Robots In Space!

WHAT IS NASA?

• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) started in 1958 as a part of the U.S government and are in charge of science and technology that have to do with aircraft and space.
• "NASA is researching new types of robots that will work with people and help them" (NASA Website

HOW DOES NASA USE ROBOTS?

• NASA uses robots in many different ways and are continuously testing out other ways to develop robots for different situations
• Robotic "arms" are attached to the sides of spacecrafts and and are used to move large objects in space e.g meteorites.
• A.I spacecrafts are rockets that are completely flown on their own with no human pilot required. The people at the control centre give the rocket co-ordinates and the robot goes exactly to where they want it to.
• Rovers are little robots that drive on the surface of planets, recording data with every rotation of the wheels. The most well known is the Mars Rover.

PAST ROBOTIC DEVELOPMENT

• The Soviet Union launched "Sputnik", the first artificial orbiting satellite in 1957, thus starting the space age.
• "Mariner 4" was the first space robot to fly past Mars and take a close up photo of another planet on 14 July 1965.
• The Viking Rovers (1 and 2) were the first rovers to land on Mars, and were equipped with instruments to detect life. They were deployed on July 20 1976 and September 3 1976, respectively.

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE OF PAST DEV.

• Positive:
• All developments started the use of more robots that we see today.
• Mariner 4 was able to take the first photographic proof of Mars, starting development for more expeditions to Mars.
• Negatives:
• The data returned from the Viking rovers came back strange an unreliable, which still raises the question if life is present on Mars.
• All robots were of early development, making them very difficult to build and programme.

PRESENT ROBOTIC DEVELOPMENT

• Scientists have designed a "Pac-Man Satellite" that is designed to gobble up space debris that is threatening to Earth.
• Another design is a "windbot" that is designed to float around extraterrestrial planets. "The design is similar to how dandelion seeds seem to float effortlessly through the air on Earth" (scientist)
• Another design is a "windbot" that is designed to float around extraterrestrial planets. "The design is similar to how dandelion seeds seem to float effortlessly through the air on Earth" (scientist)
• Another development is the use of a rover to help eject microorganism that will create oxygen on Mars that will be stored in bio domes on Mars' surface.

POSITIVE OF PRESENT DEV.

• Positive:
• These ideas have helped scientists discover more about other planets in our solar system.
• The "Pac-Man Satellite" is an excellent idea to help keep our planet safe from future man-made space debris.
• The windbot is a great concept that can possibly help scientists develop ways to record the wind speeds and direction over a large period of time. This then can help scientists land other rovers that may be deployed in the future.
• The microorganisms making Mars a liveable planet is an amazing idea. It not only helps scientists on man expeditions to Mars, it also makes Mars a second option if anything bad happens on Earth.

NEGATIVE OF PRESENT DEV.

• Negative:
• The idea of a liveable Mars is cool, but finding the microorganisms to actually make the planet liveable is extremely difficult. Scientists will have to find a specific organism that will be able to survive the toxic atmosphere of space and would have to be harvested somehow in abundance.
• The "Pac-Man Satellite" is a great idea, but it will be difficult to programme considering all the different aspects that needs to be accounted for e.g speed, trajectory, angle e.t.c. Also, the glare of the sun combining with the blackness of space would make the sensors really difficult to pick up an object.

EMERGING ROBOTIC DEVELOPMENT

• NASA has plans to build an eel-like robot, and plan on sending it to one of Jupiters moons, Europa. It will have the look and movement of a lamprey eel, but use the moons magnetic field in order to generate power and send information back to NASA.
• NASA have also planned to develop a submarine that will be sent into Saturns moon, Titan. The sub is designed to move through liquid hydrocarbons e.g Methane and Ethane, the liquid that makes up the Great Lakes of Titan.

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE OF EMERGING DEV.

• The future plans are both creative and plausible, making the future of space robots a lot more unique in the way they look.
• The functionality of both robots is another step forward for scientists, and the reusable energy solution for these robots will definitely be a future feature in all space robots if it works.
• Negative:
• Ideas are ideas, and unless it can actually become a reality, it will always be just an idea.
• There's no real way of testing out how they would work, considering Earth has no liquid hydrocarbon lakes or a strong magnetic field like Europas to test on.

JOBS AT NASA

• Electronics Technician: This position requires knowledge for designing, modifying, fabricating and maintaining complex electrical equipment primarily used for research activities. The person has a responsibility to providing cost estimates and conduct training on new technology. As a secondary responsibility, provides engineering technical support on all facilities for installation, maintenance, modification,operation and repair of all electrical equipment.
• Salary: $50,319,00
• Qualifications: 1 year of specialised experience of the next grade lower. GS-09 must have 2 years of graduate education or a masters degree.

JOBS AT NASA

• Computer Engineer: This position seeks a highly skilled Computer Engineer to provide leadership in the development, integration and testing of software and new technologies for the production and distribution for Earth imaging sensors and the development of data systems which support these efforts.
• Salary: $90,823,00

COMPUTER ENGINEERING QUALIFICATIONS

• 1 year specialised experience at the next grade lower. Requires a bachelor's degree in: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science*, Life Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Geology, Geophysics, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics,

COMPUTER ENGINEERING QUALIFICATIONS (CONTINUED)

• Oceanography, Optical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Space Science, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering or other appropriate physical science or engineering field.

JOBS AT NASA

• Intelligence Operations Specialist: Serve as a CounterIntelligence Officer responsible for detecting,deterring and neutralising acts involving intelligence activities sabotage and/or terrorist activities conducted by or on behalf of foreign powers, organisations or persons. Specific functions include communicating with other agencies and the Intelligence Community on matters related to CI and the exchange of information of mutual concern.
• Salary: $83,468,00

INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS SPECIALIST QUALIFICATIONS

• 1 year specialised experience at the next grade lower. Specialized experience is defined as providing policy formulation, oversight, coordination and advocacy for security, emergency preparedness planning, and programmatic counterintelligence/counterterrorism operations, processes, functions and activities. Experience involving investigating and analyzing issues relating to physical security and CI/CT initiatives.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/technology/historyofrobotics.html
• http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what_is_ro...
• https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowspace
• http://www.universetoday.com/43750/robots-in-space/
• http://www.space.com/tech-robots/
• http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/default.htm
• All images were found from either Google Images or the in-built Haiku Deck Image Finder.