Endeavour - Space Apps Challenge

Endeavour| Virtual Planetary Exploration

Virtual Planetary Exploration

Your challenge is to create interactive 3D models of equipment (e.g., planetary geology tools) that future space explorers can use for activities like exploring a planetary surface.

‘A unique spacecraft to save the earth’ by Endeavour

Summary

If the number of neutrons in atomic core of a substance is more than the number of protons it is called ‘unstable atom’.The neutrons in unstable atoms radiate alpha, beta and gamma rays during atomic fission.The substances, which radiates during atomic fission, are called as ‘radioactive substances’.The power of radioactive substances might disintegrate human DNA, and also these substances might cause diseases by integrating the food chain. Furthermore, they can cause living cells to mutate, die and as a result, increase cancer cells. These substances, which give rise to genetic modification disturb ecological balance as well. The damages of radiation can be observed mostly in the long term

How We Addressed This Challenge

The mission of our spacecraft is;

to find out the age of a planet by measuring the orbital speed
to measure the amount of radioactive substances on the relevant planet
to find out for how long the earth will be exposed to radiation by this planet
to compare the amount and percentage of existing radiation on earth now and the possible amount of radiation we will be axposed to in the future
5. to find out the risk period on earth in terms of radiation (by measuring the orbital speed and finding out the age of planets)

The spacecraft we’ve designed will be able to provide information about orbital speed and the amount of radioactive substances on planets. With this feature, we can make predictions about the risk of radiactive rays reaching the earth. Then, precautions such as using renewable energy sources can be taken in advance order to keep the ecological balance.

The spacecraft will be sent to earth’s twin planet Venus, which is one of the terrestrial planets in the solar system and also the second closest planet to earth after Mars. In short, by doing this, it will be possible to receive information about the amount of radio active substances in terrestrial planets.

In addition, this spacecraft will be sent to gas giant Jupiter which is one of the jovian planets and the closest superior planet to earth. It will collect information about the risk of radiation there.

Space explorers can collect information about the amount of radio active substance by means of this spacecraft. This spacecraft which can be used in both terrestrial and jovian planets, will be able to find out the age and remaining life of a planet and radioactive substances on it.

How We Developed This Project

Our challange category is ‘Virtual Planetary Exploration’. In the process of developing our Project, we chose ‘Minecraft Education Edition’ application in order to make simulation of planets. We designed eight planes according to their size and orders in the solar system. We adapted their original size to our own ‘Minecraft earth’ by using code blocks with 3 D details. Based on our fictional story, we designed gas giant ‘Jupiter’ and terrestrial planet ‘Venus’ in a bigger and more detailed way.

Our spacecraft will be sent to space by teleporting which is also known as ‘Minecraft Warp’. It will spread ray to the planet it has reached to measure its orbital speed by using infrared sensor. It will record the amount of radiation on the relevant planet by using ‘Actinograph’ and report to earth. Thus, we will be able to foresee the possible effects of radiation on living cells, and we can take precautions in advance.

How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project

We were ispired by the article ‘Catalog of apollo lunar surface geological sampling tools and contaıners’ provided by Space Agency while developing our Project. In this article, there was information about getting samples from planets and recording the data received from them. Our spacecraft will also have similar functions and also give us infromation about orbital speed and the amount of radiation on relevant planets.

We also refered to the research in the below link, which is provided by Space Agency in the progress of our Project. In this research, it is highlighted that the spacecrafts which are sent to space for scientific purposes remain there for a long time and cause pollution. Our spacecraft will take this into consideration and find alternative ways to promote sustainability and reusability.

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/topic_5_initial_artemis_geology_sampling_tools.pdf

Project Demo

https://youtu.be/u9vqxRiJ5zg

As it’s a well-known fact that radioactive substances which are used to generate energy, has been damaging the earth for a long time. If we know the percentage of radiation the planets contain, we can predict how much radiation humans will be exposed to in the future. Our spacecraft will be able to measure the amount of radiation on other planets periodically so that we can predict the threat for all living organisms on earth and take precautions in advance.