SCIENCE COMPETITIONS
2018 Bowseat Ocean Awareness Poetry Contest
2018 Bowseat Poetry Contest Reflection
Although I am only 14 years old, I have been exposed to the ravages of climate change and pollution, first hand. I live in New Orleans and have always enjoyed the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. However, lately, I haven’t had the same success of my younger days. I can remember being with my Grandpa and seeing the pictures of the fish and shrimp that he and my dad caught, and hearing the stories about how, “It just isn’t the same anymore!” Those stories were told to me right about the time of the BP oil spill, and as a matter of fact, things are now worse than when I was a child. Since the spill, the grasses in the areas by Grand Isle, where we would go to fish, are just not there anymore. I rarely catch many fish like I used to, and the stories about all the fish, and shrimp, seem like just that- Stories. With pollutants continually being dumped into our rivers, lakes, and oceans, along with the effects of climate change, increases in global temperatures, and overfishing, it is quite possible that things may never be quite the same as they used to be for those of us who enjoy catching and eating seafood. It is going to take a coordinated effort by all of us to eliminate pollutants, to stem climate change, and to prevent overfishing to allow our waterways to heal themselves and return to the way they used to be!
Memories of Days Gone By
Hey little fish!!!
Come take my bait!!!
Hey little Fish!!!
It has been quite some time since I last fished
In all those years, my mind would wonder
If the next time I went, would it be like I wished!
Hey Little Fish!!
The memories of those days are in full view
As the crisp wind on my face chilled my skin
And the skin of mommy, daddy, and my brother too!
Hey Little Fish!!
The water was clear and ran clean
While the waves moved onto the grass covered shore
As they crashed, the birds took flight- Truly a sight to be seen
Hey Little Fish!!
Those days of my youth are, now, so very distant
Are the scenes in my mind actually real?
But when I think of them, they rush back in an instant!
Hey Little Fish!!
Today is the day that I will fish once more
My memories will be with me
And I can’t wait to see that shore!
Hey Little Fish!!
Stepping foot on that beach was not the same
It’s only been 40 years, but….
What happened to the place that I once came?
Hey Little Fish!!
The shore was littered with heaps of trash
The grass was sparse, and the birds were gone
Man and environment in a monumental clash!
Hey Little Fish!!
No longer was the water clean and clear
Bags, bottles, and debris coated the surface
Could anything live in this environment, I fear!
Hey Little Fish!!
In the days of my past, the fish were plenty
I could throw in my hook,
And I would catch many
Hey Little Fish!!
But – Today, not one bite – not even a nibble
I tried and tried- even the wind seemed different- A bit warmer
As I sat there, I asked, “Could this be Possible?”
Hey, Little Fish!!
We have become complacent in our actions
Our instant gratification has been a top priority
During all that time, we failed to see the infractions
Hey Little Fish!!!
Time has come to change our ways
To consider all life important and precious
We must focus with an intention that never sways
Hey Little Fish!!
Hey Little Fish!!
I hope to see you again!
Hey Little Fish!!
Because we are all part of a much larger chain!
………….
Hey Little Fish!!
2018 Patriot Pen Writing Contest
America’s Gift to My Generation
1,190,085! You might wonder how that number has anything to do with America’s gift to my generation. After all, it is just a number. However, that number represents the ultimate gift – the gift of one’s life that 1,190,085 individuals gave to ensure the freedom that Americans enjoy each, and every, day. We can only imagine the fear and anxiety that overwhelmed those valiant souls, as they fought to ensure the freedom that is sometimes taken for granted. The sounds of gunfire or bombs exploding in the distance must have signaled the impending doom that each of those brave men and women would ultimately face. Nevertheless, they stood fast, faced their fears, and fought to win and ultimately preserve, the freedom that we, as Americans, hold so dear.
The American flag is a symbol of the freedom that those 1,190,085 individuals fought for, and the red stripes have become a symbol of their courage and ultimate sacrifice. It is an honor to salute those men and women for giving us, the citizens of the United States, the freedom to choose how we live our lives. Those individuals have given us the ability to worship, learn, work, thrive, and succeed in a world that is fraught with evil and terror. We live in a country that allows its citizens the freedom to choose how they will lead their lives. The ability to choose is what it truly means to be an American! Much controversy has been brewing lately concerning the salute of the American flag. That controversy stems from the fact that the freedoms that we enjoy, as Americans, allow individuals to express themselves as they see fit. However, especially at times like these, we must continue to honor those 1,190,085 individuals, who gave their all, by standing proud and saluting the flag of the United States of America.
A true American will never hesitate to salute the flag and honor those who fought for our freedom! This
2018 AIAA Regional & NATIONAL Essay Winner
Astronauts – The Right Stuff Indeed!
