Unit Nine - Space + Art

This week’s topic is much closer to my typical area of interest than the past couple of weeks. As a student in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department, I have had some exposure to space technology. What really struck me about the discussion about the launch of Sputnik and the Space Race was how far the technology has come in just a few decades. In 1957, news of the launch of Sputnik was huge, and changed the world. Now, satellite technology has progressed so much that even students can design and build small satellites. Take for example, UCLA’s own nano-satellite program, ELFIN (Electron Losses and Fields Investigation). This satellite is being developed using input from students and faculty at UCLA, and is just one example of how far satellite technology has progressed over the years.

Figure 1. UCLA's ELFIN satellite.

Something else I decided to do a little more research on for this week was Buckyballs, which Professor Vesna mentioned in her lecture. The name caught my attention because of the magnetic toy of the same name. Buckyball, or buckminsterfullerene, is a cage-like, spherical structure made of carbon atoms. It is an extremely stable molecule with potential future applications in medicine and other fields. Toy Buckyballs are made of extremely strong magnets and can be used to make structures similar to buckminsterfullerenes. These little magnetic balls have been used to make extraordinary structures, and I believe they are a good representation of how science and art can be used together for the expression of creativity as well as for education.

Figure 2. Buckminsterfullerene.

Figure 3. Buckyballs magnetic toys.

Works Cited

"Buckminsterfullerene." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 27 May 2015.

"Carbon Nanotubes & Buckyballs." Carbon Nanotubes & Buckyballs. UW MRSEC Education Group, 20 May 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.

Garber, Steve. "Sputnik." Sputnik. NASA History, 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 27 May 2015.

"Mission." ELFIN. 3 Apr. 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.

"Buckyballs." Buckyballs. Web. 27 May 2015.