ASTR 6 (Summer 2018) The space-age solar system MWF, Time TBD, Place TBD

Dr. Pablo Saz Parkinson (HKU/UCSC) Research Assistant Professor/Research Scientist [email protected] or [email protected] http://www.physics.hku.hk/∼pablo/ Office: Laboratory for Space Research, Cyberport 4A, Room 405B Office Hours: TBD

This is a draft syllabus and is subject to change.

Course Description: This 5-week Summer Course, hosted by The University of (HKU) Summer Institute, will provide an overview of past, present, and future space missions, with an emphasis on key players in the US (NASA), Europe (ESA), and (CNSA). Students will learn about the origins of the space program and its impact on our knowledge about our Solar System and beyond. The course will include excursions to nearby and , where we will visit the Center for Astrophysics of Guangzhou University (GU), the Institute of Astronomy and Space Science at Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), and the Space Science Institute/Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).

Course Contents & Topics: Topics include: early history of the space program, the first satellites, cubesats, man in space, moon exploration (past and future), the Mars program(s), an overview of the Chinese, European, and US space programs, the study of Earth from space, modern space-based astrophysics, exoplanets, astrobiology and the search for life in outer space.

Prerequisite(s): None. Credit Hours: 5

Text(s): The course has no textbook. Lecture notes and readings will be provided. Teaching Assistant: TBD Course Objectives: At the completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Highlight some of the early milestones in space exploration. 2. Understand the main reasons for going to space and the technologies involved. 3. Summarize key goals and achievements of the US, European, and Chinese space programs. 4. Describe the current status of our search for life in space.

1 Assessment Methods and Weighting: 3 Homework Assignments 30% Quizzes 15% Class Participation 5% Final Presentation 25% Final Report 25%

Course Policies:

• General

– Short quizzes will take place at the beginning of each lecture – No makeup quizzes will be given (students can drop their worst quiz) – Students will be given 3 homework assignments and have 1 week to complete each one – A final project, involving a written report and class presentation will be chosen in the second week and presented in the final week

• Attendance and Absences

– Attendance is required. You can miss one lecture without it affecting your grade. – Students are responsible for keeping up with the readings, and assignments, regardless of the reason for any absences. – Excursions to Guangzhou and Macau are mandatory.

• Important Note:

– If you have a documented disability and seek academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss necessary accommodations. Academic Misconduct: Students are encouraged to consult the internet and collaborate with each other on both the assignments and the final project. The work presented, however, must be their own. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be severely punished. For more details, see: https://www.ue.ucsc.edu/academic misconduct http://arts.hku.hk/current-students/undergraduate/assessment/plagiarism

2 Tentative Course Outline: The weekly coverage might change as it depends on the progress of the class. However, you must keep up with the reading assignments.

Date Content HW

18 June • Early history of the space age • Reading assignment: List of possible final projects

20 June • Satellites: from Sputnik to Cubesats #1 Out • Guest lecturer: Prof. Quentin Parker

22 June • The moon: past, present, and future exploration • Reading assignment: TBD

25 June • Day An overview of the European Space program (ESA) • Guest Lecturer: Prof. Denis Bastieri 27 June • Mars and other planets in our solar system #2 Out • Guest Lecturer: Dr. Joe Michalski

29 June • An overview of the Chinese Space program • Guest Lecturer: Dr. Meng Su

2 July • Special Administration Region (SAR) #1 Due • Holiday • 4-day excursion to Guangzhou and Macau • Guangzhou University (3 July) 3–6 July • Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou campus (4 July) #3 Out • Sun Yat-Sen University, campus (5 July) • Macau University of Science and Technology (6 July)

9 July • The US space program (NASA) #2 Due • Reading assignment: TBD

11 July • An overview of space-based astronomy • Guest Lecturer: Dr. Stephen Ng

13 July • Earth from space • Reading assignment: TBD

16 July • The search for extra-solar planets #3 Due • Guest Lecturer: Dr. Man Hoi Lee

18 July • Astrobiology and the origin of life in space • Reading assignment: TBD

20 July • Final Group Presentations • Course Wrap-up

3