Sci- fi paper (ESS 102 Writing Project)
The synopsis and some useful terms can be found in the file ESS research. The Sci-fi paper does not have to follow the synopsis if you dont like it. More specific instructions are in the pdf file, which also included a grading sheet that could be helpful. Thanks for the effort. .
Space debris
Synopsis
Hundreds of years later, the amount of household garbage industrial waste is far beyond the Earth’s capacity. Humans started to send garbage into the space reluctantly. However, as expected, the garbage in the space become debris that is difficult to track due to the massive amount, which hinders the development of exploration and study of the universe. More seriously, the vast amount of debris forms a large shield that blocks energy and waves from the sun, and, consequently, triggers survival problems for all living creatures on Earth. Hence, humans started to further develop Global Positioning System and Laser orbital debris removal technology to try to solve the problem that they created themselves...
ESS 102 Writing Project
Rough Draft Due Date: Friday, May 9, 2014 (in class)
Final Paper Due Date: Thursday, May 22, 2014 (5pm via Canvas)
Instructions:
Write an original, scientifically-correct science fiction article using vocabulary from the class. Potential story lines include, but are not limited to a retrospective from 30 years in the future about a mission to another planet; a mission log; or an environmental/economic impact of some space related event.
The paper will include definitions of terms or processes relating to the class from three categories: (1) the sun and space weather, (2) propulsion and orbital mechanics, and (3) planetary characteristics. You must have three definitions from each category for nine terms total. The terms you choose should be relevant to the ESS 102 lectures, textbook, labs, or web readings.
The paper should be 8 to 10 pages in length and use a 10-12 pt. font with 1.5 spacing with1.25 in. margins.
Grading:
Your grade is based on your scientific accuracy (75%) and writing (25%). Details of how the grade is broken up can be found on the attached grade sheet. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a referral to the Dean's office.
Rough Draft:
You must participate in the peer review and receive feedback to receive full credit. You must bring a printed version of your story with you. The story must be at least 50% complete. Included in what you bring, must also be a list of at least 75% of the terms you intend to use within the story, and the 4 parts of the definition for each term.
Definitions:
A definition involves the use of a term. This term is followed in subsequent parts of the sentence or paragraph by four descriptions of that term. At least two of the descriptions must be quantitative. The term being defined must be highlighted in bold face, and the four descriptions must be highlighted in italics. All descriptions must be referenced.
Referencing:
Your paper MUST include a work cited page that includes all of the resources you used in writing the paper. In addition, each description MUST include a reference to where that information came from. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Using direct quotes for definitions is unacceptable. You must use your own words. Encyclopedias, including Wikipedia, are not appropriate sources. For details of how to do this and examples see the separate file on "Citing References in Scientific Papers".
Example Definitions:
No score: "The spacecraft suffered a plasma disruption and blew into a million pieces."
High score: "The spacecraft used an advanced plasma rocket capable of producing an ion/electron stream of one million degrees from the electrodes from the nozzle. The plasma traveled 100 m down the platform in a hundredth of a second, leaving a trail of ionized gas the glowed green..."
No score: "The team's capsule sped past Mercury and into the Sun, killing all six members of the crew."
High score: "The capsule initially missed Mercury on first approach. Every crew member's imagination suddenly turned to plummeting into the Sun. First they would enter the chromosphere, with one million kilometer gaseous prominences lapping up against the sides of the capsule, twenty thousand degree temperatures rapidly cooking the men alive, a tidal wave of energetic ions and electrons stripping the capsule from the outside, and no hope of escape from the enormous gravity of the sun pulling them more and more quickly to their demise. Luckily, this was only a nightmare, and the crew was able to quickly correct their trajectory back toward the safety of the barren planet."
No score: "Mercury's rocky landscape appeared entirely uninhabitable to the crew."
High score: "Once on the surface of the planet, the men immediately felt like they were out of place. Mercury's atmosphere was simply not a place where life should exist. If the seven hundred degree surface temperatures didn't convince them of that fact, the lack of any water would. Plus, there was hardly any atmosphere here for any living thing to breathe. The planet was just too small to hold on to it. This could lead to enormous temperature swings of up to six hundred degrees Celsius between day and night, meaning the crew would need to move fast before the heat became too much to bear."
ESS 102
Sci- fi paper
Synopsis
A manned mission to Mars focused on the planet’s conditions, photographic evidence and collected samples to conduct the analysis. To facilitate this process, the crew came on used drilling material and roving equipment to move around Mars. Upon descending into Mars surface, collection of rock samples was done, but further analysis for the remaining time was hampered by the low pressure in the place. Similarly, the cold weather conditions necessitated the use of special clothing, and though there was no conclusive evidence on presence of water. The roving equipment captured images affirming presence of water beneath Martian surface.
