Mars, named after the Roman god of war, is called the “Red Planet” because of the reddish color of the iron oxide on its surface. Among the planets of the solar system, the Red Planet, which ranks fourth based on its distance from the Sun, is the second smallest planet after Mercury.
THE RED PLANET: MARS
We can assume that people that will be living on Mars in the future won’t be a “stranger” to the length of days since a day on Earth is about 24 hours and a day on Mars lasts about 24 hours and 40 minutes. Mars revolves or orbits around the Sun once every 1.88 Earth years, or once every 686.93 Earth days.
It is thought that the rapid depletion of resources in the world will require the establishment of colonies in other planets in the future. Although the answer to the existence of life in space has not been given clearly, researches that use the limits of technology continue to take place. Dozens of exploration vehicles by Russia, the US, Europe, and India were sent to planet Mars, which is similar to Earth in many ways and is planned to be the ”New World” in the future. Especially NASA's recent work on the exploration of Mars revealed important new information.
Important spacecrafts sent to Mars by NASA:
• Mars was first visited in 1965 by a spacecraft named Mariner-4 sent by NASA. • Another important step for exploration, other than the Mariner-4 which made a close fly-by to the planet, was the Viking-1 and Viking-2 vehicles that successfully landed on the planet's surface in 1975. • The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, which departed from Earth in November 1996, served until 2006 and sent detailed photos of Mars. • The Pathfinder spacecraft, which was sent in 1997, was doing research together with the mobilized robotics vehicle "Sojourner" and discovered that Mars used to be a humid planet that had the liquid form of water and an intense atmosphere long time ago. • More advanced robotic vehiclesSpiritandOpportunitylanded on Mars in 2004. They took microscopic photographs of rock and soil samples on the surface of Mars. Information about the chemistry and mineral structure of Mars was obtained by spectrometers. • Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter attained orbit in March 2006. Photographs taken with a sensitive camera were used as scientific data and were used to make the following descent flights safely. • In 2008, Phoenix landed in the Arctic, and found a layer of ice about 5 to 18 cm below the ground. • In 2012, Curiosity explored the chemical structure of the rocks identified by NASA researchers with its laser and camera system. The detection of "hard" organic molecules in the 3 billion-year-old sedimentary rocks five centimeters below the surface and the presence of methane gas was an important milestone in the recognition of this planet. Astrobiologists stated that if there is evidence that life has emerged independently on Mars, it can be concluded that life in space is really widespread. • On November 27, 2018, the entire scientific community turned its attention back to this planet withInSight Mars'sannouncement of a landing on Mars. InSight Mars, which will explore the formation and structure of the Red Planet; will undoubtedly gather very important information for manned flights planned to take place in the 2030s.
These vehicles represent the test units of the real vehicles at Mars. Photo taken at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
MARS MEETS STUDENTS AT THE “GENERATION MARS INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT”
Because Mars is getting more and more attention on the agenda of technology every passing day and is now considered as our “future home”, it is discussed in detail throughout Space Camp Turkey’s programs. A special area with detailed information about Mars was constructed at the camp.
While designing the Generation Mars Interactive Exhibit; construction of infrastructure and pre-positioning of the materials required for astronauts and robots in order to make Mars safer and more livable was discussed and theJourney to Marsprogram, which will introduce the future technology to children, was created on this basis.
During the 2-day program, which is planned for the 10-13 age group, students receive training by using the Generation Mars Interactive Exhibit which was opened on the 24th of October, 2018.
Generation Mars Interactive Exhibit Grand Opening: Mars Rover, solar panels, hydroponics unit, research and supply modules.
During the Journey to Mars Program, such topics as;
• Can Mars support life? • What are the environmental differences between Earth and Mars? • How should the environmental conditions on Mars change in order to support human settlements?
are being discussed.
Another point that makes this exhibit special is the short film about “Life on Mars” which is written by Space Camp Turkey’s very own staff and projected with the help of 3D video mapping technology.
