...Deep Space Exploration The immediate question being asked is should people explore deep space. One of the benefits of deep space exploration will be our ability to mine valuable resources from asteroids, eliminating the need for mining metals from the ground and tearing up our planet. Another would be the benefits of furthering medical research. I, for one, feel that Humans should explore deep space, because there are huge benefits for exploring deep space. There are of course obstacles in the way of the benefits of deep space so, what is the price tag on a deep space flight? Is what will be gained be worth the price that tax payers spend? Cost is only part of the problem; NASA has not launched a rocket since the Saturn V rockets used to take astronauts to the moon. And has been seen in recent days, the space shuttles are an old technology and have been retired. Another daunting question is the moral implications of sending people into deep space since they have no idea what effects having a human child in space would have on the child itself nor what effects zero G would have on an expecting mother. How will NASA be able to get exploration vehicles into space? What is needed is a solution to these problems. They need to figure out a way to make space exploration to become affordable. They will need to figure out a way to not only bring in money but also how to make space missions affordable. There may be several ways that this can be accomplished. Also, NASA will need...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...In 2003, the space shuttle named Columbia exploded upon reentry into the atmosphere, and the tragedy is that there was no crew that came back safely to Earth. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) which had responsibility for investigating this crisis, found that the main factor which made the shuttle blow up was the bad decision made by the Mission Management Team (MMT). Even though the MMT had many pieces of information and evidence from the Debris Assessment Team (DAT) showing that the large foam might have caused damage to the Columbia and how much the DAT worried about the mission, they did not pay much attention. Moreover, the leader of the MMT decided for everyone on the team that the shuttle was safe and the foam strike was inconsequential. In fact, the performance of the MMT is a powerful demonstration of the way in which a small group can bring about critical failure. Small groups, today, is ubiquitous and becoming a substantial part of people’s work lives. Many organizations have made every effort to find how to make groups run successfully and how to make group interactions more productive. Sometimes, group dynamics can contribute to the failure and poor judgments. Surowiecki (2010) said that “instead of making people wiser, being in a group can actually make them dumber” (p. 441). So as to make every member think smarter and work together effectively, avoiding important pitfalls is the best way to reach those goals. [What a successful rethinking and...
Words: 1433 - Pages: 6
...question one of much significance that it's come up many times. So while the question is being asked we will provide an answer. Starting with a comparison of NASA and SpaceX. NASA was founded July 29, 1958 in the United States of America. It was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower. Currently the NASA headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. Each year the government gives up approximately $18.4 billion with an increase next year of $19.1 billion to NASA. All of this money goes into many things along the lines of deep exploration projects, small satellite groups, and space station operations. NASA plans to spend $3.7 billion to further develop the Space Launch System, along with a heavy lift rocket. These all are very admirable feats and...
Words: 820 - Pages: 4
...In my opinion, ending the shuttle program without an alternative already set up was a colossal blunder on the governments part. The reason the population really got sad over the end up the shuttle program was because there wasn't something new and better right around the corner. From Gemini we went to Apollo, from Apollo we went to the shuttle program, and from the shuttle program we went to asking for rides. Thankfully, Elon Musks's SpaceX has signed a deal with NASA to send its Crew Dragon capsule up to the International Space Station by 2017. This means that NASA won't have to pay Russia to send our people up anymore. This doesn't mean that SpaceX is the winner of this new space race. Boeing is still clamoring to be part of it. The fact that a massive company like...
Words: 472 - Pages: 2
...Policy Analysis of the Budget Percentage Appropriated to NASA February 5, 2013 Introduction to the Policy Issue. As it stands today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is at a crossroads. It seems a lack of direction has plagued the organization in recent years and with the close of the Space Shuttle program this past year, the questions looming have become even more exposed. What next? Recent budget cuts have left NASA funded at its lowest level in four years5, forcing the space agency to juggle priorities (see Figure 4) and think uncharacteristically “inside the box” for answers to this question. Background on the Issue. NASA's budget peaked in the period 1964-1966(see Figure 2), during the height of construction efforts leading up to the first moon landing under the Apollo program. Since then, NASA has undertaken many projects, while its portion of the national budget has been slowly chipped away. There are many ideas, but no definite decisions on what NASA should set to achieve next. Without proper leadership, direction, and funds, NASA and the United States will soon take a back seat in the ‘space race’. Effects of Present Problem and Current Policies. Identifying policy alternatives is important because NASA’s impact can be seen through: * Being a leader in space exploration is still considered as essential to a majority of Americans (see Figure 3); * The dollars spent in each state, boosting economies throughout the entire nation(see...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...America has tossed its cap over the wall of space. -John F. Kennedy Introduction On February 1st, 2003 seven Americans lost their lives while returning to earth after finishing a mission for mankind. These Americans were aboard the space shuttle Challenger that broke apart during reentry into the earth’s atmosphere and was completely destroyed. After an extensive investigation the cause of the accident was determined to be the result of a hole that was punctured into the leading edge of the aircraft during takeoff (NASA). This hole resulted in an excess heating on the leading edge of the wing and then the failure of the wing. This was just the physical cause of the accident that destroyed the shuttle. There were other aspects of the entire NASA program that could have prevented this from occurring but there were failures in the system. Not one factor contributed Columbia accident, but a combination of factors are the root of the cause. The purpose of this case is to input the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) in the Burke-Litwin model. This is not to reorganize the very through report by CAIB, but to see where the findings can fit in to show how both internal and external factors that affect change within NASA. One of the most important factors to understand with the Burke-Litwin model is that all 12 factors interact and affect each other. NASA just like any other organization can have negative traits that affect positive traits. This relationship is...
