Week 9: Space + Art

Copernicus Solar System

The fascination of space has been a topic that astronomers have questioned for centuries in searching for the meaning of “what is life.” Bringing knowledge and science together has changed the popular culture in how we look at space. With Copernicus’s model of the solar system in 1512, it sparked a new beginning of space and what lies in the universe. Space has always been an interesting topic of mine because I have always been curious as to what is really out there. Looking up at night, seeing the stars, it seems so close but yet millions of miles away. 

With the technology that has advanced since the time of Copernicus, astronomers have developed this portal into space where we have launched satellites and rockets to explore what is out in the universe. Sputnik was a monumental event where it exploited space travel and grabbed the world’s attention on a mass scale. It changed the view of peoples vision as to what the future will hold or even look like. It sparked unknown wonders of the universe and the capabilities as to what can be done to expand beyond earth. 

Neil Armstrong: First Man
on the Moon

Between the years of 1957 and 1969, satellites were launched into orbit as well as sending animals into space, orbiting the earth, and the most historic event, putting a man on the moon. The space race between the Soviet Union and the United States went beyond just who could reach the moon, but it created a new phenomenon of life outside of earth. This idea of the moon acting as the new persian gulf of the 21st century was something that could not be ignored. Mining the moon became a competition because it could have the potential to control the global economy and the destiny beyond.

Tomorrowland:
The future of the unknown

With everything that we have learned this course, it all ties together with space ad how it is creating our future. To think that television shows like “The Jetsons,” “Star Trek,” and “Lost in Space” paved this image of the future, it did in fact influence popular culture about space. It created a new image as to what to look forward to centuries to come. Is it possible to have life in space? Science fiction movies have definitely generated curiosities as to what life could be like in centuries to come. I know for me, just seeing the film Tomorrowland, it changed my perspective about the future. With the amount of technology that we have today and how quickly it is improving, I would not be surprised if our society will end up like these films. Yes it is fiction, but technology has such a heavy impact on our lives today, and with such brilliant scientists, researchers, and artists, there is a possibility that our future could one day model this space universe idealist world. And if I were to be alive when this happened, this would by far be the coolest and most historic achievement that our world would ever see. 

Citations

Nasa <http://www.nasa.gov/feature/our-tomorrowland-nasa-advancing-the-future-on-earth-and-in-space>

Copernicus <http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/files/2010/02/solar-system-copernicus.jpg>

Sputnik Video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvPzUAeWZZY>

Neil Armstrong <http://airportjournals.com/wp-content/uploads/0803006_6.jpg>

Lecture Professor Vesna <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPAmpBiVHY>