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The International Space Station with Maggie Philbin
Science broadcaster Maggie describes the ISS
Feel across the International Space Station. (Pause) It’s not the first space station, the Russians have had several and the Americans had an earlier one, but the great thing about this one is that it is the International Space Station. Sixteen different countries – Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, the USA and eleven European countries including Britain – began building it in 2000. All the equipment needed to build the International Space Station was transported in a spacecraft from Earth. The Space Station is built from modules, which are fitted together, a bit like a giant jigsaw puzzle the size of a football pitch.
Astronauts and cosmonauts come and go to the International Space Station all the time, conducting hundreds of experiments on the effects of microgravity on humans and plants, to push the boundaries of our knowledge. It’s a home from home for the astronauts onboard, with a kitchen, sleeping cabins, toilets and bathrooms plus work areas, laboratories and control rooms.
Robert Winston on being a Scientist
An insight into the profession with a leading voice
Hello. My name is Robert Winston. When I wanted to be an engine driver at the age of seven, then I changed up wanting to be a scientist. And then I really wanted to do something totally different. And I did do science at university with medicine, but actually I didn't really decide to do that until after I left school. So I was not clear what I wanted to do. And I think it's a very good piece of advice. Just remember that you have far more than you realise as you study at school and you should try and look at everything because you don't need to be a scientist. And I have to say too, that you think that I'm clever, cause I'm a scientist, but actually I'm no more clever than you are.
Dallas Campbell on Space Technology
Dallas Campbell talks about 3D printing, virtual reality and how technology may evolve
Hello, my name is Dallas Campbell. Now I'm a television science presenter, and I'm lucky enough to be able to explore the world first-hand. And a week or so ago, I was at the astronaut training centre in Cologne and for the European Space Agency, looking at where astronauts train and, and some of the technologies surrounding that. And there's a couple of things there. First of all, the way that we are, or the way that scientists use the dust on the moon, lunar material and Martian material, Martian material as well to actually use it as a building material. So we can actually go to places like the moon, for example. Create a, perhaps an inflatable dome or structure, which we can then cover in a concrete light substance made from lunar material in a way similar to 3D printing, it's an extension of 3D printing. And so that I think is very interesting. 3D printing in itself is very interesting rather than I think to take tools with us as we explore, we can actually make our own as we go. Very, very exciting. The other thing they had that, which just enthralled me was the next level of virtual reality. I put on very, very sophisticated virtual reality goggles and using software that was developed through information from satellites around the moon, was able to physically stand on the moon and look around in as if it was there. And it was absolutely mind blowing. And I think virtual reality where we are now is extraordinary where we you're going to be in 10 years, time is going to change everything.