Space Debris
choices of topics are in the attachments. I put 7 pages for the number of pages, but it is actually 5 pages with 1.5 spacing. I understand that 48 hrs is fairly tight, so it doesnt have to be awesome, since it is the draft due at 11:00 on the 18th. Thanks for the effort!!!
ESS 102 Research Paper
Rough Draft Due Date: Friday, April 18, 2014 (in class)
Final Draft Due Date: Thursday, April 24, 2014 (5 pm, via Canvas)
Instructions:
1) At the beginning of the paper, include a one paragraph synopsis of your scientifically accurate sci-fi paper (see separate document for full description). The paragraph must name the major technology and science concepts that will be explained in the paper.
2) Choose one topic from those named in your synopsis paragraph. You will research the topic and write a research paper. Your research paper should not include personal opinion. The paper should be about five pages in length and use a 10-12 pt. font with 1.5 spacing. You must get prior approval from your TA or instructor for your topic choice.
Grading:
Your grade is based on your scientific accuracy and writing - Science: 13/30, Referencing: 7/30, Writing Quality: 10/30. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a referral to the Dean's office. An Overall grade greater than 65% and a Writing Quality grade greater than 50% is required to continue in the Writing Credit track.
Rough Draft:
You must participate in the peer review and receive feedback to receive full credit. You must bring a nearly complete printed version of your paper with you to the peer review session.
Referencing:
Your paper MUST include a work cited page that includes all of the resources you used in writing the paper. In addition, throughout the paper your facts MUST include a reference to where that information came from. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. For details of how to reference and examples see "Citing References in Scientific Papers" located on the course website. Encyclopedias, including Wikipedia, are not appropriate sources to cite; however, they can be used to find more appropriate sources. Direct quotes may not be used in this paper.
Example Topics and Talking Points:
1. Space Debris: Debris in orbit around the Earth is a growing problem for all countries interested in protecting their infrastructure in space. The magnitude of this problem increased by 50% in 2007 when the Chinese government intentionally destroyed one of their own satellites and when the Iridium and retired Russian satellite collided two years later. Why is space debris a problem? Where is it a problem? How are we tracking space debris? What potential solutions are being discussed to remove debris from orbit? Will this problem only get worse as more countries gain access to space?
2. Robotic Mission(s): Investigate one or more robotic missions that visited a planet, moon, or other body within the solar system (sun, comets, asteroids...) and how the technology has advanced since the mission and how it may potentially advance in the future. What scientific questions was this probe trying to answer? What new information did scientists learn from data gathered from this probe? What questions still remain?
Did the mission have technical challenges that required new technology? If so, what new technology was developed and how did it work?
3. Commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO): In recent years, there have been many new companies on the scene that are interested in turning space into a business. Also, NASA has developed a program, Commercial Orbital Transport Services (COTS), to help businesses develop technology that can be used to service the International Space Station. Choose two companies and describe their business. What technology are they developing? What is the timeline for implementation? Do they have hardware constructed? Discuss the potential market for these businesses.
4. Space Hazards: With this topic, you will research NEOs (Near Earth Objects). You should describe what NEOs are, what some NEOs that have hit the Earth, what is the probability that NEOs will hit Earth in the future, and what is being done to find NEOs. You should also discuss the pros and cons of some potential methods to deal with NEOs.
5. Effect of Long Term Space Flight: We are learning that the human body goes through changes in a microgravity environment, including loss of muscle mass, bone microfractures, and a reduction to immune system effectiveness. Describe the potential dangers. What research is being done? What potential solutions exist or are being studied to mitigate these dangers?
6. Radiation Exposure for Astrochinnauts: Radiation is a problem for astronauts on a long term trip to Mars. What type of radiation is harmful in space? What kind of dose do astronauts receive? What is NASA doing to study the radiation environment? What research is being done to design protect systems for astronauts.
7. Space Habitability: When we discuss orbital mechanics, you will learn that astronauts traveling to Mars would not be able to stay for only a couple days like the Apollo astronauts did at the Moon. The Martian astronauts will need to spend at least a year in space. Is it possible to take all necessary supplies (water, air, food) or will they need to produce those during the mission? What will they need to produce? What technologies are being developed to make long-term space travel habitable for humans? What are the limitations of the technologies?
