SRB's, gravity waves, and 1970's politics

Hi all,

Before we get started, there are couple of curiosities we need to take a look at.

First we were wondering how the space shuttle's rocket boosters (Solid Rocket Boosters, or SRB's) are recovered after they fall off of the ascending shuttle.  Well, I figured it out.  You can read about it (and see it) here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Solid_Rocket_Booster#Descent_and_recovery

Second, there is a new piece of observational evidence that supports the big bang theory.  Scientists have found evidence of the existence of gravity waves, which are ripples in spacetime leftover from the inflationary period after the big bang.  During this time, the universe expanded faster than the speed of light, and scientists have long predicted that we should be able to detect evidence that this happened if we could observe distortions in a gravity field.  Much like the cosmic microwave background radiation is evidence that all matter was once evenly spread out and super hot, the gravity waves are evidence that our universe once expanded very rapidly.  You can read about it here: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/tech/innovation/big-bang-gravitational-waves/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 and here: http://phys.org/news/2014-03-hints-gravitational-big-afterglow.html

Now, down to business.  Now that we have learned basic information about the shuttle, including that it was arguably an overpriced failure, we are going to learn the history behind the decision to build it.

Please read from The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 1 (please stop when you get to the heading "Winged Rockets:...") and answer these questions:

1.  What was Wernher Von Braun's role in generating interest in the space shuttle?

2.  Why was the public interested in developing something like the space shuttle?

3.  What were the tactical military and scientific purposes for developing a permanent space station?

Now check out the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 2 (please stop when you get to "Apollo Applications...").

1.  The space shuttle idea was always tied to the idea of a space station.  How did changes in technology alter the goals of the shuttle program?

2.  What type of equipment replaced the idea of establishing a space station?

Finally, read about President Nixon's decision-making at the beginning of The Space Shuttle Decision, Chapter 9 (please stop when you get to "Space Shuttle: The Last Moves").

1.  How did Nixon perceive astronauts?  Why?

2.  How did Nixon's public statements about space flight differ from Kennedy's?

3.  What priorities did Nixon have for the space program?

We will discuss each reading in turn in class today.