Week 9: Space + Art

            Astronomy is the study of space and the physical universe as a whole. It is also one of the oldest science subjects dating back to the Babylonians. With the advancements of technology we have been able to travel to the moon, create satellites and explore beyond the common telescope.

          
            Astronomy dates back to many centuries. Civilizations like Babylonia surrounded their culture based on myths and legends. It is fascination to know that these myths were passed on to the Greeks and the modern world we live in today (Jarus, 2013). I am amazed at the foundations of these mystical creatures and how curious mankind has become that we have created space exploration programs.

            The American space program has evolved to be one of the best in the world. From the first satellites to putting a man on the moon, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been worldly recognized as leaders in space innovations (CBS News, 2013). I find it amazing how technologically advanced our space program has become. I admire the designs that go into making the space shuttles, each space shuttle is an artistic masterpiece. They are powerful machines that need to support space dust and need to be aerodynamic due to their travel at high speeds (Wall, 2011).

            Space travel has been the foundation of some entertaining science fiction television shows. From cartoons to realistic shows like Star Trek, traveling to space is portrayed as an exciting adventure. Movies like E.T. and Men in Black depict extraterrestrial activity in ways that ignite curiosity. One depicts a calm friendly creature, while the other makes us wonder if aliens really live among us.  Although, these shows often make space ships look very fancy, with amazing gadgets and shiny stuff. I believe television shows do not focus enough on the risks that our astronauts take.

            The astronauts that go on these missions have families and loved ones. Although astronauts are aware of the risks that are taken when traveling in space, it is very sad to hear about stories like the Challenger, and Columbia. The Challenger was a catastrophic explosion that revolutionized the NASA of today (Howell, 2012). I have faith that the United States Space program is slowly going to advance into a better and safer era. With the amazing advancement technology we have today, I would not be surprised to know that we will soon be taking tours of space. 

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Work Cited

“10 leading space programs around the world.” Canadian Press, AssociatePress. CBS News. 4 Nov. 2013. Web. 27 May. 2015.

Clayton, James. “How the movies are making space fun again.” Den Of Geek. DISQUS. 1 Aug. 2014. Web. 27 May. 2015.

Howell, Elizabeth. “Challenger: Shuttle Disaster That Changed NASA.” Space.Com. Purch. 16. Oct. 2012. Web. 27 May. 2015.

Jarus, Owen. “Ancient Babylon: Center of Mesopotamia Civilization.” Live Science. Purch. 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 27 May. 2015.

Wall, Mike. “How the Space Shuttle Was Born.” Space.Com. Purch. 28 June. 2011. Web. 27 May. 2015.