Skip to Content (press Enter/Return)
preview

SEDS-Saving Space Exploration

analytical Essay
1685 words
Open Document
1685 words
  • Small
  • Normal
  • Large
  • Huge
bookmark

SEDS-Saving Space Exploration

Space exploration was once a fascinating part of human culture. Back in the 60’s, when getting to the moon was a top priority, and exploring the features of other planets interested people, the space program had the momentum to pull off bigger and better things. To explore stars not even in our galaxy and even possibly pull off the feat of discovering extraterrestrial life was something people only dreamed about. Once being only in the imagination, space travel is a reality.

Nowadays, many people have lost interest in the space program. With people’s interests in space exploration dwindling, as well as internal problems with the NASA program, funding has been cut short, and continued development in space exploration has been stunted.

SEDS, which stands for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, is one of the programs that is trying to bring the space program back to the prestige it held in the 60’s and is also attempting to regenerate public interest in space exploration.

SEDS was founded in 1980 at MIT and Princeton and consists of an international group of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from different educational backgrounds who are to promote the development and exploration of space as a whole (www.SEDS.org).

One of the unique aspects about the organization is its dedication to being a youth-oriented organization. On the organization’s main website, the SEDS mission statement says SEDS supports a network of students across many of the nation’s top colleges. The mission statement also says the organization encourages young people who are interested in space to become a member of their organization. The SEDS mission statement also states by becomin...

... middle of paper ...

...hives.

The three chapters of SEDS that were analyzed all have their own qualities, and in one way or another contribute with the goal SEDS has set for the organization. All three chapters have flaws, but looking at whether the chapters did what they were supposed to do the chapters, for the most part, accomplished their goal. Information was provided from credible sources, as the information helps people become informed of space exploration. The goal of getting people physically involved with projects of space exploration is not completely fulfilled because of the lack of depth the descriptions of the projects have, and the lack of information of how to get involved in those projects. However, the overall goal of saving space exploration can be accomplished if SEDS uses their chapters wisely and continues to expand their organization across colleges nation-wide.

In this essay, the author

  • Explains that space exploration was once a fascinating part of human culture, and the space program had the momentum to pull off bigger and better things.
  • Explains that many people have lost interest in the space program due to funding cuts and internal problems with the nasa program.
  • Explains seds, which stands for students for the exploration and development of space, is one of the programs that is trying to bring the space program back to the prestige it held in the 60’s.
  • Explains that seds was founded in 1980 at mit and princeton and consists of an international group of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from different educational backgrounds.
  • Explains the seds mission statement, which says the organization supports a network of students across many of the nation's top colleges, and encourages young people interested in space to become members.
  • Opines that focusing on young people is a good approach, especially when the goal of the organization is to revive something. seds members are people interested in doing as much as they can to promote space exploration and development.
  • Explains that seds is divided into chapters that are connected to the main organization. members of different universities organize the chapters.
  • Explains that seds has a home website, which leads to websites of different chapters. a website is crucial to an organization's success because it is the main source of information.
  • Explains that seds chapters come from purdue university, virginia tech, and university of oklahoma. if a person is interested in space exploration, they may need help choosing the best web site.
  • Opines that the design of a website can influence the reader's perception and credibility of the website.
  • Analyzes how the three chapters have a similar look to the home seds website, with their own subtle differences.
  • Explains that the seds homepage sets the tone of how a reader will react to the website as they view the rest. the main goal of each chapter is to get people who have consumed the information involved in space-related activities within their specific chapter.
  • Analyzes how the purdue chapter of seds does not include much information on space exploration, and the brief descriptions of the projects are not too helpful.
  • Explains that the virginia tech and oklahoma chapters have basic space exploration information for the casual observer. space news and updates appeal to the ethos and logos of the reader.
  • Analyzes how the virginia tech chapter's first page has a list of officers and links to notes from old meetings, but nothing in those notes or the website accomplishes its mission to get people involved in space-related projects.
  • Explains that the university of oklahoma chapter of seds is the best all-around chapter out of the three chapters being analyzed.
  • Explains that the three chapters of seds that were analyzed all have their own qualities and contribute to the organization's goal.
Get Access
Check Writing Quality
Related
  • explanatory
  • opinionated
  • comparative
  • analytical
  • Space Program Persuasive Essay
    explanatory essay
    Thesis statement: The space program has been suffering budget cuts ever since 1993, so much so that with the latest sequester passed in 2011, the budget cuts are now threatening the very existence of NASA and the future of space exploration.

