked about their research, the humanists explained the projects they were working on. Paediatrics & Child Health 19(2):64. ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence]. How close I use the term scientist to refer to natural scientists and engineers and humanist to refer to humanities scholars and social scientists. Artistic interpretations can shed light on data to provide perspectives that may otherwise have been missed. Some of the projects I have developed in Antarctica entail studying the cultural dynamics of human communities making themselves at home and living transiently in extreme environments. Similarly, NASAs Astrobiology Roadmap got off to a promising start with a guiding question inviting consideration of the future of life in the Universe (though recent iterations have focused on empirical questions). For example, Steven Dick is the former NASA historian and perhaps the person most involved in the growth of this community. Johnson, N. L. (2012). 2018); the NASA (2015) Astrobiology Strategy includes a humanities and social science appendix; and a workshop and focus group drafted an (unofficial) societal impact roadmap for astrobiology (Race et al. In: Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology, eds Smith KC, Mariscal C. Oxford: Oxford University Press. I chose the topic of space exploration because: I believe space exploration is our future. I have begun reflecting on what some anthropologists have called emerging extraterrestrial modes of thinking about Earth. Then I explain the exclusion of their voices and why its problematic. One In support of the U.S. Air Force, Aerospace performed a complete independent verification of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket and the Global Positioning System (GPS) Block III-2 satellite. During the 1970s, efforts to teach and research the social science and humanities aspects of the space program were reintensified. Copyright 2023 National Academy of Sciences on behalf of the National Academy of Engineering. are they to us? (n.d.). What would it take to terraform and colonize Mars? The technologies that, have emerged because of space exploration are, very useful and have undoubtedly increased our, NASA has been using space technology to better the environment we live, in. =409a5a91-1c70-4746-a880- lunar.gsfc.nasa/about.html. space exploration has always been a multi-disciplinary endeavour. The lens of natural sciences brings a unique. She describes being part of a group that can change history. Early space science investigations showed, for example, that luminous atmospheric displays known as auroras are the result of this interaction, and scientists came to understand that the magnetosphere is an extremely complex phenomenon. Space systems continue to become more and more integral to homeland defense, weather surveillance, communication, navigation, imaging, and remote sensing for chemicals, fires, and other disasters. Consider this interaction between faculty in a humanities college and a vice president for research with a background in engineering. understand what the best steps are to The first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, went into orbit on Jan. 31, 1958. A two-satellite European/Chinese mission called Double Star (200304) studied the impact of the Sun on Earths environment. When can we Astrobiology and society: Building an interdisciplinary research community. Social Sciences and Space Exploration: New Directions for University Instruction. if they appear to beclear, simple, and wrong.. Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI). These are relevant for understanding the future of human exploration, resource utilization, and potentially mineral exploitation of celestial bodies. 2004. The first scientific discovery made with instruments orbiting in space was the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts, discovered by Explorer 1 in 1958. Close collaboration between engineering and science has enabled marvels of space exploration over decades. Landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth within a decade was a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. and how it contributes to our daily lives. Space is often thought of as the realm of science and technology, but there are other disciplines that have roles to play in defining humanitys relationship with the cosmos. A 1978 survey of faculty suggested the need for a single volume that united introductory material on the various social science disciplines and the classroom experience of faculty already teaching in the field. Ultimately, 180 specific exploration objectives have been Futures 108:414. He has published numerous articles, anthologies, and monographs on these issues, including his most recent book, Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact (2018). Types of Evidence How do professionals from each lens gather information? 2006. Both lenses look at the contributions of people can see that it has been an integral part of our Discovery was the first of the three active space shuttles to be retired, completing its final mission on March 9, 2011; Endeavour did so on June 1. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration. launched into space to orbit the Moon to provide information Scientific research in space can be divided into five general areas: (1) solar and space physics, including study of the magnetic and electromagnetic fields in space and the various energetic particles also present, with particular attention to their interactions with Earth, (2) exploration of the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and dust in the solar system, (3) study of the origin, evolution, and current state of the varied objects in the universe beyond the solar system, (4) research on nonliving and living materials, including humans, in the very low gravity levels of the space environment, and (5) study of Earth from space. Six Apollo missions were made to explore the Moon between 1969 and 1972. There is real risk in postponing discussions about long-term implications since decisions, once taken, tend to be reified. In the United States, early studies of the Sun were undertaken by a series of Orbiting Solar Observatory satellites (launched 196275) and the astronaut crews of the Skylab space station in 197374, using that facilitys Apollo Telescope Mount. Readers would do well to reflect on the many missed opportunities to include a humanist voice. Be aware: Many opportunities for inclusion are missed simply because it doesnt occur to scientists to engage with humanists. Space has had more tangible impacts on society. Anthropological studies such as archaeoastronomy (how people understood the sky in the past) and ethnoastronomy (current cultural perceptions of the sky), have investigated how humans throughout history have looked up to the sky and wondered where we come from, why were here, and where were going. Landing on the moon: Apollo 12 launches for second moon landing Nov. 14, 1969. Space exploration is foundational to climate science because it provides us with more information about the Earth, our solar system and the role of gases in our atmosphere, and nuclear energy has played an important role powering our missions into space. race. So many questions about inequality, injustice, colonialism, and environmental impact can remain unanswered when these discourses of outer space terraforming, colonization, and exploitation get mobilized. Washington. Given the potentially high stakes of contacting alien intelligence, this needs to change. Most U.S. military and scientific satellites are launched into orbit by a family of expendable launch vehicles designed for a variety of missions. In this post Thelma Obiakor, argues that by appreciating the contribution of the social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE disciplines) it is possible to develop a more complete understanding of space exploration as a collective human endeavour, something that is often neglected by . To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser. A "lens" is a way to frame or think about the world around us. NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration]. 1. [2] The Bridge is to be applauded for regularly including humanist perspectives, but this is very unusual in scientific and technical publications. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (2010); the twin Van Allen Probes (2012); and the Parker Solar Probe (2018), which made the closest flybys of the Sun, were part of another NASA program called Living with a Star. Looking to space is our solution. I see this as a dialogue of knowledges and practices, or what in Latin America is often called a dilogo de saberes. The point is to learn from and engage with Indigenous perspectives on sky knowledge and space environments. Consider the recent breakthrough in space exploration and discuss the breakthrough by analyzing it with the four lenses? https://web-b-ebscohost- Solar-terrestrial interactions were the focus of many of the Explorer series of spacecraft (195875) and the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory satellites (196469). New York: Springer. Choose two of the four lenses you applied when researching your topic and create a presentation. to get a better understanding of our present. We speak to individuals engaging space in interesting ways. One of the biggest breakthroughs in space exploration in the recent years would have to be exploring if there is or can be life on mars. METI or REGRETTI: Informed consent, scientific paternalism and alien intelligence. The Gulf War proved the value of satellites in modern conflicts. NASA and the Library of Congress have established the Blumberg Chair at the library to support researchers investigating the range and complexity of societal issues related to how life begins and evolves and to examine philosophical, religious, literary, ethical, legal, cultural, and other concerns.[4]. Jones JH. I think it is critical to take Indigenous perspectives into account not only regarding consideration of outer space activities long-term sustainability but also regarding humanitys place in the cosmos.