...making process that allowed on space shuttle, called the Challenger to go up into space, but was destroyed upon take off. I will analyze the reasons why NASA allowed this aircraft to take off, and the reason why it should not have. I will also research the aftermath and how this huge error could have been avoided. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created on October 1, 1958 by the President of the United States and Congress. It was to provide research into the problems of flight within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. The main reason NASA was invented was due to World War 2. The United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a cold ward. During this time, space exploration become the one of the highest priority discussions. This became known as the space race. (American Psychological Association, 2011) The United States launched its first Earth satellite on January 31, 1958. It was called Explorer 1. Then the United States started several missions to the moon and other planets in 1950 and the 1960’s. It had 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $100 million. Nasa rapidly grew. They had three main laboratories. First, Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, Second, Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, and thirdly, Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. They also created two small testing laboratories. As NASA was becoming more and more successful, they eventually created even more centers. Today they have 10 across the country. They also conducted several large...
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...NASA Ill-Equipped For Disasters NASA was ill-equipped to deal with the problems that led to these disasters because of its organizational structure, organizational culture, and lack of support from POTUS. NASA’s established merit system of being known as a “civil service” created a since of duty. This duty in its recent years was greatly wanted because of the Apollo mission to the moon. Thus, scientist were willing to work not for what they are worth but, for the position and status it represented. In the later years NASA’s merits system crumbled because people were no longer interested in NASA. This organizational structure along with the “turning the blind eye to technical failures” culture that was emerging in NASA made it ill-equipped...
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...What comes to mind when you hear or say the word NASA? Do you think of the first man on the moon, the Challenger or Columbia disasters, or how far they have made it when it comes to space? Do you think NASA is doing its job or do you think NASA fails to accomplish their goals? NASA had beat Russia in the space race to go to the moon and is still more technologically advanced than Russia. NASA in its whole carrier has had only two major disasters out of a total 135 space launches. Seven hundred and eighty nine astronauts have returned to earth alive out of 833(Space:Overview). NASA's Hubble telescope has reached and seen further than any telescope made for deep space exploration. NASA has a few upcoming events a new telescope build and a new...
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...“If you account for inflation, $19.3 billion for NASA in 2016 would merely restore the space agency to the funding level it last held in 2011” (Dreier). This is troubling because NASA is an organization that fund space traveling, and even space education. The federal government should supply NASA with more funding because, NASA only receives 0.4% of the $4.147 trillion federal budget, NASA benefits funds for education, and studying and exploring space is expensive. One reason that NASA should be funded by the government is because NASA benefits funds for education. According to Suzanne Foxworth, “NASA Space Science Day Events provide an out of school [experience] learning environment for students to enhance their STEM curriculum and let students...
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...9-603-062 REV. OCTOBER 29, 2002 DOROTHY LEONARD DAVID KIRON Managing Knowledge and Learning at NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Downsizing at NASA over the last decade through attrition and buyouts has resulted in an imbalance in NASA’s skill mix.1 — The President’s Management Agenda, Fiscal Year 2002 By the end of this decade, many of the most experienced scientists and engineers at NASA and JPL are going to retire. If we don’t have systems in place to retain more of what they know, our institution is going to suffer. — Jeanne Holm, Chief Knowledge Architect for NASA In the spring of 2002, Jeanne Holm, Chief Knowledge Architect for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was giving a tour of JPL. Stopping at a viewing stage above JPL’s mission control center, Holm explained the growing need for knowledge management at NASA: Almost 40% of JPL’s science and engineering workforce is currently eligible for retirement. In just four years, half of NASA’s entire workforce will be eligible. Many of these people are the most experienced project managers—the people who worked on Apollo (the mission to the Moon) and built the first space shuttle. Yet, we have few programs designed to bring their wisdom into our institutional memory. In the past 10 years, the budgets on our missions have been radically reduced, missions have multiplied ten-fold, and our scientists and engineers have been pushed...
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...the total budget NASA has to 18.4 billion. But that number is measly compared to 1200.7 billion that the US spends on the defense sector (“Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go”). Off the bat, an imbalance is noticeable. In fact, it’s 99.5% noticeable. That’s because NASA’s current budget breakdown in comparison to all the other sectors the US government falls into the bottom .5% of the entire...