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that engineering, science, and individual courage came together to make history, to put a man on the surface of the moon; an event which inspired all of mankind and today this inspiration is dwindling.
    • Opines that it is important to analyze the most glaring threat this messiah of a program is facing.
    • Explains that nasa's space program has been suffering budget cuts since 1993. the latest sequester passed in 2011 threatens its existence and future.
    • Opines that they are credible enough to speak on aerospace engineering and has closely followed the budget cuts being imposed on nasa and its subsidiaries.
    • Describes the reasons why the space program is essential, what the budget cut means for nasa and what can be done to prevent these budget cuts.
    • Explains that nasa survives on a portion of the federal budget allocated by the congress. the government slashed funding to less than 0.4 % in 2011.
    • Describes three of the major products that nasa developed in the pre-1946 era.
    • Explains that nasa has been working on making cheap and reliable water purification filters for missions to space since 1942.
    • Explains that these filters are capable of purifying sweat, urine and water vapor to recycle water with almost no water loss.
    • Explains that water purifiers provide safe, clean water to over 5 billion households across the world.
    • Explains that astronauts spend over 6 months in space, which requires a special kind of food substitute to prevent their muscles and bones from suffering the effects of low gravity.
    • Explains that commercially available baby foods now contain nutrient compounds developed by nasa in the early 1940s.
    • Explains that these baby foods have enhanced the visual and neural development by two times in pre-mature babies.
    • Explains that although the smoke detector has come a long way since its first test back in 1935, it is nasa which holds the patent to this ingenious invention.
    • Explains that smoke detectors are inarguably the most essential component in fire fighting techniques and have reduced fire related deaths by 29% since they have been made commercially available.
    • Explains that nasa has made significant contributions to mankind with 3 major innovations in the post-1946 period.
    • Explains that nasa invented tiny light emitting diodes (leds) to serve as a source of light for plants which are grown on the international space station.
    • Explains that high intensity light is used to trigger photosensitive medicines which can directly attack the sight of a tumor thus making them the most reliable method of treating cancer.
    • Explains that according to the american cancer society, this is the safest method of cancer treatment which has already cured over 20,000 patients with no notable side-effects.
    • Explains that the technology quickly seeped into the everyday market and was an instant hit with governments around the world.
    • Explains that solar power is available for as little as 3.05 $ per watt and has generated enough clean energy equivalent to planting 236,000,000 trees.
    • Explains that the third most important product invented by nasa in this phase is the artificial limb.
    • Explains that nasa has been focusing resources in making artificial muscles systems for use in robotic arms which are placed on the station for cargo handling.
    • Explains that operations on the international space station have been reduced to 12% of the operations back in 2004 which means that new research on medicine will slow down considerably thus reducing the number of newer, more effective medicines entering the consumer market.
    • Explains that the space technology program has been stopped completely. there will be no more updates or construction to nasa visitor complexes such as the johnson space center, tx, and kennedy space centre, fl.
    • Explains that nasa is not asking for a raise, but is asking the congress to prevent changes to the amount allocated since 2010.
    • Explains that the amount required to retain the nasa budget of 2010 is four tenths of every tax penny.
    • Opines that nasa's technology could be used to set up a settlement on mars, to go back to the moon, and to land on asteroids to mine rare-earth metals.
    • Describes the steps one can take to save the space program.
    • Opines that it is important to be passionate about the cause itself. only when you realize the importance of the space program will you be able to value this proposal.
    • Concludes that the most agency for the dreams of a nation is currently underfunded to do what it needs to be doing, to make dreams come true.
    • Asks clincher, before they end, how much would you pay for the universe?
    • Explains that nasa's spin-off database highlights over 1400 commercial products that can be classified into two major timeframes — technologies before 1946 and technologies after 1946.
    • Explains how the budget cut has affected nasa and its subsidiaries. the worst hit activities were the space missions.
    • Explains that the mars mission has officially been grounded, which means that nasa will not operate rovers on the surface of mars anymore.
    • Explains that the centennial challenges scholarship, nasa's most valuable scholarship, is out of the books and will hit economically-stressed college graduates rendering thousands of intelligent students in debt.
    • Explains that the right to petition is guaranteed by the first amendment of the us constitution and this platform has frequently been used to motivate change.
    1280 words
    Read More
  • Space Exploration: A Waste of Tax Revenues
    opinionated essay
    Space exploration can be dated back to the age of European Renaissance, a historic age when arts and cultural transformation began. It was the same era when there gradual but widespread transition in educational reforms. Since then the flourishing art and science of stars and planets transformed in to the minute details of comets and meteors. The study, which started as the fundamental physical laws, governing the motions of planets around the sun, gave a great insight of not just our planet earth but also of millions of galaxies, which exist, in the world beyond us.

