Basic Space Course

Introduction

The Space Force Basic Cadet Course is designed to provide you with information on 3 subjects related to the Space Force as well as one subject related to the ROTTWEILER Corps to give you the information you need to be successful as a ROTTWEILER Space Cadet. The information provided on this page will prepare you for your course test.

Each lesson below will cover one of the 4 subjects and there will be questions on the test which reflect on each lesson, so make sure to pay close attention. 

Once you are ready, click on the TAKE THE TEST link, and you will be directed to the Basic Space Course Test. Once you have completed the course test, you will be notified by email of your results on the test and whether or not you have passed. In order to pass the test you must get a minimum of 7 out of the 10 questions correct.

In order to be promoted to Ordinary Crewman(S), you must pass this course. 

Lesson One: History of Space Exploration

First Man Made Objects in Space

Germany took the first steps to put a man-made object in space with the V-2 Rocket. This was achieved on 3rd October 1942. After the Second World War, the USA used German scientists and hardware to create programs to launch man-made objects into space. The USA also launched the first animal experiment with Fruit Flies and took the first images of the Earth from space using modified V-2 Rockets.

First Flights

The first launch to successfully orbit the Earth was the Soviet unmanned Sputnik 1 ("Satellite 1") mission which took off on 4th October 1957. It is believed the satellite orbited the Earth at an altitude of around 250 kilometres (160 miles). Two radio transmitters where fitted to the satellite (20MHz and 40MHz) which relayed different signals back to Earth. The signals contained information about the electron density of the ionosphere along with temperature and pressure information.

First Human Flights

The first successful manned spaceflight was Vostok 1 ("East 1") launched by the Soviets. 27 Year old Russian Cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, was propelled into an orbit of the earth on 12th April 1961, with the orbit lasting one trip around the Earth. The flight lasted about 1 hour and 48 minutes demonstrating how advanced the Soviet space program was at the time.

First Planetary Explorations

The first artificial object to reach another celestial body was Luna 2 in 1959. The first automatic landing on another celestial body was performed by Luna 9 in 1966. Luna 10 became the first artificial satellite of the Earth's Moon.The first manned landing on a celestial body was performed by Apollo 11 in its Luna landing on 20th July 1969.The first interplanetary surface mission to return at least limited surface data from another planet was the 1970 landing of Venera 7 on Venus which returned data to earth for 23 minutes. 

Lesson Two: Our Solar System

A solar system is a group of objects that travel at an orbit around a star.

Our solar system orbits around the star commonly known as the Sun, or Sol (hence it being known as a SOL-ar system). Within our solar system are eight major planets and numerous smaller objects, known as satellites and dwarf planets.

Prior to the enactment of a proper definition of a planet, there were estimations of as much as 15 planets in the solar system. Now we know that there in fact 8 major planets and dozens of dwarf planets within the solar system.

The criteria that defines a planet in our solar system is as follows:

1. Is in orbit around the Sun

2. Has sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape and

3. Has "cleared the neighbourhood" around its orbit.

The 8 major planets are: Rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars; and gas giants Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets fulfil all the criteria to be considered planets on their own right. As recently as 2006, there was thought to be 9 major planets. The dwarf planet Pluto was reclassified at that time.

We all see a moon at night but did you know that there is a total of 173 moons orbiting the eight planets with in our solar system? There are many more moons then just the 173, there are moons orbiting around dwarf planets and also asteroids.

Asteroids: 

We are still counting them every day. As of now, there is a total of 670,448.  It was estimated the mineral wealth of the asteroids on the main belt between Mars and Jupiter would be about $100,000,000 USD for every person on Earth.

Comets:

About 3,319 comets have been recorded, and scientists estimate that the sun's gravitational grip could be holding as many as 1,000,000,000 comets. 

Lesson Three: Types of Satellites

Space Surveillance Network

The United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN), a division of The United States Strategic Command, has been tracking objects in Earth's orbit since 1957 when the Soviets opened the space age with the launch of Sputnik I. Since then, the SSN has tracked more than 26,000 objects. The SSN currently tracks more than 8,000 man-made orbiting objects. The rest have re-entered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated, or survived re-entry and impacted the Earth.

Non-military Satellite Services

Fixed satellite services handle hundreds of billions of voice, data, and video transmission tasks across all countries and continents between certain points on the Earth's surface.
 

Mobile Satellite Systems

Mobile satellite systems help connect remote regions, vehicles, ships, people and aircraft to other parts of the world and/or other mobile or stationary communications units, in addition to serving as navigation systems.

Scientific Research Satellites

Scientific research satellites provide meteorological information, land survey data (e.g. remote sensing), Amateur (HAM) Radio, and other different scientific research applications such as earth science, marine science, and atmospheric research.