Words: 1746 - Pages: 7
...execute with multi-discipline partnerships, segment technology stacks and general provide core applications to our business partners. However we would suggest we are on the midst of our Apollo moment in technology. 1969 saw one of man’s greatest accomplishments achieved. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon a mere ten years after Kennedy’s bold challenge. A relatively insurmountable task when you consider we hadn’t even sent a man to space 9yrs earlier, and yet now we were walking on the moon broadcasting for the world to see. Yet the 1970’s were not as kind to our bold space explorer’s, the public interest was low and life in space appeared to be relatively routine. It was not until the launch of the Space Shuttle in 1978 that a new vision a new strategy was employed to again challenge the fabric of mankind… this time could we live in space, not just travel in it. Today we know the answers, successes, failures, tragedies and hero’s of the global space community. However it took the reinvention. Mercury, to Saturn, to Apollo and the Shuttle. Along the...
Words: 533 - Pages: 3
...Classification System, which was a qualitative system rather than a quantitative system. This was due to the high cost associated with gathering enough data to be able to use a quantitative system. A quantitative system would also have created additional paperwork due to the technical requirements for a space shuttle. However, a quantitative system should have been developed and utilized. The risk classification system NASA used consisted of five levels, as seen below. 8. What was NASA’s risk response plan? NASA was able to transfer and reduce some of its risk, however, due to the scope of the program, they were also forced to retain some of the risk. One key aspect to this approach to risk response is the need for a solid control plan. NASA did not have a complete control plan, which cased a lot of issues as the shuttle development program progressed. They did use their risk classification system (as discussed in question 7) and waivers (as discussed in question 11) as part of their risk response plan, but it wasn’t nearly as developed as it should have been. 9. How should they have handled risks that weren’t quantified? As NASA conducted more and more space flights, they were gathering data that could have been used...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...News Report It is 5:45 am, May the 8th, 2018. A bright and early morning in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Minutes remain until a launch vehicle takes off to deliver a space exploration shuttle (payload) straight into space. The launch window is narrowed down to 40 minutes, and unless an unanticipated emergency occurs, the launch will stick to the schedule. The launching time is incredibly specific; we have to take into account the orbital requirements of the launching location as well as the arrival location in order for the space shuttle to travel safely as planned. The mission, referred to as … will travel to Titan, one of the natural planetary satellites...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...Most people associate space exploration with huge government agencies such as NASA, Roscosmos, and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. However, in the last ten to 15 years, private companies have become major players in the final frontier. Companies such as SpaceX and Boeing are already making rockets, and other spacecraft, for NASA and other space agencies. For example, the International Space Station receives regular supply packages delivered by SpaceX’s Dragon and Falcon 9 spacecraft. The miraculous part of these two spacecraft is the fact that they are completely reusable. Unlike NASA’s Saturn V rocket, the booster will come back to Earth and land at the launch station immediately following jettison, or disconnection, with the main package. This technique, known as Supersonic Retropropulsion, works similarly to how a rocket launches. After delivering its package to Low Earth Orbit, the rocket will turn around and propel itself towards Earth. Once it enters the atmosphere, the...