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that the u.s. space exploration program has been inspirational for many people across the globe, but it's been criticized for being the most expensive research project.
    • Explains that space exploration has cured many diseases, such as sudden death infant syndrome (sdis) and a number of other diseases.
    • Argues that space exploration will lead to the improvement of healthy nature of the surrounding environment through the identification of highly populated areas in the world.
    • Argues that space exploration should not be viewed as a cost rather it should be considered as an investment.
    • Argues that food shortage is a valid argument when supporting space exploration. plantation programs and weather forecasting techniques can be improved by using the artificial earth satellite.
    • Opines that the world is in a constant threat from external factors which are beyond our control. space exploration will help identify asteroids in our galaxy and take measures to deviate them away from earth.
    • Explains that now that they have analyzed the arguments in favor of space exploration, it is easy for them to provide counter arguments.
    • Argues that space exploration programs are a waste of scarce resources. the critics argue that the only alternative is reduction in birth rates.
    • Explains that in u.s. economies, the major drivers are the governmental agencies and they work for the betterment of the citizens. other projects like space exploration do not provide tangible output.
    • Explains that space exploration has led to major medical and technological advancements, but they forget that major technological breakthroughs were performed on earth.
    • Argues that advancements in space research can shift human beings to other planets, but it is unrealistic to shift people to another planet. god created life on earth for a reason.
    • Opines that it is important to search out what is in our waters rather than going outside the world in search for water.
    • Opines that space exploration has various benefits just like satellites which enables us to access information 24/7 from anywhere on earth. however, the search for space began from earth when people discovered meteors and asteroids.
    • Explains that views of the solar system/history of space exploration/calvin j. hamilton.
    • Cites nasa headquarters library's measuring return on investment for government programs and agencies.
    • Opines that obama's advancing the frontiers of space exploration is a robust and balanced program of space exploration and scientific discovery.
    • Opines that the benefits of space exploration are positive for the people of the united states to use their resources to further exploration.
    • Opines that advances in space exploration technology could herald the answer to the global energy crisis. helen knight and jon excell report.
    • Argues that u.s. federal government support of space exploration is not the most effective way to engage in scientific discovery.
    • Cites goldin s. daniel and franklin d. schowengerdt's toward sustainable and affordable space exploration.
    • Opines that obama wants nasa to focus on rockets, not moon landings record.
    2137 words
    Read More
  • America Should Spend More on Space Exploration
    opinionated essay
    Beyond the economic and political aspects space exploration is a great catalyst for technological development and of course scientific discovery. If we neg...