Mission to Mars
Though man’s mission to the moon has been the most covered by the mass media and the scientific community, there has been increased interest on missions to planet Mars, but this has mostly focused on robotic missions. Robotic missions have laid the ground for further explorations on the outer space, whereby, photographic evidence and technological advancement have made it possible to prepare for future emissions. Armed with this vision, our team sought to explore and gather information on the human future. To highlight on the viability of the mission, accessibility of the planet from earth is the fact that it is the closest and most hospitable among the others.
Having been no previous manned mission to Mars, it is vital to integrate technology in a mission to facilitate adequate preparation. Before the crew started the mission, there was already supply of equipment and food supplies by the unmanned space crafts to pave a way for our arrival. Unlike the moon’s mission, Mars require more time for preparation and it takes longer to land on the red planet. On board, the unmanned space craft was useful technology including roving vehicles fitted with cameras proved useful in carrying the missions as were analytical and drilling equipment, with drilling capability of up to 100 meters. To deal with the issue of mission control, the crew relied on getting messages across to the team manning the control system, as the members were to collect data over time and hence had to move, but there would be delays on sending and relaying messages to earth.
The space craft entered into Martian territory and then took approximately seven minutes to descend to the Mars surface after being on top surface, travelling approximately at 13,000 miles per hour then to zero in similar fashion to NASA robot rover (Gannon). With no help and coordination from down below, the crew was left to steer the space craft to safety finally landing at a flat surface. This was only the beginning as extra equipment to monitor Martian surface was necessary, and the space ship had to withstand the weather conditions to facilitate return voyage to earth. Though, the crew would later on assist in collecting evidence as the machines and equipment could not be expected to move on there own across the vast Martian territory.
The top priority was to collect samples, and hence, after landing the first thing that the crew did was to collect a small sample around the space craft. Armed with a small bag, I ventured just outside the craft and picked pieces of rock in a sterilized bag, just in case anything happened. This was also meant to ensure that there would be a souvenir that was uncontaminated, in case anything happened and there was an urgent need to leave Mars. This was going to be a long journey, and marked the beginning of our exploration on Mars, and the main concern was to collect other samples and continue with the exploration after having established that all crew members were safe.
Even though we had been prepared psychologically for the trip to Mars, it threw surprises that we had expected. Armed with space suits and protective clothing against the extreme weather conditions was a top priority. However, experience the weather conditions for the first time on Mars was overwhelming. To begin with, the first night was colder than I had experienced, with Mars temperatures hovering between-60 and –100 degrees Celsius. At such conditions with carbon dioxide likely to freeze as dry ice, it was only possible to stay indoors in a space mission, venturing outside would have been catastrophic. Nonetheless, this showed the mission needed to be done thoroughly and completed in time to avoid any mishaps or complications from acclimatizing to the Martian weather conditions. In any case, the temperature would become unbearable and hence, crew chose to explore more around the equator where it was warmer than the poles.
Upon landing on Mars, the first indication that the red planet would throw surprises was that that there was a high level of dust particles. The dust particles could obstruct the space ship’s journey and my team members and I relied on monitoring progress to avoid the obstruction from the dust particles. Space weather conditions played an important role in as understanding the impact of weather enabled the team to navigate properly. Under the extreme weather conditions, the dusty skies made harder to stay for long but with this understanding it is possible to carry out further missions taking into account the impact of weather conditions. The more we moved further away from the tropics, the storms became intense as was the change in the terrain. Luckily, we did not experience any dust devils as the space ship would have been obstructed from moving around mars.
The team had to contend with low atmospheric pressure, and hence the space suits allowed members to maneuver around without feeling the effects of the pressure. Nonetheless, the atmosphere also had a positive aspect as the engineering costs were lower for the environment allowed mass to be lower. Before the mission launch, the cost inhibition was a concern, and after orbiting through the low atmospheric pressure enabled the space craft to prolong stay in the orbit. The atmosphere ranged from 6.5 millibars to 10 millibar, in comparison to the earth’s atmosphere averaging at 1,000 millibars (Rice 17). With limited oxygen levels and low pressures, Mars is virtually a vacuum, and the pressurized carbon dioxide atmosphere aided the astronauts’ mission, as this would have been impossible even with the space suits on.
During the mission, I finally understood the link between temperature and dust particles which gave the planet a red like color. When there were less suspended particles, the path was clear to the extent that the he...