Words: 1842 - Pages: 8
...they would look at the problem and write it off as not important the majority of the times. There are barriers in the management that has hinder the reports from coming through to upper management. NASA organization needs to fine-tune the way management works together and needs to realize what is really important to the organization. The safety of the workers and the astrologists should be there mane concurred, not that safety problem makes them look bad. When the upper management would get the report and then they looked at the problem and would say it is not really a problem. Then when the employee or contractor would say it is problem they would tell them to prove that it is, just cause they thought it was fine and wanted to get the space shuttle off the ground. This why fine-tuning is important to this organization they had the right way and procedures. They just needed to change how competitive each department was ageist each other and made that would work together on making the safety concerns. Cation of Running Expectations With the NASA organization they need to expect some unanticipated outcomes to the way the organization was being operated. The way the managers was running the organization was very unanticipated on how things would transpire. They had employees that would be competing on projects and would keep things that should have be alrteated to the upper...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...and several new technologies that currently do not exist. He also was concerned about the budget cuts that have already stripped the National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) to a shell of what the space program used to be. He also stressed that we are still in an armed conflict that has put a strain on our nation, economically and emotionally. Richard's points are solid and very good. I agree with him mostly. However, I feel that for most of the points he states is actual the reason we should go to Mars. In the 1960's and early 1970's America was in heavily entrenched in the Vietnam War, the American people were divided, with a large potion severely frustrated with their government. The nation was also still suffering from racism, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr, President Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy. The Nation needed a positive focal point, a beacon to turn to remind them that even in those dark times there was something in their nation to rally behind, and lift their spirits. NASA became that beacon. The 1960's and 1970's saw the space program reach arguably, the height of success by landing a man on the moon several times. By successfully landing men on the moon, the American space program inspired millions of young minds to aspire to work in shape or form for NASA. The space program thrived because of that Engineers and scientist from all over the country and world flooded NASA's doors. These creative minds helped to developed...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...The Advancement and Obstacles of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Abstract This essay discusses articles that observe the financial standing of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, as well as the correlation between public opinion and governmental funding. The main discussion goes through a history of the administration, separated into five different eras based on significant missions, and how each era differed based on the expected outcome of a mission or program. In addition, the government and the public’s financial support is discussed for each program. The fifth era then leads into the discussion of current funding and cuts from the Obama administration and the future of the agency with different goals in place. NASA has changed the face of America. From the beginning, the administration had very ambitious and innovative ideas that sparked heavy admiration and support yet, also much criticism. This large support and opposition has led to many different obstacles to overcome in progression, such as lack of funding and public support for astronomically innovative ideas. History Lambright (2010) states the most fundamental explanation of the development of NASA, saying, “NASA has a life that is a function of its internal dynamics and political environment. As that environment has changed, NASA has adapted—sometimes voluntarily, other times under pressure. As NASA has altered, so, too, has its relationship with external...
Words: 1948 - Pages: 8
...I. Introduction: The purpose of this paper is an overview about the current space tourism industry with advanced developments of space vehicles. Until now, seven tourists have ridden Soyuz spacecraft, a Russian spacecraft, to the International Space Station. Capturing the potential demand of space tourism, many private companies began to introduce their new and well-designed spacecraft promising to enable tourist to travel to space. From now to the next couple of years, we are expected to see many launches including testing and commercial flights into suborbital and low Earth orbit. There are also some private companies, who were awarded by NASA for their space programs to carry astronauts to the space station. II. Virgin Galactic – Scaled Composites (Suborbital): Virgin Galactic – Scaled Composites founded by Burt Rutan designed a unique type of spacecraft. Using a mothership aircraft, the space plane will be carried to midair and then be released to launch toward the edge of the atmosphere. Using carbon composite construction, the company has introduced two version of the space plane: SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo along with two model of the mothership aircraft: WhiteKnightOne and WhiteKnightTwo. (Ref 1,3) A. Spaceship: a. SpaceshipOne – WhiteKnightOne: Scaled Composites first launched the SpaceShipOne to the suborbital in 2004 while the first of WhiteKnightOne was in 2002. Overall, the WhiteKnightOne’s features are carriage and launch of payloads up to 7...
Words: 4161 - Pages: 17
...Online learning is better than a traditional classroom setting and is also convenient. I agree with this because I am doing online learning. I believe that it accommodates the busy lives people have these days. Whether its working or raising a family, its hard to get to a traditional class on time versus getting on your computer at midnight and doing your course work. Some people think that there is too much time being spent on electronics as it is due to the fact that it runs their lives. But without electronics, where would we be now? We couldn’t track space shuttles or satellites without the help of computers. Computers have come along way since the 50’s. They are more advanced than they were back then. Another good thing about online learning versus traditional classroom learning is that you can study at your own leisure and at your own pace. You can’t do that in a traditional classroom learning setting. People without hectic lives prefer the traditional classroom learning so they can get the help from the teacher on a one on one level and be able to turn in assignments to a person not through a computer. They prefer more structured settings and being able to ask for help from fellow students also on a one on one level. I’ve done both, and I prefer the online learning due to more time to do assignments at my own pace and I don’t feel rushed. I felt rushed in a classroom setting. With online learning, you don’t have to worry about carrying books from class...
Words: 341 - Pages: 2