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...Governments, academics, and scientists may differ in many trains of, thought, but they can all agree there's one major obstacle standing between us and exploring our solar system. Developing advanced propulsion technology has always been an issue here on Earth, however, NASA has started to address that. They have begun testing a new system that could get a spacecraft further than ever before. Will this lead to finding proof of God, or lack thereof? NASA TO GO BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM WITH SAILBOAT The secrets for NASA to travel beyond our solar system lie in a region of space called the heliosphere. The heliosphere is an area dominated by the sun. Here, protons and electrons are released at extremely high speeds. Previously, NASA has tried to develop a spacecraft propulsion system using sheer power, but now it might be possible to make one without propellants at all. To do this, the agency will need to harness these 400-750 kilometers per second wind speeds. Like a sailboat for space, the system will use an E-Sail that takes advantage of theses protons released from the sun in order to propel the spacecraft throughout our solar system and beyond. MAY THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE BE WITH YOU...
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...Abstract This essay touches on the issue of NASA funding. It tries to persuade NASA as well as the government to increase funding for NASA’s manned space missions. It uses substantial evidence from many sources to help make its argument valid as well as persuasive. Within the essay there is a brief introduction stating the thesis for the topic followed by a background section. This section helps to better explore the topic at hand. The main body of the argument revolves around the reasons with evidence for the thesis statement with refutation. Finally, the conclusion draws everything together by restating the thesis with reasons, and helping to better answer the question of whether funding should be increased for the space program. Introduction “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!” These words of Neil Armstrong as he took his first steps onto the moon signified one of the greatest achievements of the modern world, and the American space program. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration have been responsible for many stupendous achievements not only for the U.S., but for humans abroad. As of February 2006, their mission statement has been to, “pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.” What is the ultimate goal of NASA’s work? Do all of the discoveries we make benefit the general population? Will exploring the universe and searching for life on other planets help us gain the big picture of where we...
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...Ethical and Social What are the issues: The issue and aspects that are socially positive and beneficial are also ethically sound. It is ethical to be socially responsive and careful in its activities for NASA. Toxic chemicals are used in manufacturing rockets that are injurious to the health of humankind. During operation of rockets, carbon dioxide is used in high quantity that contains adverse impact on atmosphere. In addition, huge amount of energy is used in manufacturing equipment’s and vehicles that are used in spatial programs. It is however, unethical if NASA does not take care of these negative social impacts on the society. In addition, the chances of failure of any space operation should also be minimized so that NASA can be socially...
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...excites people like no other. In 2004, The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, began preliminary science experiments and instrument proposals for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and a robotic space probe mission to Mars. After long testing and development stages, the mission birthed a rover, Curiosity, which was launched in November 2011 and subsequently landed August 6th 2012. As we speak Curiosity is collecting invaluable data for our understanding of mars including: habitability, climate and geology, and possibly setting up a manned mission to mars in the future. The possibilities that this new information can bring are the main reason that scientist and nonscientists alike are so excited for this pivotal mission. The Curiosity project began development in 2004. Astronomers and engineers worldwide entered their instrument proposals to NASA so they could hopefully be a part of the final mission. These components were sifted thoroughly and select components were developed for four years. By 2008, they were mostly finished with the hardware and software developments and they carried on testing. This extensive testing delayed liftoff, which was originally slated for September 2009, until November 2011. NASA then administered a poll on their website to decide the name of the rover, with Curiosity ultimately winning. After naming the craft, NASA had to decide on a landing sight. It took them four meeting sessions to finally decide on a landing site...
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...space with half of the money it takes government-owned programs. The money that is wasted could be used to fund more projects such as human missions to Mars. Trump has diminished the budget for NASA to $19.1 billion (Harwood). This new budget cancels some of NASA’s research missions. It also does away with NASA’s Office of Education. “The office of Education coordinates projects that...