Types of Satellites 

• Killer Satellites are satellites that are designed to destroy enemy warheads, satellites, and other space assets.

• Astronomical satellites are satellites used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.

• Biosatellites are satellites designed to carry living organisms, generally for scientific experimentation.

• Communications satellites are satellites stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. Modern communications satellites typically use geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or Low Earth orbits.   

• Miniaturized satellites are satellites of unusually low masses and small sizes. New classifications are used to categorize these satellites: mini-satellite (500–100 kg), microsatellite (below 100 kg), nano-satellite (below 10 kg).

• Navigational satellites are satellites which use radio time signals transmitted to enable mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location. The relatively clear line of sight between the satellites and receivers on the ground, combined with ever-improving electronics, allows satellite navigation systems to measure location to accuracies on the order of a few meters in real time.

• Reconnaissance satellites are Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Very little is known about the full power of these satellites, as governments who operate them usually keep information pertaining to their reconnaissance satellites classified.

• Earth observation satellites are satellites intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. 

• Tether satellites are satellites which are connected to another satellite by a thin cable called a tether.  

• Weather satellites are primarily used to monitor Earth's weather and climate.

• Recovery satellites are satellites that provide a recovery of reconnaissance, biological, space-production and other payloads from orbit to Earth.   

• Manned spacecraft (spaceships) are large satellites able to put humans into (and beyond) an orbit, and return them to Earth. Spacecraft including space planes of reusable systems have major propulsion or landing facilities. They can be used as transport to and from the orbital stations.

• Space stations are man-made orbital structures that are designed for human beings to live on in outer space. A space station is distinguished from other manned spacecraft by its lack of major propulsion or landing facilities. Space stations are designed for medium-term living in orbit, for periods of weeks, months, or even years.

Lesson Four: Chain of Command

ROTTWEILER - RCC ('Ranger Cadet Combined Corps') Online Training Team; Worldwide Electronic Integration and Learning Enrichment Regiment - , like any military organization, has a strict chain of command. That must be followed whenever you have an issue.

The chain is set up this way so that you have someone to speak with on every level. 

Authority is granted to persons on each level to perform certain functions and deal with problems of certain severity. 

If a problem ever arises that is beyond that persons power, they take it up to the next level on the chain of command. 

An issue will continue to be passed up the chain until it has reached a person who can deal with the situation. The last step in that chain is the Commandant, who has authority over all matters in ROTTWEILER. 

There are very few times one is allowed to bypass any part of the chain.

If your immediate superior is the problem (i.e. you have a complaint against the Section Leader, for example) you skip to the next link in your chain of command.

If the situation is of a severe nature (harassment or abuse in ANY form) you may go directly to the Divisional Officer.

These occurrences go directly to the Commandant of ROTTWEILER, who will give strong consideration to the situation and arrange for trials. 

Let's start our way at the bottom and work up!

• Cadet: The Cadets in the division are at the bottom of the chain. They are busy doing their unit-related tasks and have no major responsibilities outside of that. They are also viewed as being at the top as well, because without the cadets, we wouldn't have a Regiment!

• Section Leader: A Section Leader is the person who is directly responsible for the cadets. They will email cadets from time to time to see who is active, pass on messages and relay orders from higher up on the chain. They are the first person you speak to.

• Divisional Senior NCO: A division is made up of 2 or 3 sections. The Divisional Senior NCO is second-in-charge of a Division, and is the superior of all Section Leaders. The Divisional NCO works directly with the Divisional Officer as well as the Corps Senior NCO.

• Divisional Officer: The DivO is the officer in charge of your division. He or she ensures that all the paperwork is done including monthly reports and evaluations. They will be the one who helps mentor Senior NCOs and reports to the Executive Officer.

• Corps Senior NCO: Somewhere in the mix is the CSNCO. The CSNCO is the most senior Non Commissioned Officer in the Corps. He or she is the Commandant's representative to the NCOs, as well as the NCOs' representative to the Wardroom/Officers Mess. The CSNCO also helps to ensure that all Divisional Senior NCOs are running at maximum efficiency and assist where possible.

• Executive Officer: The XO is the second in command of the ROTTWEILER. Should the Commandant ever have to leave, the XO assumes command of the Corps until the Cmdt comes back. The XO is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Corps and reports to the Cmdt. He or she is also ultimately responsible for discipline within the Corps.

• Commandant: The Cmdt is the elected leader of ROTTWEILER. He or she holds authority over all things in the Training Team/Regiment. Lets just say, if you're ever in his office, and not getting a medal, just pack your bags right now! The Commandant provides the Corps direction, and uses his or her term to put in place a vision for ROTTWEILER that will hopefully allow it to progress and grow. The Cmdt is also responsible for the traditions of the Corps, and ensuring that our history lives on!