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that space exploration should be funded at even greater levels than at present. it has provided scientific, technological, and economic benefits for all mankind.
    • Opines that the long-term costs of not continuing a robust manned and unmanned space program will be. space exploration has positive international benefits and inspires young people to pursue careers in science and technology.
    • Opines that space exploration is a catalyst for technological development and scientific discovery, but if we neglect it, our technological advancement will be hindered and our loss of standing as the number one space faring nation will impact the nation.
    • Explains that nasa and the space program have been instrumental in developing and assisting development of many of the technological innovations that we use every day.
    • Opines that the technology developed by nasa for the space program has benefitted the nation and the world.
    • Opines that nasa's economic factors and budget are the main focus of discussion on the future of the american space program.
    • Explains nasa's benefits of space exploration. nasa headquarters library. retrieved july 6, 2011.
    • Explains nasasolutions: benefits of the space program, marshall space flight center technology transfer program.
    • Describes wagner, r., & cook, h. designs on space blueprints for 21st century space exploration.
    • Explains the scientific benefits of space exploration and research, including communications, earth sciences, weather prediction, astrophysics, and astronomy.
    • Explains that nasa and the american space program have given birth to an entirely new industry of which the united states is the current leader.
    • Opines that the united states' leadership in space exploration is in danger of dissipating with the end of nasa's manned space program.
    • Opines that the united states should continue to spend vast amounts of money on manned and unmanned space exploration.
    • Cites driscoll, c., hardersen, p.s. and harder.
    2303 words
    Read More
  • Innovations Needed for Deep Space Exploration
    explanatory essay
    It is within man’s blood and nature to explore, and space is our next New World. Man’s first achievement in space travel was the launch of the Sputnik on October 4, 1957. For the next decades, space travel was roaring like a rocket, fueled by man’s desire to explore, man’s desire for knowledge, and man’s desire to beat his enemies. However, these impulses have died out as the well of government funding has been diverted to wars and debts, and the interest of the American people has been diverted to wars and debts. Amidst all these issues it is debated as to whether or not space travel is worth the money and the attention of scientists, particularly since humanity faces so many issues on earth currently. However, because of the past inventions, current services, and future benefits, space travel is indeed worth the money and attention of governments and people. It is within our hands to control man’s advancement, and space travel is the next venue to do so.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that space travel reached its zenith during this time. it was a big deal for three reasons.
    • Explains the development of microgravity crop growing and test tube meat, which will provide astronauts with meat and the human population with even more, without increasing animal numbers.
    • Explains that space-based solar power may be the best solution to renewable energy on earth.
    • Opines that space exploration is still blossoming towards a brighter and more active future. private companies like spacex continue to drive down the cost of space.
    • Cites meggs, lori, "growing plants and vegetables in a space garden."
    • Opines that space travel is worth the money and attention of governments and people because of past inventions, current services, and future benefits.
    • Explains that the hype of the space bubble didn't immediately burst, but slowly leaked out, starting after reaching the moon, the anti-climax of space station, and finishing out with the soviet union.
    • Describes nasa's plans for a thin conductor-based covering that will deflect the radiation of space travel. satellites in orbit bring us satellite television, satellite telephones, and satellite based internet.
    • Explains that space-based asteroid mining will most likely be used for extra-terrestrial operations.
    2718 words
    Read More
  • NASA Budget Cuts: Slashing The Budget
    opinionated essay
    “In a fraught fiscal climate, NASA should focus on what it does best and on what offers the best return on investment. Solar system exploration meets both criteria: the U.S. has long led the interplanetary charge, and the resulting scientific benefits have come at a relative bargain. This year NASA 's planetary science program cost about $1.5 billion -- less than what NASA spent designing a congressionally mandated rocket, the Space Launch System, which appears more likely to satisfy aerospace contractors than to aid the cause of space exploration. Such directives from lawmakers all too often land in NASA 's lap without the funds to carry them out (To The

