Telescope

One of the earliest tools for space exploration was the telescope. Using
lenses and mirrors to see beyond Earths borders, telescopes gave scientists
their first glimpses of what exists beyond Earths atmosphere.
Links to use for information:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/telescopes.htm
http://www.ducksters.com/science/physics/telescopes.php

Hubble Telescope
The telescope is no longer only an Earth-bound instrument. In 1990, the
Hubble Space Telescope was launched into outer space. In the last 20 years,
it has brought us images of our universe that couldnt have been captured in
any other way.
Its a miraculous piece of technology thats powered by sunlight. With many
different cameras and types of scientific instruments, the
Hubble Space Telescope has provided scientists with invaluable data. In fact,
NASA estimates that data from the Hubble Space Telescope has been used
as the basis of over 10,000 scientific papers in the past two decades!
Link to use for information: https://kidskonnect.com/science/hubbletelescope/

International Space Station (ISS)

Since late 2000, scientists have also been able to conduct hundreds of
experiments in low-Earth orbit thanks to the International Space Station
(ISS). The ISS is humankinds first orbital space station meant to be used for
long-term visits from astronauts from a variety of countries. What scientists
learn from the ISS will likely be a stepping stone to sending humans on
manned missions to Mars and beyond.
Link to use for information:
https://kidskonnect.com/science/international-space-station/

Probes
Scientists have pushed forward with a wide variety of unmanned machines
built to explore the deepest corners of our solar system. Unmanned probes,
such as NASAs Cassini probe, have been sent to explore other planets. If
youve seen a spectacular picture of Saturn recently, you can thank the
Cassini probe.
Links to use for information:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level1/probes.html
http://www.wonderwhizkids.com/index.php/space-probe

Mars Rovers
Astronomers have always been fascinated by Mars, and we know more than
ever about Mars today thanks to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the
Mars rovers, Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. The rovers are powerful robots
that have helped scientists learn a tremendous amount about the geology of
Mars.
Links to use for information:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/mars_explorer.htm
http://www.kidscosmos.org/solar_system/mer_facts.php

Space Shuttle
Until 12th April 1981 all spacecraft were designed to be used only once.
The Space Shuttle, was designed to be reused for up to 100 visits to space,
in an attempt to make space travel less expensive.
With five hugely powerful rocket motors, it can fly at more than 17,000 miles

per hour. Six were been built, but none fly any more - NASA retired the last of
the fleet in 2010
Link to use for more information: https://kidskonnect.com/science/spaceshuttle/

Sputnik (Satellites)
On 4th October 1957, Russia launched the first satellite into space; Sputnik
1, and the space age had properly begun!
Sputnik was the first satellite in orbit around the earth. Today there are over
500 working satellites in space. Sputnik means "Satellite" in Russian.
Links to use for information:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/space_missions/sputnik_1
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2007/09/28/10-things-you-didntknow-about-sputnik

Surveyor 1
In 1963 US President John F. Kennedy promised the world that the US would
land men on the moon before 1970. Before risking people's lives, NASA sent
a robot spaceship, to make sure they could land safely.
It was called Surveyor 1, and it made the second soft landing on the Moon on
30th May 1966, a few months after Russian probe Luna 9 landed successfully.
Once it had landed on the moon, the robotic spaceship Surveyor 1 started
taking photographs of the moon's surface, which it transmitted back to
excited scientists in America and around the world.
The scientists used this vital information about the terrain to work out how
they might land people on the moon safely.
Links to use for information:

http://science.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-1-7/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveyor_1

Lunar Rover
From 1971 American astronauts on the fourth, fifth and sixth Apollo missions
enjoyed use of a moon car to explore the moon. Known as the Lunar Rover, it
was electric powered, and had a top speed of 8mph.
It was designed and developed in only 17 months, by Boeing, the aeroplane
company famous for making the Jumbo Jet.
Links to use for information:
http://www.spacekids.co.uk/rover/
http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/nasas-lunar-rover-everything-you-needto-know.html