Space and Space Travel
During the last quarter of my freshman year, spring quarter, I had room in my schedule to take a class for fun. I asked my friends for recommendations, and someone told my that the professor for "ESS 102: Space and Space Travel" was really good, the class was fun, and I'd get an A. They were right on all counts.
The final project of the class was to design a rocket from a 2 liter pop bottle. The rocket needed to be powered by a mixture of pressurized air and water, was required to reach an altitude of 100 feet, and needed to keep an egg from breaking. My team's rocket was a tremendous success, and our egg survived due to our effective parachute deployment and extreme padding. Other teams were not so fortunate, and there were many scrambled eggs.
Although this isn't strictly an engineering class, it isn't an Honors class either, so I've chosen to include it with my other engineering classes because it had some technical components to it.
Below I have included the essay that I wrote for this class. It rings of a similar sentiment to my Honors application essays.
The final project of the class was to design a rocket from a 2 liter pop bottle. The rocket needed to be powered by a mixture of pressurized air and water, was required to reach an altitude of 100 feet, and needed to keep an egg from breaking. My team's rocket was a tremendous success, and our egg survived due to our effective parachute deployment and extreme padding. Other teams were not so fortunate, and there were many scrambled eggs.
Although this isn't strictly an engineering class, it isn't an Honors class either, so I've chosen to include it with my other engineering classes because it had some technical components to it.
Below I have included the essay that I wrote for this class. It rings of a similar sentiment to my Honors application essays.
Response to “The Real Reasons We Explore Space”
The article titled “The Real Reasons We Explore Space” in the Air and Space Magazine, discusses reasons behind our interest in space exploration. The author, Michael Griffin, argues that the reasons most often cited for the purpose of funding space programs (such as scientific discovery, economic benefit, and national security) are not the real reasons the public supports space programs.
Griffin argues that the economically profitable reasons are only the issues we are “comfortable talking about”, and the real issues have more to do with a sense of accomplishment. He cites Charles Lindbergh, the first man to cross the Atlantic in and airplane, and states that he did not do it for the prize money, but rather for the sake of accomplishing the thing.
Griffin explains that we all like to be the best at something. Competition is at the root of our instincts, and always will be. He also explains that we have a desire to construct monuments, and leave our footprint in history. Space exploration fills these desires.
I completely agree with the opinion of Michael Griffin. I consent that the logical and profitable reasons are good to talk about, and help us justify the inherent costs of space travel, but the real reasons we are so intrigued by space exploration is because we simply like to explore. Humans need to explore, learn, discover, and compete. All of these things are inherent in our nature. Space exploration is the ultimate outlet for the innate needs of our species.
We cannot simply look up at the sky, knowing the infinite scope of the universe, and never learn more about it. We cannot be content to wait for other life forms to find us; we are compelled to find them.
I also have other personal reasons for my interest in space. I happen to be a long-range thinker on many issues, and this contributes to my interest in space travel. Someday the sun will go out, and we will need to find a new home for the legacy of our planet of life. We might as well start exploring the universe now, to ensure that the future of our race is not hanging in the balance of a tiny fragile blue planet, alone in the universe.
Griffin argues that the economically profitable reasons are only the issues we are “comfortable talking about”, and the real issues have more to do with a sense of accomplishment. He cites Charles Lindbergh, the first man to cross the Atlantic in and airplane, and states that he did not do it for the prize money, but rather for the sake of accomplishing the thing.
Griffin explains that we all like to be the best at something. Competition is at the root of our instincts, and always will be. He also explains that we have a desire to construct monuments, and leave our footprint in history. Space exploration fills these desires.
I completely agree with the opinion of Michael Griffin. I consent that the logical and profitable reasons are good to talk about, and help us justify the inherent costs of space travel, but the real reasons we are so intrigued by space exploration is because we simply like to explore. Humans need to explore, learn, discover, and compete. All of these things are inherent in our nature. Space exploration is the ultimate outlet for the innate needs of our species.
We cannot simply look up at the sky, knowing the infinite scope of the universe, and never learn more about it. We cannot be content to wait for other life forms to find us; we are compelled to find them.
I also have other personal reasons for my interest in space. I happen to be a long-range thinker on many issues, and this contributes to my interest in space travel. Someday the sun will go out, and we will need to find a new home for the legacy of our planet of life. We might as well start exploring the universe now, to ensure that the future of our race is not hanging in the balance of a tiny fragile blue planet, alone in the universe.