Week 9: Space + Art

I feel very happy to learn about space in the ninth week mainly due to two reasons. First, the discussion on space reminds me of all I have learnt from this class. Second, I really like the way space science and art inspire each other.

Space Craft

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite#/media/File:Soyuz_TMA-7_spacecraft2edit1.jpg>

I totally agree with Professor Vesna’s statement that space involves almost all of the topics we have covered this quarter, including technology, math and robotics. Through the development of technology, engineers were able to create the spacecrafts. Thanks to the calculations of mathematics, scientists could design the route for the spacecrafts to reach to or circulate the planet. Due to the applications of robotics, we could get photos of and valuable information about the planets, such as Mars, without sending people to space.

Mark Garlick, Black Hole

<https://www.google.com/search?q=mark+garlick&biw=1405&bih=764&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDr4-5nYHNAhVM5mMKHfQkBs0Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=eRPQV92qaEUdqM%3A>

When the exploration of space inspires artists, such as
Mark Garlick, to create aesthetically beautiful and grand pictures of space, science fictions also inspire scientists to develop technology. (Garlick's pictures could be seen at his website, http://www.markgarlick.com/gallery.php) As Ben Bova, a writer of more than 120 works of science fact and fiction, said, “science fiction helps to inspire young readers, who then go science fiction become actual fact,” scientists sometimes appreciate the technology depicted in science fictions and then try to develop the technology in real life. For example, the first fictional depiction of a satellite is in The Brick Moon, a short story by Edward E. Hale, published in 1869, eighty eight years before the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial satellite, the Sputnik 1, in 1957.

The Brick Moon by Edward E. Hale

<https://www.google.com/search?biw=1405&bih=764&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=the+brick+moon&oq=the+brick+moon&gs_l.img>

It is hard to deny the close relations of space and art, not only because of the involvement of many aspects we covered in class and the mutual inspiration with art, but also because of the essence of space itself. To explore the space is to feel something so vast and unknown. Doesn’t it sound artistic?

References:

"Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA." BaPSF. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2016.

Goldsmith, Mike. Universe:Journey into Deep Space. N.p.: Kingfisher, 2012. Print.

Moskowitz, Clara. "Science Fiction Barely Ahead of Space Exploration Reality." Space.com. N.p., 18 May 2012. Web. 29 May 2016.

"NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover Breaks Driving Distance record." VentureBeat. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 20 May 2016. Web. 28 May 2016.