In the early days of space travel, the U.S. Air Force worked feverishly to develop vehicles that would propel man into space. During those early stages of space exploration, unmanned rockets were launched to test their performance— All with the goal of putting men into space, and eventually, on the surface of the moon! However, before humans ever had the opportunity to venture into space and, ultimately, step foot on the moon, the U.S. Air Force used animals as the first astronauts. For over a decade, starting in 1948, animals, mainly monkeys, were used to test the effects of prolonged weightlessness and ionizing radiation, as well as, the viability of the spacecrafts. By 1958, The United States was in the midst of the space race with Russia, and NASA was formed to coordinate the U.S. space program. By May 1961, President John F. Kennedy made the bold statement about the United States committing itself to sending a man to the moon and returning him safely back to earth. It was a bold statement, but because of the previous work performed by the Air Force, and the adventurous nature of the astronauts involved, that statement became a reality in July of 1969 when Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon and uttered the immortal words, “That’s one small step for man- one giant leap for mankind!”
For NASA, the role of the astronaut, which means “sailor among the stars” is to be the human connection in the study of space, the moon, other planets, and potentially, as technology evolves, The Universe! Developing systems that can keep astronauts alive, in the rigors of space, is an immense undertaking, and there is really no room for error when human life is involved. However, as technology evolves, the ability for NASA to perform unmanned flights increases every day. Computers do not have to eat, breath, or perform bodily functions like humans and animals do, and the need for life advanced life support systems is not needed. Also, computers do not get tired, lonely, or feel any emotions that might affect humans in the isolation of space. Currently, one of the most exciting fields in science is that of robotics, and NASA is exploring the surface of Mars with the rovers named Opportunity and Curiosity, and the information that is being collected is of immense importance to the future of space travel. The knowledge that is being gleaned is only fueling the desire of mankind to venture forth and step foot on another planet – That is the role of the Astronaut! They are NASA’s Christopher Columbus! Recently, I heard Albert Sacco (STS-73) say, “Regardless of how advanced technology might become, no simulation, or rover, could possibly equate to the actual human experience of long-term space travel.” He also said, “Things rarely go as planned, and split-second decisions, that only a human can make, can be the key to a successful mission.”
NASA’s goals not only include space exploration, but they are also focused on designing, building and testing long-term life support and crew health systems, advanced habitat modules, and a host of technologies to reduce the reliance on the Earth for mankind’s future survival. Studying, and eventually sending astronauts to Mars, are major steps forward for NASA because they bring humans one step closer to being able to colonize other planets in our solar system. That might sound like the words of science fiction, but so did virtually every other advancement in science and technology before they became a reality. Granted, NASA’s astronauts are exploring where no man has gone before, however, just like the Vikings, Columbus, Magellan, Francis Drake, Lewis and Clark, Edmund Hillary, and every other explorer who has fueled discovery, they do it because they possess an unyielding sense of adventure.
Many of the devices that are used in the United States, and in the entire developed world every day, have their origins in the space program and were developed by the space program to be used by astronauts during their space travels. Cordless tools, freeze-dried foods, survival blankets, and cell phone cameras are, but, just a few. Also, numerous medical advances in cardiac care and treatments for Osteoporosis, Vertigo, and Asthma owe their origins to studying the effects of long-term space travel on astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) and other space stations such as Skylab and Mir. Mir and the (ISS) are perfect examples of mankind’s unyielding sense of adventure, and how space travel can bring humankind closer together. Although Mir was a Russian space station, astronauts frequently visited aboard the Space Shuttles that carried supplies, astronauts, and cosmonauts. Because space exploration is such an intense undertaking, it is extremely important to develop partnerships with other countries to utilize technologies that have been gleaned since the dawn of the space race. In the years since the Space Shuttle program was terminated, astronauts and cosmonauts have been ferrying back and forth to the ISS aboard Russian-made Soyuz rockets, which are currently the only rocket being used to service the ISS. Because those rockets are needed to keep the ISS serviced, it is easily understood that international partnerships are extremely critical in the future of space travel.
The more complicated the endeavor—the more technology, money, and labor that must go into it! It is only reasonable to surmise that a cooperation between each nation’s space program would increase our chances of succeeding at exploring and eventually colonizing other planets. According to Albert Sacco, in a speech I recently attended, “If the leaders of all the countries in the world were put into space, all of the fighting and disagreements would disappear. In space, it is all about the team— cooperation is key, and there is no room for egos!” That was possibly the most significant statement that I have ever heard, and it, certainly, emphasizes the importance of teamwork and selflessness and epitomizes everything that NASA and its astronauts strive for every day!!!!
