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Space technology is technology
Technology

Technology is a broad concept that deals with an animal species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects an animal species' ability to control and adapt to its Natural environment....
 that is related to entering space
Outer space

Outer space comprises the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace and terrestrial locations....
, maintaining and using systems during spaceflight
Spaceflight

Spaceflight is the use of space technology to achieve the flight of spacecraft into and through outer space.Spaceflight is used in space exploration, and also in commercial activities like space tourism and telecommunications satellite....
 and returning people and things from space.

"Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing
Remote sensing

Remote sensing is the small or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object ....
, GPS systems, satellite television
Satellite television

Satellite television is television delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by a satellite dish and set-top box. In many areas of the world it provides a wide range of channels and services, often to areas that are not serviced by terrestrial television or cable television providers....
, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure. Of sciences astronomy
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
 and Earth sciences (via remote sensing
Remote sensing

Remote sensing is the small or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object ....
) most notably benefit from space technology.

Computer
Computer

A computer is a machine that manipulates Data according to a list of Code .The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century , although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier....
s and telemetry
Telemetry

Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. The word is derived from Greek language roots tele = remote, and metron = measure....
 were once leading edge technologies that might have been considered "space technology" because of their criticality to booster
Booster

Booster may refer to:In science and technology:* Booster , a motor-generator set used for voltage regulation in direct current electrical power circuits...
s and spacecraft
Spacecraft

A spacecraft is a Craft or machine designed for spaceflight. On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters outer space then returns to the Earth....
.






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Space technology is technology
Technology

Technology is a broad concept that deals with an animal species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects an animal species' ability to control and adapt to its Natural environment....
 that is related to entering space
Outer space

Outer space comprises the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace and terrestrial locations....
, maintaining and using systems during spaceflight
Spaceflight

Spaceflight is the use of space technology to achieve the flight of spacecraft into and through outer space.Spaceflight is used in space exploration, and also in commercial activities like space tourism and telecommunications satellite....
 and returning people and things from space.

"Every day" technologies such as weather forecasting, remote sensing
Remote sensing

Remote sensing is the small or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object ....
, GPS systems, satellite television
Satellite television

Satellite television is television delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by a satellite dish and set-top box. In many areas of the world it provides a wide range of channels and services, often to areas that are not serviced by terrestrial television or cable television providers....
, and some long distance communications systems critically rely on space infrastructure. Of sciences astronomy
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
 and Earth sciences (via remote sensing
Remote sensing

Remote sensing is the small or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device that is not in physical or intimate contact with the object ....
) most notably benefit from space technology.

Computer
Computer

A computer is a machine that manipulates Data according to a list of Code .The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century , although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier....
s and telemetry
Telemetry

Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. The word is derived from Greek language roots tele = remote, and metron = measure....
 were once leading edge technologies that might have been considered "space technology" because of their criticality to booster
Booster

Booster may refer to:In science and technology:* Booster , a motor-generator set used for voltage regulation in direct current electrical power circuits...
s and spacecraft
Spacecraft

A spacecraft is a Craft or machine designed for spaceflight. On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters outer space then returns to the Earth....
. They existed prior to the Space Race
Space Race

File:Space race1.jpgThe Space Race was a competition of space exploration between the Soviet Union and the United States, which lasted roughly from 1957 to 1975....
 of the Cold War
Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, France, United Kingdom and those countries' respective allies from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s....
 but their development was vastly accelerated to meet the needs of the two major superpowers' space programs. While still used today in spacecraft and missile
Missile

A guided missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used....
s, the more prosaic applications such as remote monitoring (via telemetry) of patients, water plants, highway conditions, etc. and the widespread use of computers far surpasses their space applications in quantity and variety of application.

Space is such an alien environment that attempting to work in it requires new techniques and knowledge. New technologies originating with or accelerated by space-related endeavors are often subsequently exploited in other economic activities. This has been widely pointed to as beneficial by space advocates and enthusiasts favoring the investment of public funds in space activities and programs. Political opponents counter that it would be far cheaper to develop specific technologies directly if they are beneficial and scoff at this justification for public expenditures on space-related research.

Specific space technologies

  • Ablative heat shield
  • Aerobot
    Aerobot

    An aerobot is an aerial robot, usually used in the context of an unmanned space mission or unmanned aerial vehicle.While work has been done since the 1960s on robot "rover s" to explore the Moon and other worlds in the Solar system, such machines have limitations....
     (Planetary probe suspended in atmosphere.)
  • Atmospheric braking
  • Booster
    Booster rocket

    In spaceflight, a booster may be either:* an entire launch vehicle or "launcher" used to lift a spacecraft. Initially all boosters used for human spaceflight and most unmanned boosters used liquid rocket , at least for the core launch vehicle....
     See also ICBM
  • Centrifuge
    Centrifuge

    A centrifuge is a piece of equipment, generally driven by a motor, that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a force perpendicular to the axis....
  • Gantry
    Gantry (rocketry)

    In rocketry, a gantry is a service tower, a multistory frame which encloses a rocket at its launch pad, containing elevators and staircases that enable technicians to inspect, maintain, and adjust all parts of the vehicle, and for cabling and hoses to be attached to it and removed....
  • Human staffed missions
  • Rocket sled
    Rocket sled

