The race between theoretical and practical science is at its peak; this is especially the case with astronomy and space sciences. Theoretical science or research is formulating hypotheses or conceptions regarding a certain topic or celestial body, and introducing a solution model or a comprehensive image; however, without providing concrete scientific evidence. In astronomy and space science, concrete scientific evidence refers to the actual observation by any adequate equipment.
This race reveals the visions or beliefs of international space agencies, in particular NASA, regarding the projects they embrace and fund with billions of dollars. Any project to launch a spacecraft outside the Earth involves many theoretical questions raised in even more theoretical researches; it is expected from the project to answer these questions, proving them right or wrong. Human lunar landings in the 1960s followed researches and theories about the feasibility of flying around the Earth to begin with, and theoretical studies about sending a human being or a living creature in a spacecraft to a zero-gravity zone. Having realized those dreams, another theoretical leap followed, covering the development of wireless communication technologies. Space agencies tried to answer these researches and develop applications, and so continues the race between the theory and the practice.
A significant example on this race is the “New Horizons” project that NASA launched on 19 January 2006, to the “Pluto System and Kuiper Belt”. At the time, scientists and theorists viewed Pluto as the ninth planet, and used the term “Pluto System” to refer to Pluto and its moons. The project was expected to answer the questions raised by the National Academy of Sciences about the exact position of Pluto from the Kuiper Belt, which extends between Neptune and Pluto. The announced theoretical questions about Pluto and its moons were: Is the terrestrial nature of Pluto similar to that of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars)? What is the nature of Pluto’s five moons and their orbits? It is hoped that the “New Horizons” outcomes would give a presentation on the origins of the outer borders of our Solar System.
“New Horizons” achieved its goal, reaching the “Pluto System” on 14 July 2015, paying no attention to the arguments raised in 2008 about the classification of Pluto. The NASA research team responsible for the project presented high-quality photos of Pluto’s surface and moons, in addition to other information that was not published on the project’s website. The photos and the results encouraged the decision makers in the American Government to extended the “New Horizons” mission to 2020. The team will continue following up and studying the images sent from its cameras, and the spacecraft will continue its journey beyond Pluto to reach the borders of the Solar System.
NASA’s schedules and efforts do not only focus on Pluto, but also on the Juno spacecraft project. Juno was launched on 5 August 2011 to Jupiter, arriving at its destination on 2 July 2016. Although some might think we already have enough information about Jupiter, theoretical questions and researches are still increasing about its atmosphere and the conditions of its magnetic layer that raised suspicions about the formation of the giant planet.
The race continues…
This article was first published in print in SCIplanet, Winter 2017 issue.
Cover image by Freepik