- Introduction
Learn- Try It
- Task
Learn
The Space Race
The Space Race: Take a look at the picture of the landscape on Mars taken in June of 2014. This exploration has helped unlock the secrets of and has helped us to learn much more about our universe. When did all of it begin?
Picture of the Landscape of Mars taken in June 2014 by the Curiosity Mars Rover Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS View larger version
In 1957 during the Cold War, the Soviet Union successfully launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into space to orbit the earth. Then, in 1961, they successfully launched a manned rocket with Cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin.
President John F. Kennedy, not wanting to be outdone by Soviets, requested Congress to allocate $20 million to the space race, and on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong, American Astronaut, was the first human being to set foot on the moon. His words have become very famous in history: "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Read NASA: One Giant Leap for Mankind, and watch The Space Race (5:00), a short video about the beginnings of space exploration.
Where did we go after the walk on the moon? While money has not been as freely allocated by the government for space exploration as it was during the 20th Century, space exploration still continues at a great pace with private businesses working side by side with the government.
Computer Technology
Computer Technology: Obviously, computer technology has been and continues to be used in space exploration. How else is technology being used across the world?
Computer technology, with which most of you are familiar as you use Internet-based email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and so much more is changing every day, and they connect us to people in our communities and anywhere else. There are iPhones, smart phones, and all sizes of computers. You can shop, pay bills, bank, Skype, and communicate with people as never before. Is there a danger to this access to the World Wide Web? Absolutely! ybercrime is becoming a serious issue and all Internet users need to become knowledgeable enough to protect their personal information.
So, when were computers first used? The first computers were being developed around 1945 during World War II and they were not connected to one another as they are today in cyberspace. There were no satellite towers to accomplish that. Take a look at The History of the Web.
You'll need to know that for the final!
How else is computer technology used? Think about how the government and other agencies use it:
Other Uses for Satellites allow us to communicate with one another in cyberspace through emails, phone calls, radios, and televisions. Satellite technology was first envisioned by a British member of the Royal Air Force in 1944 during World War II. Satellites are also used by governments and other agencies to monitor such events as volcano activity, weather, GPS systems, tracking endangered species, and even espionage.
Drone Technology, used on the battlefield by the military to do reconnaissance and strike specific targets is finding new uses across the globe.
Read this USA Today article about the use of drones to help farmers—"Growing Use of Drones Poised to Transform Agriculture."
Plant and Animal Gentic Engineering
Genetic Engineering: What is it? Scientific knowledge has changed much in the years since World War II. Genetic engineering is the manipulation of genetic material in plants, animals and humans. Watch two short videos on genetic engineering to learn more about it. Your assessment in this lesson will be on genetic engineering, so pay very close attention!
Open Plant and Animal Genetic Engineering in a new tab
