Please reply to both POST1: and POST2: in at least 150 words each

Initial post:

We use what we know about Earth, its structure, atmosphere, geologicactivities, and processes to prove or disprove our theories of otherplanets. For example, we used Google Earth in Week Four’s lab to examinerivers on Earth, and then will apply what we know of Earth’s rivers toexplore evidence for past rivers on Mars in this week’s lab. Describeone other such example of our usage of Earth analogs to determine thecircumstances elsewhere and how it might influence our extraplanetaryexplorations in the future. And for the last time this term, don’tchoose one that has already been posted.

POST1:

Spaceexploration is a much-debated issue where some believe it is a waste ofmoney that should be used for the sustainability of Earth; whereas,others believe exploring the solar system is one of the noblest pursuitsof man. If we look at space exploration, it is possible thatscientists will find new minerals and resources that would benefit ourinvestment in the future. History has allowed man to understand theinner workings of Earth, how it is continually changing, and using thisknowledge to preserve the planet.

There was time when astronomers assumed Mar’s surface was likeEarth’s surface, and capable of supporting life. Earth’s atmosphereconsists of a mixture of gasses, called air; in fact, the atmosphere hasfour layers. The only planet in the solar system that is capable ofsustaining life is Earth, because there is a blanket of gases thatprovide breathable air and protects us from the sun’s heat andradiation. Understanding the atmospheric conditions leads us to fullyunderstand how Mar’s and Venus’s atmospheric conditions would providelife supporting measures.

Mar’s is mostly a carbon dioxide atmosphere, with traces of nitrogen,argon, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and other gases. According to TimSharp (2017), Mar’s atmosphere is about 100 times thinner thanEarth’s.

By continuing to learn and develop a greater understanding of Earth’sstructure, composition, and geological events, scientists will be ableto apply this knowledge to discovering whether a new planet is capableof sustaining life. Even though we man not have graduated to thisstage, scientists are accepting the challenge.

“We choose to go to the Moon!…We choose to go to the Moon in thisdecade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but becausethey are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure thebest of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that weare willing to accept, one we are willing to postpone, and one we intendto win.” John F. Kennedy.

Figure 1. NASA Science Mars Facts. (https://mars.nasa.gov/all-about-mars/facts/

NASA. (n.d.). NASA Science Mars Facts. Retrieved from https://mars.nasa.gov.all-about-mars/facts/ (Links to an external site.)

Sharp, T. (2017, October 13). Earth’s Atmosphere: Composition, climate & Weather. Retrieved from https://space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html (Links to an external site.)

Williams, M. (2015, June 4). Universe Today. Retrieved from https://universetoday.com/111462/how-cna-we-live-o…

POST2:

Ocean exploration is a area that has been on the rise as engineersseek to understand the hidden treasures below the surface or if lifeexist or can exist. Similar to what NASA has done for years on themoon, there is a desire to discover beyond the earth crust if lifeinterfaces at sea bottom and ice-water interface at the top of theocean. Scientists like Kevin Hand, JPL lead scientist on the BRUIEproject, believe that these lunar oceans, such as those on Jupiter’smoon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus, may be the best places to lookfor life in our solar system. Bartels (2019). We know that the earthsocean took millions of years to form and that the water and other gasesboiled off space ultimately formed rain and eventually formed the oceansbasins. To understand this concept is to also understand factors likeworld rotation, thickness of ice shells and the density of seawater andhow this water moves around the ocean. The expedition of exploring theocean covered by ice requires a underwater rover called a BRUIE. IBartels (2019)t was designed and tested by NASA engineers. It is saidthat the earth Arctic is simpler to explore than the moon which is 600million miles away.

What we know about Earth, its structure, atmosphere, geologicactivities, and processes makes exploring what’s going on benefit thesurface makes this research just as interesting. Biologists have longspeculated that life on Earth began in the oceans. Sato,(2009). Theprimary goal of a expedition like this is to understand ocean dynamics,its habitability how you get nutrients from one place to another place,how you move energy from one place to another place and how we usetechnology and expertise needed to explore the ice-covered ocean. Robotsunder water appear to be the answer.

Reference

Bartels, Meghan, 2019 NASA’s Undersea Robot Crawls Beneath Antarctic Ice in Test for Icy Moons Retrieved from https://www.space.com/underwater-rover-testing-for-icy-moons.html (Links to an external site.)

Sato, Taichi, 2009, Toward Extraplanetary Under-Ice Exploration: Robotic Steps in the Arctic retrieved from https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/62066/20288_ftp.pdf?sequence=1