    A rocket sled is a test platform that slides along a set of rails, propelled by rockets. They were used extensively by the United States early in the Cold War to accelerate equipment considered too experimental for testing directly in piloted aircraft....
  • Rover
    Rover (space exploration)

    A rover is a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of a planet or other astronomical body. Some rovers have been designed to transport members of a human spaceflight crew; others have been partially or fully autonomous robots....
    • Lunar Rover
      Lunar rover

      File:Apollo15LunarRover.jpgThe Lunar Roving Vehicle or lunar rover was a type of surface exploration rover used on the Moon during the Apollo program....
    • Mars Rover
      Mars Rover

      A Mars rover is a spacecraft which propels itself across the surface of Mars after Mars landing .Rover have several advantages over stationary Lander : they examine more territory, they can be directed to interesting features, they can place themselves in sunny positions to weather winter months and they can advance the knowledge of how...
  • Satellite
    Satellite

    In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an Physical body which has been placed into orbit by human endeavor. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
    • Communication satellite
    • Earth observation satellite
      Earth observation satellite

      Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar toreconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as natural environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc....
    • Navigation satellite
    • Space observatory
      Space observatory

      A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects....
    • Satellite television
      Satellite television

      Satellite television is television delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by a satellite dish and set-top box. In many areas of the world it provides a wide range of channels and services, often to areas that are not serviced by terrestrial television or cable television providers....
    • Telecommunications satellite
    • Weather satellite
      Weather satellite

      A weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while moving at the speed of the Earth's rotation....
  • Spacecraft
    Spacecraft

    A spacecraft is a Craft or machine designed for spaceflight. On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters outer space then returns to the Earth....
  • Spacecraft propulsion
    Spacecraft propulsion

    Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research....
  • Space probe
    Space probe

    A robotic spacecraft is a spacecraft with no humans on board, that is usually under telerobotic control. A robotic spacecraft designed to make scientific research measurements is often called a space probe....
    • Aerobot
      Aerobot

      An aerobot is an aerial robot, usually used in the context of an unmanned space mission or unmanned aerial vehicle.While work has been done since the 1960s on robot "rover s" to explore the Moon and other worlds in the Solar system, such machines have limitations....
       (Planetary probe suspended in atmosphere.)
  • Space shuttle
    Space Shuttle

    NASA's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System , is the spacecraft currently used by the United States government for its human spaceflight missions....
  • Space station
    Space station

    A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live in outer space. So far only low earth orbit stations are implemented, also known as orbital stations....
  • Space suit
    Space suit

    A space suit is a complex system of garments, equipment and environmental systems designed to keep a person alive and comfortable in the harsh environment of outer space....
  • Space capsule
    Space capsule

    A space capsule is an often manned spacecraft which has a simple shape for the main section, without any wings or other features to create lift during atmospheric reentry....
  • Splashdown
    Splashdown (spacecraft landing)

    Splashdown is the method of landing a spacecraft by parachute in a body of water. It was used by American manned spacecraft prior to the Space Shuttle program....
  • Telemetry
    Telemetry

    Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. The word is derived from Greek language roots tele = remote, and metron = measure....
  • Thruster
    Thruster

    A thruster is a small spacecraft propulsion used by spacecraft and watercraft for Orbital stationkeeping, attitude control, or long duration low thrust acceleration....


Future space technologies

  • Asteroid mining
    Asteroid mining

    Raw resources and minerals could be Mining from an asteroid in space using a variety of methods. Even a relatively small asteroid with a diameter of 1 km can contain billions of metric tons of raw materials....
  • Single stage to orbit
  • Solar power satellite
  • Non-rocket spacelaunch
    Non-rocket spacelaunch

    Non-rocket spacelaunch is the idea of space launch specifically from the Earth's surface predominately without the use of conventional chemical rockets, which today is the only method in use....
  • Space manufacturing
    Space manufacturing

    Space manufacturing is the production of manufactured goods in an environment outside a planetary Celestial body atmosphere. Typically this includes conditions of microgravity and hard vacuum....


See also

  • Centennial Challenges
    Centennial Challenges

    The Centennial Challenges are NASA space competition prize contests for non-government-funded technology achievements by United States teams....
     NASA prize contests
  • Exploration of Mars
    Exploration of Mars

    The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the space exploration programs of the Soviet Union , the United States, Europe, and Japan....
  • Human spaceflight
    Human spaceflight

    A human spaceflight is a spaceflight with a Astronaut, and possibly passengers. This makes it unlike Robotic spacecraft space probes or remotely-controlled satellites....
  • Space exploration
    Space exploration

    Space exploration is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
  • Space colonization
    Space colonization

    Space colonization is the concept of autonomous human Space habitat of locations outside Earth.It is a major science fiction themes in science fiction, as well as a long-term goal of various national space programs....
  • Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes
    Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes

    This Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes includes unmanned spacecraft including technology demonstrators, observatories, lunar probes, and interplanetary probes....


External links

  • , Race2Space, in partnership with the X Prize foundation, is seeking sponsorship in order to support the privatization of space travel, research, and exploration for the upcoming Lunar Landing Challenge Contestants October 2006."