Overview Essay
My component is space and politics and about collectivism when it comes to intergalactic space travel.When we think about space travel we often visualize a huge spaceship loading thousands of people on its way another galaxy or planet, at least per the various sci fi movies on space exploration. Presently, we are not at that level just yet, although we are inching daily towards that goal courtesy of the private sector, which is currently tied to a specific country, for example Space X and US’s NASA. However, looking further down the line when these companies reach their goals of building strongholds in space and therefore transform into huge space corporations having ties with more countries than one, it poses the question of how these juxtaposing countries will cope with each other given their political outlook. Space exploration is at its infant stages where we just accomplished building reusable rockets, and are now focusing on achieving a stable and strong enough core to power a shuttle’s accent into space. Apart from discovering a proper and lasting energy source other technologies such as space object identification, also pose a threat to deep space traveling. But overall we are in the right direction as exploring deep space exposes us to new minerals, materials and energy sources capable of uplifting our planet into the next phase. Additionally, with space exploration we are able to expand the human race to other planets and galaxies which is very sustainable, in that it will alleviate Earth of its population, which in turn will lower the amount of livestock we breed since we will not have to feed as many people. Overall reducing carbon and greenhouse emissions, leading to a more sustainable Earth. But to even reach this stage, we need to be able to coexist with each other and communicate better with people of different cultures, views ad background as us, as it will take a collective human effort to fully explore space. My career goals although not directly related to space will nonetheless help with the automation and flying of the spaceships and shuttles in and out of space. Additionally, when exploring space, the need for an advanced A.I capable of analyzing it surroundings, documenting the unknown, and be able to guide the crew out of a difficult situation is imperative, and that is where I come in, as my overall goal is to build an A.I that can act as a human assistant when needed and help in making the right decisions based on the data it has collected.
BoeingWhen we hear Boeing we think planes and planetary flights from one continent, city or country to another. Apparently, their horizons also extend to space flight and space exploration. While Boeing designs and makes the planes for most of the airlines we use on a daily basis, they lead research in space flights and rocket assembly and testing. For example NASA’s Starliner Spaceship, this is a perfect example of Boeing’s space exploration efforts and research. According to NASA Boeing is building the Starliner Spaceship and are currently testing the rocket ships structural capability, which as of last month passed clearing for structural stability. As a result, paving the way to building stable yet technologically advanced spaceships capable of housing humans to space. In this context humanities skills involved include being able to explain the science behind the structuring of a rocket and as a result, create peace of mind for the astronauts traveling during these space missions and explorations. Additionally, to reach such milestone, Boeing did not work inclusively, it partnered with NASA for example, and other agencies in order to bring the Starliner to reality. As a result, it opens up the opportunity for people to work at Boeing although it is through partnering agency or lab. But nonetheless, the opportunity is there, which brings us to ways to actually securing a position within one of the space engineering teams working on the Starliner. To secure an entry level position, you need commitment and passion towards space travel and exploration. Additionally, Experience with CAD tools and 3D modeling, Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace/Astronautical/Aeronautical Engineering, Civil/Structural or Mechanical Engineering, experience working in a group/team laboratory environment, communication and leadership skills, experience with Structural Testing of aircraft structures, knowledge of sensors including accelerators, strain gauges, thermocouples, load cells, and microphones.
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Blue Origin
When people hear of space tourism, our minds often wander to the various space Sci Fi movies produced, for example Star Trek Avatar etc. Well that is changing quite soon, due to a private aerospace manufacturing company created by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, called Blue Origin. The company focuses on developing technologies to enable private human access to space with end goal of dramatically lowering costs and increasing reliability. It looks to reach this goal by employing an incremental approach to advance from suborbital to orbital flight. One of the technologies to reach this goal include rocket powered vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle in order to access suborbital and orbital space.Upon accomplishing that, it began designing test-beds to sit atop the reusable rocket. While employing this incremental approach, the company designed, and tested multiple times the test beds that would sit on top of the rocket named New Shepard. On each test flight, the New Shepard test beds reached its intended altitude of more than 100 km and returned successfully for a soft landing from space. As a result accomplishing its goal of affordable space travel, but primarily for the company because they do not have to keep buying new parts to build a new vertical takeoff and landing space rocket each time. As for the tourists, it is not so affordable, at least for 90% of the population, as the price entry for the Blue Origin space tourism offering lands between $200,000 and $300,000. For that price you and five other space tourists are offered breathtaking views of the Earth from space, through the large windows present on the rocket’s beds, as well as a few minutes worth of weightlessness. So far 650 people have registered to partake in the experience with trips looking at a start date in 2019. Although, this is great news for space exploration, it begs the question ow many people will actually be able to soak in such experience at such a high price. Perhaps unless it is part of the benefits should you work for the company. To be employed at Blue Origin , “genuine passion for space exploration” is required. Additionally, unless you are a seasoned engineer or software developer, getting employed would result from being an intern at Blue Origin, and as an intern, you works on projects that contribute to project goals in the fields of mechanical design, fluids, aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, flight controls, electronics, avionics, enterprise software, flight software, composites, chemistry, human safety and systems engineering.