Array ( [0] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 820 [parent] => 23 [order] => 0 [lang_id] => 944fc7406525f1adc642401dbbd091a4 [title] => Space Camp Turkey Through The Eyes Of An Experienced Chaperone [subtitle] => 09.21.2021 [header_img] => 0 [list_img] => 0 [summary] => It’s been over 21 years since the grand opening of Space Camp Turkey. During this time, thousands of students and teachers have attended our programs. All the feedback we received from our participants motivated us to do our work even better, and also helped us to improve ourselves. Of course some of the positive feedbacks came from our beloved chaperones. [content] =>
Space Camp Turkey Through The Eyes Of An Experienced Chaperone
Below is an interview we’ve conducted with one of our experienced chaperones; Mrs. Elizabeth Wahlert – Athanassiadis, Country Coordinator of Greece for Space Camp Turkey. We would like to thank her and all the other teachers/chaperones very much and hope to have many more collaborations together.
When did you first attend a program at Space Camp Turkey? Do you remember your feelings at that time?
In January of 2003, I accepted an invitation from ESBAS and Space Camp Turkey (SCT) to come to Izmir, visit the premises and meet the organizers of the programme. My enthusiastic interest in SCT and the scholarship programme resulted in the opportunity to award scholarships to ten deserving teenagers from Athens, Greece and my responsibility for them when we came to SCT in July of 2003. My close professional and personal affiliation with SCT has spanned seventeen years. I remember all of the students who were members of that original team from Athens. They are now 28 years old and are leaders in their chosen professions. Some live and work in Greece, but the vast majority of these young adults have chosen to live and work abroad.
What were the reactions / impressions of the first group of students you brought? Are you still in touch with some of them?
Our first SCT MISSION in July of 2003 was unforgettable and truly unique. Student participants and their educator coordinators had come from the four corners of the globe; New York, California, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Israel among others. To this day, those who were members of the Greek delegation talk about that experience. Extensive and meticulous arrangements had been made to make it possible for the students to ask questions to the astronauts who were on a space mission orbiting over Turkey. The excitement was electric among everyone at SCT as the connection was made and the students asked their carefully written questions and received answers from the astronauts in space. Filming of the activities of that week resulted in a DVD that we were given and which I still treasure as a visual reminder of that truly amazing world class experience.
That same summer, in July of 2003, Bill Stavroulakis, who was a member of that first SCT MISSION from Greece, was given the Outstanding Camper medal. Bill Stavroulakis holds a degree from the National Technical University of Athens and currently lives in San Francisco, California. He is the Senior Software Engineer at a company designing self-driving automobiles that will be the wave of the future in the automotive industry. Another young woman who was a member of our first SCT team found the experience to be life changing and went on to pursue her interest in Physics at an outstanding university in Scotland. She received a PhD in Robotics with an affiliation with the needs of the international space exploration programmes.
How many times and in which programs have you participated over the years? What were your impressions as an educator?
In conversing with other SCT chaperones from around the world , I have detected a certain amount of surprise and disbelief when I tell them that I have organized Greek SCT teams and personally brought them to SCT on at least fourteen different occasions. As an international educator, it is important to learn from young people by communicating with them, observing them in real life learning experiences, and watching them interact with other teenagers from around the world while assuming leadership roles in team based activities. It is through the SCT experience that we as educators envision the futures of our students who have been chosen to receive SCT scholarships. Most have gone on to realize my dreams for their futures. Several have received PhDs from reputable universities in Europe and the United States in the fields of Astrophysics and Robotics with a focus on space technology and exploration. Others have won international grants for projects relating to Physics and high power telescopes. I am proud to say that all have gone on to be leaders in their chosen professions and careers.
Can you share a memory you have from your days at Space Camp Turkey?
The numerous memories of my SCT experiences have given me considerable pride and joy as an international educator. Most significantly, I am proud of all the Greek scholarship recipients, but in particular those who, on six different occasions, have been awarded either the Outstanding Camper medal or the Right Stuff medal at graduation ceremonies at the end of their Space Camp Turkey experiences.
Do you have a message for families and children who want to participate in the programs?
Over the course of the past seventeen years, hundreds of deserving Greek teenagers from the Athens metropolitan area have had the opportunity to participate in the 6 day International Space Camp Turkey programme. Each one of these students has acknowledged that this was a world class learning experience. Some of the teenagers decided to return and participate in the programme more than once. In fact, one young man took part in four SCT summer experiences and served as a student leader for four consecutive years. He had his own mission . . . he wanted to be selected as the Outstanding Camper. On his fourth and final mission he realized his personal goal and SCT mission!
