Science Fiction
Cebu Institute of Technology – University
Cebu City, Philippines
Science Fiction: Space Technology
By:
Kendrick A. Mendiola
A Research Paper in English presented to:
Mrs. Raniza R. Romero
February 7, 2008
Science Fiction: Space Technology
Many ancient people, including the Aztecs, Egyptians, and the builders of Stonehenge, were interested in astronomy. Their writings and architecture indicate they studied the moon’s phases and movement. They related the position and the perceived movement of the sun to earth and its seasons. Some chartered the stars, identifying the constellations.
Through the ages, scholars suggested various explanations for the makeup, movement, and relationship to earth of these heavenly bodies. Like us today, they wanted to know more about those distant objects, but a lack of technology limited their ability to learn.
Over the centuries, scientists like Galileo and Newton described the structure of the solar system and the movement of the planets. Inventions such as the telescope permitted them to see the moon’s craters, the canals on Mars, Saturn’s rings, and other intriguing details. This knowledge increased their curiosity about the moon, sun, and planets, and they longed for more information. They even dreamed of expeditions across space to encounter them first-hand.
In the early years of the space program, lightweight batteries, fuel cells, and solar modules provided electric power for space missions. As missions became more ambitious and complex, power needs increased and scientists investigated various options to meet these challenging power requirements.
By the mid-1950s, research had begun in earnest on ways to use nuclear power in space. These efforts resulted in the first radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which are nuclear power generators built specifically for space and special terrestrial uses. These RTGs convert the heat generated from the natural decay of their radioactive fuel into
Cebu City, Philippines
Science Fiction: Space Technology
By:
Kendrick A. Mendiola
A Research Paper in English presented to:
Mrs. Raniza R. Romero
February 7, 2008
Science Fiction: Space Technology
Many ancient people, including the Aztecs, Egyptians, and the builders of Stonehenge, were interested in astronomy. Their writings and architecture indicate they studied the moon’s phases and movement. They related the position and the perceived movement of the sun to earth and its seasons. Some chartered the stars, identifying the constellations.
Through the ages, scholars suggested various explanations for the makeup, movement, and relationship to earth of these heavenly bodies. Like us today, they wanted to know more about those distant objects, but a lack of technology limited their ability to learn.
Over the centuries, scientists like Galileo and Newton described the structure of the solar system and the movement of the planets. Inventions such as the telescope permitted them to see the moon’s craters, the canals on Mars, Saturn’s rings, and other intriguing details. This knowledge increased their curiosity about the moon, sun, and planets, and they longed for more information. They even dreamed of expeditions across space to encounter them first-hand.
In the early years of the space program, lightweight batteries, fuel cells, and solar modules provided electric power for space missions. As missions became more ambitious and complex, power needs increased and scientists investigated various options to meet these challenging power requirements.
By the mid-1950s, research had begun in earnest on ways to use nuclear power in space. These efforts resulted in the first radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which are nuclear power generators built specifically for space and special terrestrial uses. These RTGs convert the heat generated from the natural decay of their radioactive fuel into