Rocket research in the second half of the 20th
century developed the technology for launching
satellites. Between 1946 and 1951 the U.S.
launched 69 V2 rockets. The V2 rockets were
captured from the Germans after World War II
Black Brandt sounding rocket ready
for launch to study Supernova 1987A
NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory
and used for high altitude
research. Several of
those flights studied
ultraviolet and x-ray
emissions from the Sun.
Today, sounding rockets
are used primarily by
universities. They are
inexpensive and quick, but
provide only a few minutes
of observations.
NASA uses big rockets like
the Atlas, Titan, and Space
Shuttle as well as small
rockets launched from a
B52 aircraft to lift satellites
into orbit. Except for the
largest rockets, which are
launched in Florida and
California, rocket research
and launches occur at
many places around the
United States. NASA also
uses the Kuiper Airborne
Observatory (KAO) that
carries a 0.9 meter
Over the years, NASA space probes have sent
back detailed images of the planets Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune. Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to
explore another planet when it flew past Venus
in 1962. The missions to the planets have
redefined the picture of our solar system.
Scientists have an incredible set of data from
almost
every
planet in
the solar
system.
We learned that Venus is hotter than Mercury. Data from satellites in orbit around Venus have told us about the atmosphere and terrain of the planet. By monitoring Venus' atmosphere, scientists can study the effects of a runaway greenhouse effect. Several Russian spacecraft have explored the surface of Venus as well as the Moon and Mars.
Spacecraft have mapped the surface of Mars, but the Mars Viking mission gently deposited two landers on the surface that sent back data. They still sit on the surface there. The two described the idea. Even before his time there were a few attempts at space astronomy. In 1874 Jules Janseen launched a balloon from Paris with two aeronauts aboard to study the effects of the atmosphere on sunlight. Astronomers continue to use balloons from launch sites in the Antarctic; Palestine, Texas; and Alice Springs, Australia. After launch, scientists chase the balloon in a plane as the balloon follows the prevailing winds, traveling thousands of kilometers before sinking back to Earth. A typical balloon launch yields many hours of astronomical observations. Rocket research in the second half of the 20th century developed the technology for launching satellites. Between 1946 and 1951 the U.S. launched 69 V2 rockets. The V2 rockets were captured from the Germans after World War II Black Brandt sounding rocket ready for launch to study Supernova 1987A NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory and used for high altitude research. Several of those flights studied ultraviolet and x-ray emissions from the Sun. Today, sounding rockets are used primarily by universities. They are inexpensive and quick, but provide only a few minutes of observations. NASA uses big rockets like the Atlas, Titan, and Space Shuttle as well as small rockets launched from a B52 aircraft to lift satellites into orbit. Except for the largest rockets, which are launched in Florida and California, rocket research and launches occur at many places around the United States. NASA also uses the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) that carries a 0.9 meter U.S. V2 rocket launch