Launching various spacecraft into the outer space is not a rare event anymore. We have tons of communication satellites, reconnaissance satellites and Earth observing satellites in the orbits. But satellites are not the only objects that are launched to space. Space probes missions and human missions to space stations, or even to the Moon, are considered space flight too. But what are the challenges of space flight? As universe is vast, it is not easy to move fast enough to reach the closest stars within a lifetime of a human. Even travelling to the planets of the Solar System have many challenges connected to space radiation. Spacecraft need shielding but even then, some energetic particles can get inside and cause severe problems to the electronics and computer chips. That is why there have to be radiation simulation tests before ever launch. Once the spacecraft is on its mission through space, space weather still has to be monitored and well forecasted, so any possible problems can be mitigated.
Learn more about space flight, its challenges, its history and the effects of space weather on spacecraft in our audio booklet.
Listen to the audio
Audio booklet: Space flight
Make tactile images
Tactile image: Radiation belts
Tactile image: Earth’s magnetic field
Tactile image: Space Weather
Tactile image: Radio communication
Print 3D models
3D model: Cubesat
3D model: Hubble Space Telescope
3D model: Space Launch System
3D model: SOHO
3D model: Galileo satellite