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that nasa should be more highly funded by the united states government in order to continue research towards future objectives.
    • Opines that with nasa expecting more budget cuts in the future, something must be done. in 2015, a bill will be passed to cut earth science spending by $300 million dollars.
    • Explains that in 2004 george w bush cancelled the space shuttle launch that was set for that year, and the ship that would take the place of the canceled spacecraft launched on october 28th 2009.
    • Quotes neil tyson, who served on two presidential commissions that studied space exploration.
    • Analyzes how neil believes that people care deeply about space and the thought of losing a space program would be cultural lose.
    • Opines that if the united states doubles nasa's budget, it will create many jobs for many students who will help create a better economy.
    • Opines that mankind will have a presence throughout our solar system with the nasa probe messenger arriving at mercury and two more probes traveling to pluto and jupiter.
    • Explains that nasa was to begin the process of returning samples from the red planet during a 2018 mission with the europeans space agency.
    • Explains that nasa had to withdraw from the 2018 mars mission and from a 2016 launch of an orbiter that would have sought out the origin of trace gases in the martian atmosphere.
    • Explains that nasa announced on monday that it was assembling a group to reformulate its mars program in light of current funding constraints.
    • Opines that budget cuts threaten future exploration missions, such as a mission to jupiter's moon europa, which scientists believe holds an internal ocean that can harbor life.
    • Opines that nasa should focus on what it does best and what offers the best return on investment in a fraught fiscal climate.
    • Explains that the rising cost of the hubble telescope and the space shuttle may break nasa's budget.
    • Opines that it would be foolish to defund our space program and lag behind other countries that fund their space programs. the united states must take full advantage of nasa's potential.
    1328 words
    Read More
  • The Future of Space Travel
    comparative essay
    An Astronomy topic that has always been intriguing is space travel. The ability to rocket into space, look down on Earth, and “…explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before” (IMDB) is an adventure that people dream of experiencing. On July 20, 1969, an estimated six million people watched Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the Moon (Nixon Library). Presently, people are paying Virgin Galactic $250,000 to reserve a seat on a spaceship that is expected to tour suborbital space in the near future (Virgin Galactic). Although space travel continues to be of interest, there is also some controversy. Controversies include: the allocation of government resources for space exploration, government verses commercial spacecrafts, and the need to colonize other planets for the survival of humanity. The intrigue and the controversy of space travel are the reasons for this Astronomy conversation.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that the future of space travel is an interesting topic, but there is controversy about the allocation of government resources for space exploration and the need to colonize other planets.
    • Explains that research was conducted to make sure there was enough information about the future of space flight and that people of different ages and educational and professional backgrounds could engage in the topic.
    • Explains that the invited participants were selected from a diverse group based on their interest in science and astronomy, work experience, and the ability to easily engage in conversation.
    • Explains that their uncle was invited because he was a scientist for the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. their son and his friend, both 13 years old, are interested in astronomy and physics.
    • Explains the agenda for the conversation was a 20 minute meet and greet, 50 minutes for individual sharing and questions (approximately 7 minutes per person). participants were asked to research the future of space travel.
    • Describes the research resources provided to the participants, including names of newspapers, books, magazines, and links to websites.
    • Describes how eight people, including myself, met for a conversation on the future of space travel on sunday, april 20th, 2014. the conversation ended after approximately two hours.
    • Opines that the most surprising and fun part of the discussion was the information provided by my son and his friend. their ideas were fresh and bold, but they were able to justify their ideas.
    • Suggests that instead of the future of space travel, the topic could have been a specific place, for example, mars, or the private sector.
    • Recommends planning ahead, open the topic to diverse participants, and give them enough information to start researching. also, provide food and drinks.
    • Concludes that the astronomy conversation was a success. sharing information led to new ideas on the future of space travel.
    920 words
    Read More
  • A Rhetorical Analysis of Michael Lind's "Human Spaceflight Should End" by Wyatt Cheney
    analytical essay
    Lind, Michael. "Why We Should Embrace the End of Human Spaceflight."Salon.com. N.p.: n.p., 2011. N. pag. Rpt. in NASA. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that michael lind favors unmanned spaceflights, arguing that robot space probes have been so successful in space exploration, that human lives should not be risked.
    • Argues that the closing of the human spaceflight program is a disgrace to america and its space program. however, the united states has been successful using robots like the mars rovers or the phoenix lander.
    • Analyzes lind's arguments in favor of human spaceflight. he refutes the myth of private investment.
    • Opines that lind believes that since robotic probes have been successful, there is no longer a need for astronauts.
    • Opines that the success of robot space probes has discredited the idea that machines are too stupid to do science in space.
    • Disagrees with lind's argument that humans must transcend the boundaries of the earth. if a habitat meets the needs of those living in it, there is no point in looking for another place to live.
    • Argues that space exploration for the avoidance of extinction is another argument lind refutes. he believes that we should be more concerned about war, plague, global warming, or a large asteroid or comet colliding with the earth.
    • Analyzes lind's article, which deals with the "myth of private investment." lind believes there will be no market for private space exploration, and mocks the idea of commercialized spaceflight.
    • Concludes that lind devotes most of his time arguing of why human spaceflight should end. he provides very little evidence for any benefits of using robotic probes.
    886 words
    Read More
  • The Pros And Cons Of NASA
    opinionated essay
    Throughout its history, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have been associated with spectacular feats and horrific disasters in space exploration. It has received great praise for its successes and harsh criticism for its failures. NASA once the leading agency in space exploration is one of those agencies that is either loved or not wanted. Whether you love it for its scientific and technologic achievement 's or hate for the cost in money and lives, I hope to explain why we need to keep NASA in some form or another.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that nasa has been associated with spectacular feats and horrific disasters in space exploration. it is either loved or not wanted.
    • Opines that robotics will remain the favored method of exploration, especially for long distance space flights.
    • Explains that nasa's budget for 2016 is $18.5 billion, which is a healthy increase over the $18 billion congress enacted in the 2015 budget.
    • Argues that the private sector can innovate, develop, and implement similar projects more quickly and for far less money than a government agency can.
    • Opines that money and risk alone are not the way to evaluate nasa and the space program; the financial costs are only a small percentage of the total government spending.
    1086 words
    Read More
  • Should the Space Program Be Defunded?
    opinionated essay
    Should the space program be defunded, that was a question that was thrown around in 2006. This program that was started in a quick race to stop the spread of communism, and to propel the U.S. to the front of the arms, and exploration race. Well 06’ came and past and the program was cut. Was it the right thing to do or did we give up on the ultimate chance for exploration into the unknown. In the 60’s there was a TV show that ran the majority of 30 years it had one line that played at the beginning and sparked the imagination of every child, young adult and now scientist. What was that phrase? “To seek out strange new life, and civilizations, to explore new worlds, and to boldly go where no man has gone before.”(Gene Rodenberry, Star Trek, 1964) So what has the program done for us, and what is in store for the future? I hope that in this short paper I can show what the space program has contributed to mankind, as well as what has become of the program now 7 years down the road.