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...1 NASA OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 303 E STREET, S.W., #P WASHINGTON, D.C. 20546 (202) 358-1600 GLOBAL EXPLORATION STRATEGY AND LUNAR ARCHITECTURE SPEAKERS: SHANA DALE, Deputy Administrator DOUG COOKE, Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate SCOTT HOROWITZ, Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate [Moderated by Dean Acosta, NASA Press Secretary] Monday, December 4, 2006 Johnson Space Center [TRANSCRIPT PREPARED FROM A DIGITAL RECORDING.] MALLOY TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE (202) 362-6622 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 P R O C E D I N G S MR. ACOSTA: Good afternoon, and welcome to Johnson Space Center here in Houston for today's exciting announcement for the Global Exploration Strategy and Lunar Architecture announcement. Secretary. It is an exciting day at NASA and exciting week, and joining us for today's announcement, to my right, is NASA's Deputy Administrator Shana Dale. To her right is I am Dean Acosta, NASA Press the Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Directorate, Doug Cooke, and to Doug's right is the Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Directorate, Scott Horowitz. We are going to go through a presentation, and then we will get to your questions and have a question-and-answer session later in the announcement. So right now, I would like to turn it over to Deputy Administrator Shana Dale. DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DALE: Thank you, Dean. I am so...
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...NOAA vs. NASA Both the NOAA and NASA are funded by the United States government to support unique missions. While each organization’s mission is unique, many of the tools and techniques utilized by one organization can be or are used by the other. In this aspect, these organizations can be considered sister organizations. However, which organization will receive more funding or any funding at all? We live in a time of every organization within the government, to include the military, are dealing with budget cuts. The NOAA’s website states “from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor” (Sullivan, 2014). The oceans cover 70% of the earth’s surface. The magnitude of the area of responsibility of the NOAA is astounding. The people of the United States utilize studies and services of the NOAA on a daily basis and many Americans don’t even know anything about it. Funding has already began to cause some possible issues for the NOAA. An article on The Washington Post’s website states “Two of NOAA’s current satellites are not fully functional, and the third is nearing the end of its life” (Freedman, 2011). If the NOAA is already having these issues with previous budget cuts, what could further reduction in funding cause? The NOAA and NASA work together in many missions. The NOAA utilizes NASA’s capabilities to put satellites in orbit. NASA utilizes the NOAA’s research and technology for deep ocean submersion to assist with deep space exploration. Many of NASA’s...
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...“We want to open up space for humanity, and in order to do that, space ,must be affordable,” (Elon Musk). What he is trying to say that NASA is wasting our tax paying money on space exploration when they can use it for most valuable qualities. We are wasting money that is spent on building and launching rockets that are likely to fail. Imagine throwing a suitcase filled with money in fire. For instance, Jeff Foust author of “Space is Us,” insists, “NASA spent twenty billion dollars on just cancelled projects over a twenty year period,” (Floust, 1). With this amount wasted on failed projects, imagine on building projects. The money we can use in other places. As a result, “In 2005 billion of tax paying citizens spent over fifty...
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...MISSION TO MARS Nearly two decades after the Viking was successfully launched and put in Mars, NASA were ready to launch their second major mission to Mars with Mars Observer (MO) at a cost of nearly 1 billion dollars and more than a decade of preparation. This was a complete disaster after the controllers lost contact with the spacecraft three days prior to its deceleration into Mars’ Orbit. The losses incurred were of gigantic proportions and NASA could not afford any more failures. This made them rethink their approach towards space exploration and they eventually came up with the philosophy of FBC (Faster, Better, Cheaper). The aim of this approach was to change the way they worked on space exploration. Instead of spending billions of dollars and decades of effort in coming up with one spacecraft which has a lot of functionalities, FBC aimed at creating smaller and specific missions with strict constraints in money and time. The idea was to diversify the risk across multiple smaller projects rather than laying all the eggs in a single basket. This approach forced the developers to come up with innovative, out of the box solutions to cut down the costs. Another advantage in this approach is that the failure of a mission will not be as catastrophic as before. This really paid off on the first mission when Pathfinder was successfully launched into Mars within the specified constraints. However, things started getting awry when the challenge bar was raised too high....
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