SpaceX launches privately funded Israeli moon lander

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launch-spacex-falcon-9-carries-privately-funded-israeli-moon-lander-indonesian-comsat-watch-live-stream-today/


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Summary: Israel successfully launched their first moon-lander on a SpaceX rocket last Monday. The satellite is a privately-funded spacecraft promoting the STEM educational program. This program was intended to inspire the young generation to embrace science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They plan for the moon-lander to reach the Moon's surface on April 11. The SpaceX Falcon 9 is America's latest high technology rocket pioneered by yet another private space company. I was impressed how the first stage rocket was able to land on a boat with great precision. 

History Connection: In the mid-1950's the Soviets and Americans were locked into Space Race. The Soviets successfully launched the first satellite into space; the Sputnik in 1957. This was when the US realized they were falling behind the Soviets. Gagarin, the first man in space was also a Soviet victory in 1961. On May 25, 1961, JFK instructed the Nation to work harder to beat the Soviets to the moon landing. Neil Armstrong was the first human being to set foot on another celestial body in 1969. 

Questions: What do you think is the next big achievement in the space race?
                  Do you think this launching will inspire future generations of engineers?

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2019 at 2:34 PM

    I think the next step in the space race is getting a man on Mars, as that is the only other nearby planet/moon that a person could survive on (with a spacesuit) for a good amount of time. I think this launch will inspire a lot of new research, especially for Israel. The advancement of private companies into the field of space travel interests me. The concept of commercial space travel interests me; it's too bad that we will probably all be dead by the time it is a regular occurrence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2019 at 2:17 PM

      I agree that the next step in the space race will be to get a man on Mars. By putting a human on Mars, it will further put more interest into the field of STEM as it will inspire more generations to work hard to achieve this goal.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2019 at 2:41 PM

    I think this launching will inspire future generations of engineers, as it proved that not only superpowered governments could find success in space endeavors. Additionally, the success of the launching has brought publicity to technology and science, encouraging others to become more interests. I think the next big achievement in the space race would be making space travel less expensive and more accessible for the general population, which will probably happen through the private sector, much like this achievement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 28, 2019 at 9:30 AM

      I agree with what you said about making space travel more accessible. Currently, if you look at how things are today a vast majority of space travel is done only by very qualified researchers and astronauts. I believe that newer trends in the space race will involve developing spacecraft capable of taking tourists on casual trips out into space, then to the Moon and then eventually to Mars, and so on. For instance, a popular program called Virgin Galactic is attempting to make that feat possible, as they are developing spacecraft specifically designed for tourists rather than astronauts. I believe that the next greatest achievement would be when such a mode of transportation is opened up for tourists, either in the form of charter transportation or scheduled commercial transportation. It would involve getting space travel to the level of commercial airplane travel when that was a novelty.

      Delete

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