Space Exploration- The Gains and Losses

Space Exploration

Space travel officially began October 4, 1957 with the Soviet unions first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. Four years later the first man to orbit the earth was Russian Lieut. Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961 for a total of 108 minutes at 327 km above Earth. Soon after that the Americans followed with their own satellite, explored 1, being put in orbit on January 31, 1958 and then Alan Shepard becoming the first American to reach towards the outer limits. Then John Glenn following close behind becoming the first American to orbit Earth.

These events set off what would later become to be known as the first ever “space race.” Pres. Kennedy set out the goal of putting a man on the moon within the decade on 1961. And on July 20, 1969, within the decade, America became the first nation to walk the moon with the Apollo 11 space mission.

Altogether, this set off an age of scientific discovery that has given us so much more than just people floating out in space. That’s why I want my monument to be dedicated to the gains and losses of space exploration.

Space exploration has unlocked a plethora technological and scientific advancements that have benefited humankind beyond belief. We have unlocked mysteries that we thought unattainable and expanded our knowledge and our understanding of our role in the universe. That’s not to say that all of this has been easy though. Any advancement always comes with tragedy or loss. We have lost many people that dedicated their lives to scientific advancement. A vast majority of people reap the benefits of the gains of space exploration without acknowledging those that gave their lives for it.

(Innovations from NASA helped make modern day prosthetics more cost-effective and readily available.)

What we have gained

We have accomplished so much when it comes to space exploration. In fact, those accomplishments don’t just stop at landing a man on the moon. We can think space travel for things such as satellites that give us GPS and the ability to collect weather data to publish forecasts. We have space down telescopes that give us glimpses into the depths of space furthering our understanding of our place in the universe. Healthcare has been improved from what we learned the experiments. We have cooperated and build relationships with other countries. People have become inspired to seek out educational fields in science.

We have all of these things thanks to space exploration: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Camera phones Scratch resistant lenses LEDs Landmine removal Athletic shoes Foil blankets Water purification systems Dust busters Ear thermometers Home insulation The jaws of life Wireless headsets Freeze-dried food

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Adjustable smoke detector Baby formula Artificial limbs Computer mouse Portable computer Insulin pumps LASIK Solar cells Building shock absorbers Air purifiers Invisible braces Better tires Bowflex

This composite photograph dubbed, “The Day the Earth Smiled,” was taken by the Cassini spacecraft on July 19, 2013. In it we can see our small blue world smiling back at the camera offering us a new perspective on our place within the universe. It is possible only because mankind’s compulsion to want to explore the outer reaches of space.

What we have lossed

Now none of these advancements would ever come to fruition if you work for some sacrifice. Unfortunately space exploration has come with some loss. The first lost would take place on January 27, 1967 during Apollo l were a flash fire that broke out in the command module of Apollo 204 resulted in a fatal accident. The next would be only three months after were a Russian cosmonaut crashed a space vehicle into earth on April 24, 1967. In April 1971 three astronauts were found unresponsive in the spacecraft upon reentry due to due to a faulty air vent which resulted in decompression. Perhaps one of the most infamous examples being the Challenger disaster that occurred January 28, 1986 where seven astronauts lost their lives 73 seconds after lift off due to a faulty O-ring in one of the rocket boosters. Following that was also the Columbia disaster February 1, 2003 where the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry. In order to move forward and keep making advances, we must look back and remember.

(From top to bottom: insignias of Apollo I, Challenger, and Columbia.)

REMEMBER

The monument is meant to be an interactive piece. it will be set up almost like yin-yang representing the dualism of space exploration. From overhead it will look like a circle that can be walked into. It will be split in half. On one side you will have all the gains of space expiration and on the other you will have all the losses. Either side will have decorative ledges made of dark marble symbolizing the blackness of space. The middle of the monument will have a globe of Earth. In the center of each ledge will be a touchscreen that lays out either the gains or losses. As you scroll through you can touch one of them and when you do a hologram will appear in the center of the circle. The hologram can be manipulated with your hands much like a smart phone screen or tablet. The hologram will have an accompanying voice explaining the significance of every event and/or person.

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The proposed monument will be located outside of Explor30 85 88 93 atory Hall and Planetary Hall at 46 89 81 18 George Mason University. The 92 83 intention is86to garner the curios94 52 17 82 ity of young minds who may or 44 43 84 may have not been interested 90 29 in space. By 87 doing so, hopefully 50 79 26that there are benethey will see 3 91 fits to space exploration beyond 37 reaching for the stars. Interest in space can lead to discoveries LOT R that help benefit the modern world.

Although, reaching for the stars isn’t necessarily a bad thing either.

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Shenandoah Neighborhood 79 V-9 Liberty Square 80 V-10 Potomac Heights Presidents Park 81 W-7 Adams 82 V-7 Eisenhower* and Ike’s Diner 83 V-7 Harrison 84 W-8 Jackson 85 V-6 Jefferson 86 W-7 Kennedy 87 W-8 Lincoln 88 V-6 Madison 89 V-7 Monroe 90 V-8 Roosevelt 91 V-9 Taylor 92 W-7 Truman

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93 W-6 Washington 94 V-7 Wilson Aquia Neighborhood 95 L-7 Ángel Cabrera Global Center 96 O-2 Rogers 97 O-2 Whitetop FACULTY/STAFF HOUSING 98 X-3 Masonvale *24-hour Residential Desk

Stay up to date with construction informat at building.gmu.edu.

Revised 03/2021

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By Ricky Chang