2017 AIAA Regional Essay Winner
Solar Power-It’s Out of This World!
By their very nature, human beings are extremely curious creatures. Humans have always been looking to the stars and pondering what could be out there in the vastness of space. Because of that curiosity, NASA has undertaken some extremely complex missions aimed at discovering what lies beyond our planet. NASA’s current project, Juno, will attempt to study the atmosphere and the structure of Jupiter, and it is one of NASA’s most ambitious projects to date.
Sending a spacecraft through the vastness of space to explore Jupiter is, by no means, an easy task. Cutting edge technology, from every field of study, has been brought together to complete a successful mission. Every aspect of the mission has been thoroughly designed and implemented to be robust and extremely efficient. Each system including the propulsion, communication, radiation protection, data handling and power supply (solar arrays) systems has been designed to handle the rigors of space travel. Juno is a very complex and well-designed spacecraft, and each system performs an important aspect of the mission.
I believe that the most important system that has been utilized, in the design of the Juno spacecraft, is the solar arrays. Granted, every other aspect of Juno is an integral part of a successful design, however, without the solar arrays, there would be no mission. Previously, all deep space missions have relied on a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) which captures the heat from the decay of plutonium-238. Currently, NASA has access to very small amounts of space grade plutonium-238, and the usable quantity is growing smaller every day because of radioactive decay. Also, since the end of the COLD WAR, space grade plutonium has been in short supply, and it should remain in short supply for the foreseeable future. Since nuclear material presents many potential hazards, a major concern, when incorporating RTGs into the design of deep space crafts, is the potential for environmental disaster because of radioactive contamination if an accident occurs. Since 1964, when the first serious failure of a satellite resulted in the release of Plutonium-238 into the atmosphere, there have been numerous launch failures that have led to either the release of the nuclear material or complete loss of the RTG. Although the lost RTGs seemed to have remained intact, the potential for an environmental catastrophe looms if the encasement that surrounds the nuclear material fails in the future. For that reason alone, the use of RTGs should be kept to an absolute minimum, and viable fuel sources, such as solar arrays, should be implemented whenever possible.
Since solar panel technology is extremely safe and poses limited environmental hazards, scientists and engineers can focus their attention and limited funding on designing and building an extremely efficient system without the needed expense for the extreme safety measures required when using RTGs. Over the past few decades, as the cost of producing space grade nuclear materials has skyrocketed, the price of producing solar powered fuel alternatives has decreased. Also, over that same period of time, solar panel efficiency has more than doubled. For example, in 1989, Galileo, the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, did not use solar panels to power the spacecraft. At the time, the efficiency of the solar panels was only about 12%, and using solar panel arrays was not feasible. Fast forward just over a decade to 2003, and the solar panels incorporated into the design of the JUNO craft had an efficiency of about 28%. With that level of efficiency, scientists felt confident that solar panel technology was advanced enough to power a deep space mission, and NASA moved forward with Mission Juno. The solar panels that power Juno consist of three 30 foot solar arrays that were designed to unfold once the spacecraft was launched into space. There are 18698 individual solar cells that make up the three solar wings, and they supply approximately 490 watts of power to instruments aboard Juno. Four hundred ninety watts may not sound like a lot of power for a mission to Jupiter, but it is sufficient power when considering the instruments that make up Juno are at the cutting edge of energy efficiency. No stone was left unturned when it came to efficient energy usage of the instrument systems aboard JUNO. For instance, in order to reduce power consumption and to improve reliability, the computer systems designed for Juno were built to perform the required tasks without extra capabilities. As the mission progresses, the output of the arrays should diminish, and by the mission’s end, the system should be able to put out roughly 420 watts.
As the design for Juno was being implemented, solar panel technology and efficiency was moving forward by leaps and bounds. For 2017 and beyond, there are currently projections of deep space solar panel efficiencies in the range of 33% to 36%! With numbers like that, who knows where our next mission may take us! Over the past 30 years, better materials, improved designs and more efficient manufacturing processes have resulted in solar powered systems that are presently a viable alternative to the previously used RTGs.
Based on the current performance of Mission Juno, it should be quite the norm to see solar arrays incorporated into future deep space missions. Before Juno was conceived, there were many scientists and engineers who felt that a mission to Jupiter would be impossible using solar energy as a power source. At this very moment, Juno is doing what they thought, only a few years ago, was impossible! Whether it was climbing Mount Everest, breaking the sound barrier or, as John F Kennedy said, “going to the moon in this decade,” every endeavor in human history has required forward-thinking individuals, who were willing to push the envelope, to take the reins and make it happen. Juno is the result of those forward-thinking individuals and of the solar technology that powers it and future missions into the final frontier!
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