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The Ultimate Trip Opportunity For Families
Many consider the International Summer Camps to be the ideal choice when it comes down to picking an educational and fun event for children. But there is one important detail that people seem to overlook. These camps actually create a window of opportunity for parents to embark on a journey that is full of exploration and adventure while their children are having the time of their lives at a summer camp! Of course, this phenomenon gets even better if the summer camp and the parent’s adventurous journey happen to take place within the same geographic region. This has actually been the case for several families that have sent their children to Space Camp Turkey which is located in Izmir. There are several reasons why Izmir is considered as one of the best places to visit in Turkey with the family.
Why is Izmir the best option for a family vacation?
What are the benefits of participating in Space Camp Turkey's summer camps for children?
Why you should send your child to Space Camp Turkey?
City of Izmir
First of all, let us start with the fact that Space Camp Turkey is located in the beautiful Aegean city of Izmir. The city, also known as Smyrna, is the third most populous city in Turkey. It has hosted dozens of different civilizations throughout its long history and for this reason it is full of historical sites. For a list of things to do in Izmir and some brief information, we strongly suggest you check out the website of Municipality of Izmir by clicking here.
Beautiful Spots in Izmir
Secondly, assuming that a potential trip to Izmir would happen during the summer season, for many, it is important to have access to a beach. Fortunately, Izmir has lots of charming seaside towns famous with great beaches such as Cesme, Foca, Dikili, Urla, Gumuldur, Karaburun, Menderes, Alacati, Selcuk and Seferihisar. These beach resort towns are well connected with Izmir city center, also have some of the most popular blue flag beaches around the province.
The Real Winners
So far we have covered why Izmir could be a great travel destination for adults but let’s not forget who the real winner is here; the children who attend Space Camp Turkey’s Summer Camp Programs! The International Summer Camp Programs at Space Camp Turkey go by the name “Galactic Summer Camp” and the name is justified by the countless activities that take place during the week. The scientific and entertaining activities taking place at the Galactic Summer Camp offer a unique opportunity for children to learn while having fun, build new friendships, and make the best out of their summer holidays. Summer science camp activities are held in six-day periods during June-August. Summer camp programs offered in some weeks are differentiated with special themes such as the Apollo Week or the Asteroid Week. Click on the program name to learn more about our Galactic Summer Camp programs.
So, as you can understand from the reasons stated above, for an adult to plan out a holiday for themselves in Izmir while their children have a blast at Space Camp Turkey is a very feasible option. This way, the parents get to travel with their children on the way to Izmir and back. Also, in cases where the child or children have to leave the camp early, the parents are always in considerably close distance. There is nothing more comforting than that. Even though the parents are not allowed to stay/lodge at Space Camp Turkey, they are free to attend the graduation ceremony that takes place at the end of each summer camp program. If you are still not convinced about why you should send your child to Space Camp Turkey, go ahead and check out our blog post titled “5 Reasons Why You Should Send Your Child To Space Camp Turkey!”.
To all the adventurous parents out there that are looking to find a fun and entertaining camp program for their child, we encourage you to consider Space Camp Turkey’s International Summer Camp Programs and also advise you to plan out a trip to Izmir for yourselves and enjoy the beauty of this ancient city!
I just wanted to say thank you once again for all of your efforts and care in keeping my daughter healthy and safe. She had an amazing time, she is still talking about the experience and her amazing counsellors. Your team there has left a permanent and positive impression on her. I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful experience you have provided to my child and for the constant reassurance you provided to me, we are most grateful! Thank you again and I look forward to my son having an opportunity to come to your space camp in a few years!
Remi, Dubai - UAE
Are you a tourism agency looking to organize trips to Turkey? Maybe a teacher in search of an authentic, outside-the-classroom experience for students? Go ahead and check out our Customized Outer Space Adventure Program now and start tailoring your own space adventure!
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WHY DO ASTRONAUTS WEAR SPACE SUITS?
Astronauts must be wearing their spacesuits when they get out of their spacecraft and are exposed to the "space environment," but why?
Is the space environment dangerous for humans?