    In this essay, the author

    • Opines that the space program should be defunded, since it was a quick race to stop communism and propel the u.s. to the front of the arms, and exploration race.
    • Explains that the program started in 1958 as a military program aimed at improving our missile defense. the russian government had already put two people in space.
    • Explains that since the 1970's nasa has outsourced most of its innovations to other companies, which made a large part of the program private and about.25 percent on government total spending.
    • Opines that the privatization of the space program isn't a danger, but it is helping promote the program and give light to the accomplishments it has brought to humanity.
    • Opines that with the budget dwindling and people getting laid off, they see a new era approaching, where air travel will be faster, and more expensive.
    929 words
    Read More
  • Privatization Of Space Exploration Essay
    explanatory essay
    In 2009 a survey found that 50% of the internationally renowned scientists who published in the prestigious journal Nature had been inspired by Apollo to become scientists; 89% of the respondents also agreed that human space flight inspires younger generations to study science. Today with scientist from NASA helping students conduct their investigations aboard the ISS (International Space Station) has caused a large attraction to the research of NASA and research areas of natural sciences and space itself.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains the social benefits of the privatization of space exploration.
    • Opines that nasa scientists helping students conduct their investigations aboard the iss has caused a large attraction to the research of nasa and research areas of natural sciences and space itself.
    • Explains that space exploration fulfills a deep need to understand the world, addressing questions about the origins of life and nature of the universe, much of what religion tries to encompass.
    • Explains the social benefits of space exploration, such as the prediction of natural calamities with satellites from companies and space agencies.
    • Explains that nasa is engaged in active research, and the amount of research derived from the program that was able to benefit society was enormous. private companies are gaining ground and joining the space race.
    • Explains that the challenges faced in missions to explore space require solutions that will provide benefits on earth even before being employed in orbit.
    • Opines that the benefits of today's space programs include fueling future discoveries, addressing global challenges in space and on earth through innovative technology, creating global partnerships by sharing challenging and peaceful goals, and inspiring society.
    • Explains that the iss partnership has demonstrated the value of international relations within space.
    • Explains that nasa's day of remembrance commemorates the loss of columbia and other space-bound crews.
    1210 words
    Read More
Get Access