Astronomy Project
Dr. Song
Research Questions
Big Question
What should we be pursuing: manned or unmanned space travel?
Assignment
Choose one of the subtopics below.
Research the subtopic, keeping in mind that you need to take a stance on the big question. For example, your thesis might be "We should be pursuing unmanned space travel because of the dangers to human health" or "The United States should focus on manned space travel because it is essential to have human skills available to conduct experiments and respond to issues."
Write a five+ paragraph essay:
Introduction
Paragraph 1--present information around the subtopic
Paragraph 2--present information around the subtopic
Paragraph 3--present information around the subtopic
Conclusion--argue your thesis using subtopic to justify your stance
Example outline:
Introduction with thesis: The United States should be focusing on unmanned space exploration and research. The argument that manned space exploration is necessary to work toward space colonization does not take into account the implausibility of successful and long-term colonization and the dangers to humans who attempt colonization.
Paragraph 1: Getting back and forth to a colony--fuel, length of travel, cost of travel
Paragraph 2: Living in space--technology requirements
Paragraph 3: Humans in space
Conclusion: transportation, lack and cost of technology, space is trying to kill us
Subtopics
What are the benefits and limitations of unmanned space travel?
What are the benefits and limitations of manned space travel?
How dangerous is space travel? What are some of the disasters and accidents from manned spaceflight?
What are the effects of space travel on humans?
What are the technological limitations to manned space travel?
What are the technological limitations to unmanned space travel?
What is space debris (MMOD) and how does it affect space travel?
What are the risks of space colonization?
What are the financial costs of manned and unmanned space travel?
What scientific breakthroughs have come out of manned space travel?
What scientific breakthroughs have come out of unmanned space travel?
What effects do manned and unmanned space travel have on the planets & moons they explore?
What are some of the ethical concerns around manned and unmanned space exploration and travel?
How are geopolitics impacting the new space race?
Database Passwords
Access to library passwords requires signing in to your VHS Google account using your school email address and password.
Citation Format
Citation
Author(s) Last Name, First Name. “Title of Source.” Container Title, Editor’s First Name Last Name, Publisher, Date Published, page numbers. Title of Database, URL. Date of Access.
In-text Citation
(Author Last Name) or (Title of Source)
Citation Generators
Citation Help
From EasyBib.
Citation rules and examples from EasyBib.
From the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.
Overview of MLA Citation Style
From the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
Sample Works Cited Page Entries
From the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Resources
Benefits & Limitations to Unmanned & Manned Space Travel/Exploration
Search Terms:
New Horizons
NASA Perserverance
Space Exploration
Manned vs. Unmanned
Pioneer
Jupiter Probe
Robots and Space
Source to Use:
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Human Exploration of Space: why, where, what for?
Human Health and Space Travel
Search Terms:
Search Terms
Space Radiation
Isolation and Confinement
Gravity Fields
Hostile/Closed Environments
Distance from Earth
NASA Twin Study (Scott and Mark Kelly)
Sources to Use:
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Safe Passage: Astronaut Care for Exploration Missions.
Nature: The effect of space travel on human reproductive health: a systematic review
Space Debris
Search Terms:
Space Junk
Space Debris
Orbital Debris
Source to Use:
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Finances of Space Exploration
Search Terms:
NASA and budget
Space program spending
Cost of space program
Private investment and Space Sector
SpaceX
Source to Use:
ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher
The Planetary Society: Your Guide to NASA's Budget
Government expenditure on space programs in 2022 and 2023, by major country
NASA’s budget woes put ambitious space research at risk
Environmental Effects on Planets & Moons
Search Terms:
interplanetary contamination
planetary protection
extraterrestrial contamination
Source to Use:
ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher
Projected increase in space travel may damage ozone layer
Environmental implications of human presence on the moon
There’s No Way to Make Space Travel Good for Planet Earth Right Now
How do we protect planets from biological cross-contamination?
Space Accidents & Disasters
Search Terms:
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Columbia
Sierra Nevada Corporation Dream Chaser
Apollo 13
Space Exploration
Source to Use:
Detailed Chronology of Events Surrounding the Apollo 13 Accident
Significant Incidents & Close Calls in Human Spaceflight
Technology Limitations Unmanned & Manned
Search Terms:
Rocket Payload
Robots vs. Humans
Robot Spacecraft
Travel Distance and Space
Radiation and Space
Source to Use:
Current Challenges and Opportunities for Space Technologies
NASA Space Travel Technologies
Space Colonization
Search Terms:
Space Stations
Space Colonization
Space Colonies
Live in Space
Live on Mars
Martian Exploration
Source to Use:
EBSCO Points of View Reference Center
The future of space colonization – terraforming or space habitats?
Mars Colonization: Beyond Getting There
Scientific Breakthroughs
Search Terms:
Scientific Discoveries and Space
Space Science
Memory Foam
Source to Use:
20 Breakthroughs from 20 Years of Science aboard the International Space Station
Ethics of Space Travel & Exploration
Search Terms:
Space Tourism
Human Space Travel and Ethics
Space Junk and Ethics
Source to Use:
ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher
Geopolitics of Space Exploration & Settlement
Search Terms:
Geopolitics and Space
Space Weapons
New Space Race
International Space Race
Source to Use:
ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher
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