A common definition of space is known as the Karman Line, an imaginary boundary 100 kilometers (62 miles) above mean sea level. Unfortunately, the danger zone after this line is not a suitable environment for humans to live. The most common reason for this is that there is little or no respirable oxygen in that area.
Almost all living organisms utilize oxygen for energy generation. As we breathe in, oxygen enters the lungs and diffuses into the blood. Our lungs, working as a tiny factory, throw out the carbon dioxide molecule formed by 2 oxygen and 1 carbon atom at the end of the process.
Although oxygen deprivation seems to be the only real danger, it is actually only one of the dangers.
So what could be done to avoid these and similar dangers?
If you are going to go to space one day, perhaps the most important thing to take with you may be the spacesuit. Spacesuits are like a small spacecraft and protect astronauts from dangers in space. The Primary Life Support System (PLSS), which looks like a backpack, provides the suit with pressurized oxygen and ventilation while removing carbon dioxide, water vapor, and trace contaminants.
The spacesuits used on the International Space Station today remain there all the time. In other words, astronauts do not have their own space suit. The same spacesuit can be worn by several astronauts, according to the assignments from the Mission Control Center.
So can every astronaut wear the same spacesuit?
As you can imagine, the physical structure of every astronaut is not the same. Some astronauts may be tall, some are short, some may be a little leaner or overweight than others. It is precisely for this reason that astronauts have space suits in three different sizes (small, medium and large) that they use on the International Space Station. Since the connection points of these spacesuit are the same, an astronaut can make a special combination from these three different sizes if needed.
What does the spacesuit protect us from?
First of all, it can eliminate the oxygen deprivation that we mentioned at the beginning for a certain period of time. Each spacesuit has two oxygen tanks that work with a carbon dioxide removal system to allow a 6 to 8.5 hour spacewalk. Afterwards, the astronaut must return to the space station in order to refill the empty oxygen tanks. Another danger is related to the temperature in space.
Is space hot or cold?
Unfortunately, the temperature in space is either too high or too low for the human body to stand. For example, ,if an astronaut would go on a spacewalk without a spacesuit when the sun is shining brightly, he or she would suddenly encounter a temperature of about 120 degrees Celsius with the effect of radiation.
Without the sun, the temperature suddenly drops to about -120 degrees Celsius. This situation happens very, very suddenly because there is no atmosphere in space. Here, the only thing that keeps the astronaut safe in these difficult conditions is again the spacesuit. Another important item on the spacesuit is the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), which incorporates clear plastic tubing through which chilled liquid water flows for body temperature control, as well as ventilation tubes for waste gas removal. Thus, the astronaut can always work comfortably in the spacesuit.
In addition to all these, the astronaut must wear a spacesuit to be protected from pressure, radiation and meteor dust.
Is there pressure in space?
Even though we can't feel it, air is constantly pressing down on us with a tremendous force. We cannot see this force with our eyes, but we constantly experience the results of this effect, especially when driving on steep hills or getting off an airplane. This pressure created by the air and the internal pressure created by the beat of our heart is constantly in balance. As we just explained, there is no air in space. This means that there is no air pressure in space. Therefore, spacesuits are inflated with a certain amount of air, just like a balloon, to apply the necessary external pressure to the astronaut. Thus, the body fluids of astronauts can remain in liquid form during a spacewalk.
Radiation in space
There is a special layer of atmosphere in the world that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. For this reason, the sun does not affect us that much as long as we don’t fall a sleep under it on a summer day. However, since there is no atmosphere layer in space, the sun's harmful rays, also called radiation, can cause great harm to astronauts. Space suits have layers to protect astronauts from radiation and reflect incoming rays. Also included in the spacesuit is a gold-plated visor section to protect the astronauts' eyes.
Meteor dusts that are faster than a bullet
Meteor dusts are small particles orbiting the earth. You might think; "How could a tiny dust particle hurt an astronaut?". Meteor dusts move in orbit of the Earth at a speed of approximately 24,000 km per hour. Therefore, when any small particle hits an astronaut, it can cause great damage. For this reason, there is a special protection shield in the upper part of the spacesuit and in the area called the Hard Upper Torso, which is similar to the structure of bulletproof vests. Thanks to this shield, the astronaut is protected from the vital damage that a meteor dust can cause.