8. Space Weather: Later in the course, we will discuss the interaction of the solar wind and other solar plasma with the Earth's magnetosphere. In this paper, describe these interactions. What effects does this have on the Earth's magnetosphere? What effects does this have on the surface of the Earth and to our technology? Since we will discuss aurora in detail in lecture, please focus your paper on some other phenomena.
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Space debris
Introduction
Since space programs began, there have been various satellite fragmentations resulting to orbital debris beginning with the first Soviet Union space ship in 1957(Bird ). Half a century later from the space program, there have been other satellite fragmentations that may affect space related activities in the future. Space debris includes worthless human-made space objects and fragments from collision explosions. Increase in space debris is likely to obstruct further space missions while also increasing environmental pollution in space. Furthermore, there is a risk of damage to space assets because the fragments in space obstruct and stifle movement of space shuttles and ships. Both active and inactive satellites are likely to collide in outer space increasing the problem of space debris. This paper focuses on the space debris problem, ways of tracking space junk, possible solutions and impact of more countries involvement in space missions.
The problem of space debris
Space debris is a problem because it hampers expansion of space activities, the fragments typically consist of floating junk in space, but the fragments have the potential to cause much damage to spaceships (Bird). Furthermore, space debris can also obstruct space ships making them unstable and unstable, or in extreme cases kill astronauts. Even though, various national and international agencies have been engaged in trying to minimize the impact of space debris there has been no effective remedy to the problem. There are various fronts to dealing with the problem, including protecting satellites from collision, developing space crafts that release less orbital matter and removing space debris. The high speed of travelling debris poses a challenge to both manned and unmanned spaceships increasing the likelihood of the damage and collision with other debris.
Aircrafts are less likely to collide than space ships, and the risks are small, but the consequences of space collision are huge. One of the main reasons for this is that satellites travel at a fast speed and collision with any object on the way is likely to have a devastating impact. In any case, satellites continue orbiting even when not useful meaning that there are higher risks of collision (Evans & Arakawa). The first collision between satellites was between Iridium satellite and a Russian Cosmos satellite in 2009 (Evans & Arakawa). Additionally, there have been other collisions between satellites and near- collisions making it is necessary to alter the path of other satellites to minimize collision. At the same time, the debris not only affects space, but may descend on earth making it harder to contain the impact of falling orbital debris.
Nonetheless, the growing threat of orbital debris not only comes from falling debris on earth, and disruption of space missions, but through the cascading effect. Supporters of the cascading effect, hold that orbital debris has self–generation ability (Bird). This leads to increased collision of large debris which then separate leading to more fragments being in space, this increases the likelihood that the fragments will obstruct space missions and proper working of satellites. According to Bird space debris is likely to increase and reach a threshold where collision will lead to more debris that occur independently form space operations, and may make a debris belt surrounding the earth.
The problem of space junk mainly affects outer space, and no matter the origin of the debris from satellites to fragments through space missions. The origin of the material from one country can affect anywhere in the outer space. Similarly, falling debris on earth can affect a place that has no history with space ships, or launching satellites because the earths orbit goes on continuously. Thus, the primary impact of space debris is on outer space, with satellites and space missions being the main culprits for this. Low earth orbit could be rendered unfeasible if there is no solution to minimize the space debris meaning that the problem will affect all countries.
Tracking space debris
It is easier to track larger objects in space as they are few, and hence poses less threat as satellites and space ships can maneuver. In the case of debris finding their way on earth, collecting data and integrating use of Global Positioning System (GPS), helps to track the path of debris. A case in point, being the Columbia disaster where it was possible to collect data and information on debris scattered after disintegration of Columbia. Further analysis of such data, through GIS software in turn, helps to pinpoint the likely location of such debris. Additionally, collaborating this with data from satellites highlights on the need to have better tracking systems to minimize the impact of space debris on earth.
Potential solutions to remove orbital debris
To minimize the impact of space debris, collaboration and cooperation among international agencies has been the most common routes to resolving issues on orbital debris. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPOUS) started in 1958 is the main organization tasked with enhancing cooperation and information sharing at the international level (Bird). Thus, the organization proposes solutions and recommendations annually dealing with scientific and legal solutions to orbital debris. Scientists have long sought to establish programs that deal with elimination of space debris including “Orion” that integrates lasers and earth -bound detectors to track and remove space junk resulting to burning the debris in earth’s atmosphere (Bird). Smaller satellites also intercept debris, with some fitted with camera to detect and slow down accumulation of debris.
The Laser orbital debris removal (LODR) is one of the ways to deal with sm...
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