Houston, We Have a Problem

The Perils and Pitfalls of Space Exploration

with Dr Erica Franzmann, U. Victoria

Summary

From “A Trip to the Moon” (1902)

Launching things into space is hard, and even if you manage to launch without issue space itself is incredibly dangerous. Hard vacuum, vast distances, high-speed space debris, unfiltered solar and cosmic radiation—all of these factors contribute to an incredibly hostile environment for spacecraft (and astronauts!) to endure. Once most spacecraft have been launched and en route to their final destination any unexpected problems that occur can be incredibly difficult if not impossible to fix. This has, from the beginning of space exploration, caused problems. Here are some specific cases.

BIO: Dr. Erica Franzmann received her PhD in Physics & Astronomy from the University of Manitoba in 2023, where she worked on modelling magnetic fields in star-forming regions. Several months later she moved half way across the country to take the position of Senior Lab Instructor in Astronomy at the University of Victoria. Erica has a wide array of eclectic interests ranging from astronomy to history to art, and can often be found hunting for new ways to use old equipment.