What do astronauts eat and drink during a spacewalk?
Astronauts may have to take long space walks from time to time. The record belongs to two astronauts, Jim Voss and Susan Helms, who took a spacewalk for 8 hours and 56 minutes. Of course, astronauts can get hungry or thirsty during this long spacewalk. If necessary, you may think that they can go to the space station and have their food. But every minute in space is planned and very important. Taking off a spacesuit, that actually takes 15 minutes to put on with someone's help, can cost the astronaut half an hour, so the astronauts do not prefer to return to the space station and take a lunch break. NASA has found a solution to this issue as well.
Under normal circumstances, menus containing more than 1000 types of food are prepared for the International Space Station astronauts. These menus that include snacks can be consumed by astronauts at the station. There is also a high-calorie chocolate bar, fixed in a space suit helmet close to the mouth, so that astronauts can gain energy on challenging spacewalks. Especially on long spacewalks, astronauts enjoy the meal breaks where they consume these chocolates. Since they cannot use their hands, astronauts consume the chocolate bar by biting on it several times.
The next need of the astronaut consuming a high-calorie chocolate bar is of course water. At this point, a water bag located in the spacesuit helmet and a straw attached to this bag comes to aid. The tip of the straw can be opened and closed using only the mouth.
How much does a spacesuit cost?
The cost of a spacesuit is set at about $12 million. It can be said that this shield is cost-effective considering that a spacesuit is not crafted for every single astronaut and it can be used repeatedly for many years as long as there are no problems with it.
So what is the most expensive piece of a space suit?
Initially, it may look like the most expensive item on the space suit is the Primary Life Support System. This unit, which is responsible for adjusting the oxygen and the temperature levels, contains several electronic devices. However, in terms of cost, the parts that NASA spends the most are the gloves of the astronauts. Spacesuit gloves are the main limiting factor when it comes to working in space. Astronauts usually handle from 70 to 110 tools, tethers and associated equipment for a typical spacewalk. Like an inflated balloon, the fingers of the gloves resist the effort to bend them. Astronauts must fight that pressure with every movement of their hand, which is exhausting and sometimes results in injury. Furthermore, the joints of the glove are subject to wear that can lead to life-threatening leaks. For this reason, the gloves are specially designed to aid astronauts' mobility.
In a nutshell, spacesuits are basically wearable spacecrafts and can not only keep astronauts alive, but also feed them, allow them to communicate, and even be used as a toilet.
Would you like to be an astronaut? If you were an astronaut, what kind of spacesuit would you like to wear? You can share your comments with your friends on the following social media channels.
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Recently, claims have been circulating on social media that Mars will approach Earth and even appear as big as the full moon in the sky on August 27, 2020. This news, which emerged during a similar convergence in 2003 and was repeated from time to time, unfortunately is only a hoax, although it attracts the attention of the society to astronomy. The claims spread so much that NASA made a statement, announcing that Mars would not look as big as a full moon.
Another of the Earth-Mars convergences that we will experience on August 27, 2020 took place on August 27, 2003. According to NASA's Mars Exploration Program, the distance between Mars and Earth has been shorter than ever before in the last 60,000 years and has dropped to about 56 million km. In this important astronomical event, Mars looked brighter than in previous ordinary convergences, but still was describes as a "bright red dot".
WILL WE SEE MARS AS BIG AS THE MOON?
Unfortunately, no. We won’t see Mars as big as the moon. When Mars appears side by side with a full moon in the sky, Mars' diameter appears on average 1/140 of the diameter of the full moon. On August 27, 2020, or on any other date, Mars will not look as big from Earth as the full moon looks.
Mars is about twice the size of the Moon. In this case, in order to appear as big as the Moon in the sky, it must be approximately 766 thousand km away from us. As far as the orbital mechanics of the solar system goes, it is impossible for Mars to come this close to us. Even if Mars were as close to Earth as the Moon would seem, the gravitational force would change the Earth's orbit, and this would create terrible tides; it would basically bring the end of the world.