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Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc.Unlike the other companies who are more hands-on on their engineering endeavors, Spaceworks focuses on the us of “multidisciplinary design and leading model-based system engineering to approach the design and evaluation of both human and robotic space systems.” Whose modeling and simulation work help clients, answer rapidly and effectively critical decision maker questions which in turn improves” overall quality and program delivery metrics” throughout a space program’s life cycle. As a result of companies like Spaceworks, the uncertainty when it comes to space flight and whether or not the necessary calculations ad up, as well as whether the material compositions of the rocket and its test-bed will survive re-entry into Earth’s Orbit. In addition to designing and modelling spacecrafts, it also focuses on robotics design which is another important aspect of space traveling, in that although human alone can venture successfully to space, there is something such as human error that could jeopardize the safety of the crew inside a spacecraft as well as while out exploring. As a result, the presence of robotic systems that knows exactly what to do to ensure crew safety is imperative, however, they take up space and add additional weight. However, being able to know if a robotic system will fit and where, so as to not pose any hiccups to the stability of the spacecraft is extremely important, which is why companies such as Spaceworks are imperative when it comes to space exploration as they give us an idea of what can be carried on board and what cannot. As a result, to land a job here, the qualifications include BS degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or similar, 0 - 5 years of relevant industry experience in GN&C design and test for flight vehicles, experience with MATLAB/Simulink and its toolboxes, experience in modeling vehicle performance, flight dynamics, and actuator dynamics, demonstrated skills in software debugging, problem solving, and performance optimization, comfortable working in a fast-paced multidisciplinary, collaborative aerospace environment, as well as strong written and verbal communications skills.
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Interview
Lerner, Freda : Senior Engineering Specialist at The Aerospace Corporation
What is the government doing to further space exploration?
At this point, space is very decentralized, before the government were in control of everything space related, from rocket building, testing as well as a launch base where only NASA could test rocket ships. However, now, the space industry is like a service, and anyone can access this service. After, the slowdown in governmental involvement in space exploration after the initial successes, private companies have taken the mantle. And before when I said space is decentralized and space exploration a service these new private space shuttles are providing just that, both for the government and other private companies. The Kennedy Space Center which before only belonged to NASA is now open to these companies to rent out, test their shuttles and go on about their business. Back to your question on what the government is doing to advance space exploration, they are opening up services before reserved for government space agencies like NASA to private space companies, in addition they are handing out contracts to these companies, serving both as encouragement and indirect funding.
In your workforce how are humanities skills involved with the day to day plannings?
Having soft skills is extremely important, The Aerospace Corporation works primarily in contract with government agencies, NASA, NOAA, and being able to communicate what the government needs to your engineers as well being able to present your progress to the Board is crucial. Additionally, sometimes these projects might not go as planned, and several unexpected difficulties and obstacles may occur in very close proximity to the deadline to demonstrate and present your project, and being able to communicate transparently with the Board on these issues in the proper tone is important.
At this point, space is very decentralized, before the government were in control of everything space related, from rocket building, testing as well as a launch base where only NASA could test rocket ships. However, now, the space industry is like a service, and anyone can access this service. After, the slowdown in governmental involvement in space exploration after the initial successes, private companies have taken the mantle. And before when I said space is decentralized and space exploration a service these new private space shuttles are providing just that, both for the government and other private companies. The Kennedy Space Center which before only belonged to NASA is now open to these companies to rent out, test their shuttles and go on about their business. Back to your question on what the government is doing to advance space exploration, they are opening up services before reserved for government space agencies like NASA to private space companies, in addition they are handing out contracts to these companies, serving both as encouragement and indirect funding.
In your workforce how are humanities skills involved with the day to day plannings?
Having soft skills is extremely important, The Aerospace Corporation works primarily in contract with government agencies, NASA, NOAA, and being able to communicate what the government needs to your engineers as well being able to present your progress to the Board is crucial. Additionally, sometimes these projects might not go as planned, and several unexpected difficulties and obstacles may occur in very close proximity to the deadline to demonstrate and present your project, and being able to communicate transparently with the Board on these issues in the proper tone is important.
Jah, Moriba K.: Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
At the moment, how is this problem being resolved?
Presently, there is nothing being done to resolve it, instead of resolving, the government is helping it in that they continue sending satellite and other object into space without any proper identification protocol in place when this object stops working and is dead.
How would your research, help more exploration into space?
At the moment, exploration into deep space will be difficult, first, our ships are incapable of surviving any collision with a man made space object or natural, and even if it did, it will not be able to identify if the object is working or dead and there are millions of objects circulating just outside the Earth’s outer orbit and those are just the ones we have been able to identify. Should this research come to reality we will have a taxonomy of sorts for all space objects and as a result we will be able to identify what each object is, where it belongs and who it belongs.
Presently, there is nothing being done to resolve it, instead of resolving, the government is helping it in that they continue sending satellite and other object into space without any proper identification protocol in place when this object stops working and is dead.
How would your research, help more exploration into space?
At the moment, exploration into deep space will be difficult, first, our ships are incapable of surviving any collision with a man made space object or natural, and even if it did, it will not be able to identify if the object is working or dead and there are millions of objects circulating just outside the Earth’s outer orbit and those are just the ones we have been able to identify. Should this research come to reality we will have a taxonomy of sorts for all space objects and as a result we will be able to identify what each object is, where it belongs and who it belongs.