al complexity of transporting materials and people across millions of kilometres are staggering.

Despite these difficulties, several private companies and government agencies are actively developing the technologies required, focusing on areas like closed-loop life support systems and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) to reduce dependence on Earth supplies.

2a:T5d9,

The Search for Exoplanets

An **exoplanet** is any planet orbiting a star other than our Sun. For centuries, their existence was theoretical, but the first confirmed exoplanet was detected in 1992. The challenge in finding them stems from their minuscule size relative to their host stars and the immense distances involved. Two primary detection methods are currently employed: the **Transit Method (T)** and the **Radial Velocity Method (RV)**.

The **Transit Method (T)** relies on observing the slight dimming of a star's light as a planet passes in front of it. This method is highly effective for finding planets close to their stars and allows scientists to determine the planet's diameter and atmospheric composition. Missions like the Kepler Space Telescope have successfully used this technique. However, it requires the planet's orbit to be perfectly aligned with our line of sight.

The **Radial Velocity Method (RV)**, also known as the Doppler spectroscopy method, measures the tiny **wobble** in a star's position caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. This wobble is detected by observing shifts in the star's spectrum. The RV method is best suited for identifying massive planets, and it helps determine the planet's mass.

The ultimate goal is to find an **Earth-like planet (E)** in the **habitable zone**, the region around a star where liquid water could exist on the planet's surface.

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The Expanding Universe and Dark Energy

In the 1920s, astronomer **Edwin Hubble** made the groundbreaking dis