Mars orbits the Sun in a more outer orbit than Earth, and the distances between them change as both planets orbit the Sun. In these orbits, sometimes Earth and Mars are on the same side of the Solar system and therefore are "closer" to each other. The gravitational attraction of the planets can also change the shape of their elliptical orbits. Especially Jupiter, the giant planet of our solar system, affects the orbit of Mars. The orbits of Mars and Earth are also slightly inclined relative to each other. All these factors mean that not all close encounters are equal. When Mars and Earth are closest, this is also the best time to go to Mars. Many Mars missions are launched when two planets are close to each other.
HOW CLOSE WILL MARS BE TO EARTH?
The distance between Mars and Earth will decrease to 62.1 million km. We can say that the distance between the two planets is on average 225 million km. The orbits of Earth and Mars are not circular, but elliptical, and the distance between them is constantly changing, as the time the two planets take to complete a full orbit around the Sun are different. The 57.6 million km distance experienced on 31 July 2018 is not a common occurrence. (The closest Mars and Earth position, similar to the one on July 31, 2018, will occur in 2287) In 2003, Mars reached its closest position with the Earth in the last 60 thousand years at a distance of 55.6 million km.
[description] => Will we really see planet Mars as big as our Earth's moon on August 27? [keywords] => WILL WE SEE MARS AS BIG AS THE MOON, August 27 2020, gravitational force, HOW CLOSE WILL MARS BE TO EARTH, The distance between Mars and Earth, The closest Mars and Earth position, The orbits of Earth and Mars are not circular [extra] => [{"key":"","value":""}] [created_date] => 2020-08-24 16:58:30 [updated_date] => 2020-09-10 11:21:47 [lang] => en [active] => 1 [search] => 1 [facebook_piksel] => ) [4] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 735 [parent] => 23 [order] => 31 [lang_id] => 7becb6bcb4c5af47428bcdde80b02de0 [title] => What Happens If An Asteroid Hits Earth? [subtitle] => 06.30.2020 [header_img] => 0 [list_img] => upload/media/asteroid-impact.jpg [summary] => What Are The Effects Of An Asteroid Impact, How Can We Be Protected? [content] =>
ASTEROID IMPACT
Have you ever thought what would happen if an asteroid threatens to hit our world? After watching a movie like Armageddon, did you think that such a scenario could really happen?
There are rock and stone fragments floating in space, and about 100 tons of them fall on Earth every day. So, can you distinguish these celestial bodies falling on Earth? Is it a comet that we see as a sudden glowing object in the night sky? Is it a shooting star or an asteroid? Could it be an unidentified object?
Today, June 30, is celebrated as the International Asteroid Day. Since today has been announced as “Asteroid Day” to create global awareness of asteroids, we will take a journey on asteroids, the threats posed by asteroids, and how we can be protected from asteroid strike in this article.
WHAT ARE ASTEROIDS AND HOW ARE ASTEROIDS DISTINGUISHED?
"What are asteroids and how are asteroids distinguished?" It is among the most fascinating topics when it comes to our beautiful sky. The most famous asteroid we know crashed Earth millions of years ago, causing the extinction of dinosaurs. Scientists describe asteroids as "rocky celestial bodies that orbit the Sun and are much smaller than planets". There are thousands of oddly shaped asteroids in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid belt is thought to be either residuals from a planet formed due to Jupiter's close-up force, or "rubble" left over from a planet shattered by a collision.
Ceres, the largest of the asteroids, whose dimensions can vary from 10 meters to 1000 kilometers wide, is about 960 km wide. One of the biggest reasons for scientific interest in asteroids is the possibility of having relatively unchanged remnants of the solar system's formation process from 4.6 billion years ago.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ASTEROID HITS OUR PLANET?
It is totally acceptable to worry about an asteroid crashing into the Earth, even though most asteroids are smashed before they enter the Earth's atmosphere. Just like the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, they can leave their orbits and hit the Earth.
So what happens if the bad scenario happens, that is, an asteroid hits Earth? With an asteroid hitting the Earth; dust and smoke rising in the atmosphere prevents sunlight from reaching our world and causes the total temperature to drop. This event can lead to the death of many living things. If an asteroid the size of an apartment hits Earth, this blow could possibly destroy a small city. If an asteroid the size of a 20-storey building hits Earth, this blow can completely flatten a small country.
