00:00Picture yourself floating in the endless expanse of space.
00:04There are no edges or corners, no up or down, left or right.
00:09It's like being lost in a galactic wilderness, except you can't rely on any natural reference
00:14points or even on your usual sense of direction to guide you.
00:19And without gravity, you can find yourself tumbling and spinning in all directions, like
00:24being caught in a celestial tumble dryer.
00:27So what do you do?
00:29How do you know which way to go, and how not to get lost?
00:32Well, this isn't a simple question.
00:35First let's take a trip back to good old planet Earth, where direction is something we often
00:40take for granted.
00:42Imagine you're hiking through a dense forest.
00:44You're surrounded by towering trees, mossy rocks, and chirping birds.
00:49But there are no clear paths or road signs to guide you.
00:52So what should you do?
00:54The first thing that comes to mind is a compass, right?
00:58A small magical device that always knows where the north is, no matter where you are
01:03on the planet.
01:04All thanks to a tiny magnet inside.
01:07It feels the pull of Earth's magnetic field, which covers our planet like a cozy blanket.
01:12And this field is pulling the arrow towards the planet's north pole.
01:16Now when you know where the north is, you can determine east, west, and south.
01:21At this point, you can navigate through the wilderness like a seasoned explorer.
01:26This is what we call a reference point.
01:30And it's not just about finding your way through the forest.
01:33Think about how you use reference points in your daily life, giving and following directions
01:38on a map, using a GPS navigation system, or even just telling someone which way to turn
01:44at the street corner.
01:46Even in the skies we have them, using the water.
01:49Let's say you're embarking on a thrilling hot air balloon adventure.
01:53As soon as you rise into the sky, you're greeted by breathtaking views of rolling landscapes
01:59and glittering oceans.
02:01But how do you know how high you are?
02:04That's where sea level comes into play.
02:07You've probably heard phrases like above sea level or below sea level in your daily life.
02:13It's the average level of the world's oceans, a universal reference that acts as the starting
02:18point for measuring heights and depths.
02:21As you ascend in your hot air balloon, you can use instruments like altimeters to measure
02:26your altitude relative to sea level.
02:29It's like a ruler that tells you how far you've climbed into the sky.
02:33And it's not just for hot air balloon adventures.
02:36Altitude relative to sea level is used in various ways, from aviation to meteorology
02:42and to geography.
02:44It helps us understand and describe the height of mountains and the depths of oceans, the
02:49elevation of cities, and even the flight paths of airplanes.
02:54We're used to having points of reference on Earth, but when we go higher, things are getting
02:59much more complicated.
03:02In space, there are no natural landmarks, no compasses, and no universal altimeters.
03:08Without any fixed points of reference, determining direction becomes a real challenge.
03:14Even the stars which are often used for navigation on Earth can be misleading in space.
03:19On Earth, stars appear to move in a fixed pattern due to the rotation of our planet.
03:25But in space, they seem to shift and change position as you travel.
03:31So what do we do?
03:33Well, we need some advanced technology and precise calculations.
03:37Our intrepid spacecraft have clever ways to navigate the galaxy's seas.
03:44One of the most amazing tools spacecraft use for navigation is star trackers.
03:49It's like a cosmic GPS.
03:52They're the cameras that scan the night sky, capturing images of stars and using them as
03:57reference points.
03:59Just like we use street signs to find our way in a new city, spacecraft use the position
04:03of stars to determine their orientation and direction in space.
04:10Spacecraft can also use other celestial objects as navigation aids.
04:14For example, they might use planets, moons, or even asteroids to determine their position
04:19and direction.
04:21They create their own course based on these celestial bodies.
04:25For example, a course to fly from Mercury to Mars through Venus.
04:30It's like playing cosmic connect-the-dots with planets and moons.
04:35But it's not just about finding their way.
04:39Spacecraft also use these navigation methods to make precise maneuvers, like entering orbit
04:44around a planet or landing on a moon.
04:47They use complex calculations and precise measurements to determine their altitude,
04:52speed and trajectory, using the positions of celestial objects as a compass.
04:58It's like a dance, where the spacecraft follows the cues to execute intricate maneuvers in
05:03the vastness of space.
05:06Another clever gadget is the gyroscope.
05:09It's like a space compass.
05:12Gyroscopes are incredibly sensitive and can detect even the slightest changes in orientation.
05:17They help spacecraft to stay stable, keeping them on the right track.
05:23Spacecraft also use cameras and lasers to capture images and measure distances to nearby
05:28objects, such as planets, moons, or asteroids.
05:33And don't forget about all the fancy software and algorithms.
05:37Inside each spacecraft, there's a genius computer brain that solves complex equations
05:42and makes decisions where to fly next.
05:46But that's us talking about directions.
05:48Now, what about the altitude?
05:51In space, altitude takes on a whole new meaning.
05:55It's like trying to measure the height of a skyscraper with no ground floor.
06:00So this cosmic conundrum requires some out-of-this-world creativity.
06:05Usually it's measured relative to the position of a spacecraft or satellite.
06:09If you're floating near a moon or some other celestial body and you want to know how high
06:14or low you are, you could measure your distance from this body's surface.
06:19For example, astronauts on the International Space Station might refer to their altitude
06:23as the distance above the Earth's surface, even though they're far within our atmosphere.
06:30And if the celestial body doesn't have a solid surface, like Jupiter, which is basically
06:35a huge ball of gas, oh well, then we'd just have to pray.
06:40Another method is to measure altitude relative to the spacecraft's orbit.
06:45You could measure your distance from your orbit's center or plane and use that as a
06:49reference point.
06:51These methods might sound complex, but they're the easiest way to navigate and operate in space.
06:58They allow spacecraft to precisely control their altitude, speed, and trajectory.
07:04With these methods, they can even perform maneuvers like docking, landing, or rendezvousing.
07:11Space agencies and missions also act like interstellar traffic controllers.
07:16They have to ensure that spacecraft from different nations and organizations don't crash into
07:21each other.
07:22To keep things organized, they use standardized systems and conventions, just like how we
07:27use road signs and traffic rules on Earth.
07:31In addition to standardized systems, space agencies and missions also use conventions
07:36for specifying direction and orientation in space.
07:40For example, the right hand rule.
07:43It's like a secret handshake for understanding the direction of things in physics and engineering.
07:49Imagine you have a magical glove that can tell you which way things will go in certain situations.
07:55Let's say this glove is on your right hand.
07:58Now stick out your thumb just like you're giving a thumbs up.
08:01Your thumb represents the direction of the force or the push or pull of something.
08:06Next, curl your fingers around your thumb as if you're making a fist.
08:11Your fingers now represent the direction of a magnetic field or the rotation of something.
08:16Awesome!
08:17And now for the grand finale.
08:20Point your index finger straight out like you're pretending to shoot a laser beam.
08:24Your index finger now represents the direction of motion or current flow.
08:29And there you have it.
08:30The right hand rule is all about using your magical glove to connect the direction of
08:34force, thumb, magnetic field or rotation, fingers, and motion or current flow, index finger.
08:42It's a fun and handy trick that helps to solve complex problems in physics and engineering.
08:47Including navigation.
08:50Space exploration is an adventure that challenges our perception of direction and orientation,
08:55making us realize just how much we rely on our home planet.
08:59Who knows what other crazy ways await us in the future?
09:03For example, quantum navigation or when we'll create warp speeds like in Star Trek.
09:09Methods that would be not only practical but also awe-inspiring.
09:14Let's wait and see.
09:17That's it for today.
09:18So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:23friends.
09:24Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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