by Anne Sheu
Forty years ago, in 1958, the birth of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) set us on the boldest of missions–to pioneer the future. A mere forty years ago, global communications referred to a telephone line laid across the bottom of the ocean, personal computers were unheard of, and sending humans to the moon was pure science fiction. Our whole universe seemed like an unsolvable mystery. But we dared to dream the impossible. So, armed with new technological advances and unquenchable enthusiasm, we went to work. The result is that a year from now, as we celebrate the millennium, people looking into the night sky will be able to see a bright new star. That star will be the International Space Station (ISS)–a marvelous creation orbiting the Earth where people can live and work inside for the benefit of all humanity. The ISS project is so complex that no one nation would try to tackle it alone. Therefore, sixteen nations are cooperating in one of the largest non-military efforts in the course of history. It is the largest, most complex international cooperative science and engineering program ever attempted and will bring together scientists, engineers, and researchers from around the globe. Raising your eyebrows at the astronomical US$60 billion spent on the ISS, you flatly state that the finished product had better be worth it. But you needn’t worry. Beginning in November 1998 and concluding in 2004, there will be 45 missions to assemble more than 100 components that will comprise the station, which will have a mass of about 500 tons and support up to seven people. The station will have a Habitation Module for the crew as well as six scientific laboratories for research–a U.S. laboratory, the European Space Agency’s Columbus Orbital Facility, a Japanese experiment module and three Russian research modules. Two of the modules–Zarya in November and Unity in December 1998–have already been launched. This year, the Service Module will be launched, providing the initial living quarters and life support systems. The U.S. laboratory module, christened Destiny, is the centerpiece of the International Space Station and will be launched in October 1999. This and other laboratories aboard are the only places where unprecedented science experiments can be performed in zero gravity, controlled for extended periods. This control of gravity opens up an unimaginable world where almost everything is different than on Earth. Medical, climatic, industrial, and technological research, etc. conducted aboard the ISS will result in immediate, practical applications on Earth, affecting the quality of life for all humans and our future generations. In addition, there are educational aspects of the ISS. Students of the future can conduct experiments on the Space Station from their classrooms on the ground. Students will transmit and receive data, learn to operate equipment by remote, and evaluate the experiments through data interpretation. Teachers and schools across the United States are already putting these novel Space Station concepts to use in the classroom. These new methods of education will teach and motivate our next generation to achieve even greater heights of glory. The first crewmembers—two Russians and one American to live aboard the International Space Station are already in training. In January 2000, this crew of three will begin living aboard the ISS for a duration of five months, starting a permanent human presence aboard the station. Their training is rigorous, for spacebound crews not only need to know how to handle normal operations; they must also learn how to deal with emergency plans in case something goes wrong. The Soyuz spacecraft the first crew arrives in will remain docked with the station, providing an emergency return to Earth for crew members if needed. Astronauts will be kept busy, but just in case a homesickness attack comes on, there is no need to fear–the ISS will have four windows angled for a clear view of Earth. The ISS is much more than just a laboratory inn a new environment; it is aninternational human experiment, a place where we will learn how to live and work productively alongside one another. It also serves as a symbol of the power of nations working together on peaceful initiatives and builds mutual trust through shared goals. Peaceful relations and new partnerships will be fostered among the participating countries through the ISS for the benefit of all mankind. This cooperation will be essential for future human space travel away from Earth. It is a test bed for sending men and women to Mars and beyond. The ISS is the gateway to new frontiers in human space exploration. It meets the need of mankind to explore the unknown, to expand their horizons, to understand the universe, and to apply the discoveries and experiences for the benefit of all. The Space Station will inspire new generations to explore and achieve, and symbolizes hope for all mankind. The new manmade star is growing brighter as the deadline for completion in 2004 grows nearer. So the next time you look up at the night sky and “wish upon a star,” let that star be the ISS–truly our key to the future. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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