The biggest reasons for scientists to research asteroids, in addition to having more information about the solar system, is that they want to learn their total numbers and learn more about their trajectories and physical properties. If the course of an asteroid turns towards us, of course we would like to know!
On June 30, 1908, a 40-meter asteroid hit the Tunguska region in Siberia. This impact destroyed a London-sized woodland, making it the most influential and most important asteroid impact in recent world history. On June 30, 2016, it was declared as "International Asteroid Day" by the United Nations, and it was aimed to raise awareness about the threat of collision with Earth, created by countless celestial bodies floating in space. Every year on Asteroid Day, scientists, astronauts, and celebrities come together to help raise awareness about the dangers our planet faces from Earth-crossing asteroids. In these events, our poor defense state in space is emphasized against potential asteroid collisions, and in the event that these dangerous and free-floating celestial objects turn to Earth, science fiction scenarios and possible solutions are explained.
A special themed Galactic Summer Camp Program of Space Camp Turkey, which was organized to draw attention to the “International Asteroid Day” which is celebrated on June 30, took place on June 24-30, 2018. In 2019, the International Summer Camp was held for the second time with this concept and a total of 107 students and teachers from 9 different countries, including the USA, France, India, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Slovenia, participated in the week. In addition to Space Camp activities, the participants got to know the asteroids closely with educational and entertaining activities such as “Asteroid Impact Event” and special movie screening held at the planetarium.
So how can we protect our home, our Earth, from this threat?
The only way to eliminate the threat of the asteroid hitting the Earth is to detect them and divert them from their course. Many organizations, primarily NASA, perform regular scans of the sky to identify celestial bodies at risk of hitting our planet. These organizations actively seek out the best ways to protect the Earth from celestial bodies that could hit it. By preparing with good planning, we can prevent the destructive effect an asteroid can have.
These studies, called planetary defense, consist of five steps.
Detecting the Asteroid We cannot prevent an asteroid from hitting the Earth, if we do not know about its existence. Astronomers use ground-space-based telescopes to detect celestial bodies that could pose a threat of impact. In addition, infrared imaging tools help find objects that are too dark to see through the reflected lights.
Observing the Asteroid Even if we find the asteroid, how do we know if it will hit Earth? We may need to monitor and obtain information with several telescopic observations that last for days, months or even years and every information we acquire helps us determine the estimated trajectory of the asteroid.
Defining the Asteroid We can use many telescopic and spacecraft observations that can tell us about the features of the asteroid such as rotation rate, structure, speed, and if they threaten the Earth, we can use it to change their routes.
Changing the Course of the Asteroid What do we do when an asteroid headed towards Earth is spotted? The possibility that this asteroid destroys a city or creates a giant tsunami is not something we want to think about in the first place. There are possible preparedness techniques for bad scenarios; however, these scenarios need further development and testing. Depending on the situation, our options vary depending on how much time we have, whether we are faced with a large or small size asteroid. Measures that can be applied in such a case include the development of techniques regarding the use of a gravitational builder (changing the course of the asteroid by creating gravitational force with a spacecraft), medium-distance collision (hitting one or more spacecraft on the asteroid), or a laser beam (heating a part of it to generate a thrust force on the asteroid). As a last resort, nuclear options can be used to break down the asteroid.
Training and Coordination Any asteroid hitting the Earth will require international disaster response. In addition, training is required in disaster and emergency management institutions and the public regarding the asteroid threat. It is important that everyone is aware of the level of threats and the potential to eliminate this threat.
Apart from all these, amateur astronomers can work together with scientists to defend our planet. Amateur astronomers can help identify smaller and potentially destructive asteroids hidden in the universe.
So would you like to be an amateur astronomer?
Who knows, maybe you can be one of the guards of our "home"!
Meteorite: A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.
Falling Star: Falling star is the common name for the visible path of a meteoroid as it enters the atmosphere to become a meteor.
Comet: A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail.
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It’s been over 21 years since the grand opening of Space Camp Turkey. During this time, thousands of students and teachers have attended our programs. All the feedback we received from our participants motivated us to do our work even better, and also helped us to improve ourselves. Of course some of the positive feedbacks came from our beloved chaperones.
The Galactic Summer Camps of Space Camp Turkey could very well be the ultimate opportunity for a summer vacation for both parents and children at the same time.
