SpaceShipOne The First Private Aircraft in Space

On June 21, 2004, an aircraft called SpaceShipOne  was air-launched from the Mojave Desert in California. SpaceShipOne resembled an airplane, but rather than coasting at 35,000 feet as most commercial airplanes do, it kept climbing upward. Finally, it reached a peak altitude slightly beyond the Kà ¡rmà ¡n line—the 100-kilometer-high boundary between the earth’s atmosphere and outer space—and returned to Earth. With this accomplishment, the experimental rocket-powered SpaceShipOne aircraft and its crew achieved a major milestone: the first-ever successfully manned private spaceflight.  Ã‚   Breaking NASAs Monopoly Before SpaceShipOne, space travel was only  possible through the collective aspirations of entire nations. After all, it was the former Soviet Union’s space program that put humans in space on April 12, 1961, while the United States’ own National Aeronautics and Space Administration leapfrogged them eight years later by being the first country to put a human on the moon. With monopolistic legal restrictions and an average shuttle mission cost topping $450 million, private enterprise had little incentive to pursue commercial spaceflight. That all changed around the turn of the 21st century. By then, the U.S. government had reversed significant barriers through legislation such as the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, which opened up opportunities for private companies to develop and test expendable launch systems. At the time, the legislation was meant primarily to encourage advancements for transporting satellites. The 1990 Launch Services Purchase Act, which directed NASA to enlist launch services from companies when necessary, also removed a significant hurdle.   This trend toward deregulation encouraged a slew of entrepreneurs to boost investment in what was shaping up to be a new kind of space race. In 2000, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos set up Blue Origin, an aerospace startup aimed at developing technologies that would make space travel a feasible reality. Two years later, then-CEO of PayPal Elon Musk launched a competing firm, SpaceX. Not to be outdone, the billionaire founder and CEO of Virgin, Richard Branson, followed suit  in 2004 with his own commercial space unit, Virgin Galactic.        Ã‚   A Top Secret Project The Tier One project, a once-secret commercial space program, was one of the first private enterprise space exploration projects. Tier One was started in the mid-1990s by leading aerospace engineer Burt Rutan and supported with funding from billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. In earnest, Rutan started on designs for SpaceShipOne. The aircraft was intended to be capable of carrying three human passengers and powered by a rocket system once it reached an altitude of 15 kilometers. Once in outer space, it would be piloted back down to Earth’s atmosphere and land horizontally on a runway.   The prototype Rutan  was 28 feet long with a five-foot wide fuselage and a wingspan of 16 feet. When fully fueled, it weighed roughly 800 pounds. Powered by a hybrid rocket motor commissioned from satellite firm SpaceDev, propulsion was generated by burning a fuel mixture made up of hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (tire rubber) and nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which cut  down on the possible hazards and costs of storing separately the fuel and the oxidizer used to generate combustion. To complete the trip from land to outer space and back again, SpaceShipOne  transformed  into three different figurations, depending on the stage of the journey. One particularly innovative configuration was called feathering. Once in space, the pilot would prepare for re-entry by folding and positioning the rear of the wings upward, forming a nearly-perpendicular V shape angle with the front part of the wings. The idea  was to increase the drag and help  stabilize the aircraft as it glided back down, which in turn made it easier for the pilot to steer. The interior of SpaceShipOne was pressurized so that passengers would have a sea-level breathable atmosphere. Keeping the cabin at a consistent and comfortable pressurized level meant that space suits weren’t necessary. The plane was piloted using a proprietary flight navigation system that utilized  GPS and sensors to relay information and a display interface that primed the pilot for each phase of the flight (boost phase, coast, reentry, and gliding). To launch the aircraft, Rutan custom-designed a carrier plane named White Knight, otherwise known in aviation as the mother ship. The White Knight had long thin wings that stretched to about 82 feet, enabling it to haul SpaceShipOne beneath it in what’s called a parasite configuration. It featured the same cabin as the rocket ship so that pilots could  practice and better identify issues that may occur during a manned space flight. To Outer Space and Retirement SpaceShipOne made its first powered test flight on December 17, 2003 (which, coincidentally, was the hundredth anniversary of the worlds first powered flight, launched by the Wright Brothers). But it wasn’t until the fourth test flight, code-named 15P, that the privately-funded manned aircraft would finally leave Earths atmosphere. The SpaceShipOne team achieved other milestones, as well. Prior to launch day, the Mojave Air and Space Port launch site became the first licensed commercial spaceport. A few days after the test flight, pilot Mike Melvill became the first person to obtain a commercial astronaut license. SpaceShipOne carried  out two more test flights, soaring to an altitude as high as 112 kilometers, before being retired. After the aircraft’s final test flight on October 4, 2004, it was showcased at a few airshows and presentations before being carried by the White Knight to Smithsonian Institutions National Air and Space Museum, where it is on display for visitors.               Significant progress has been made since SpaceShipOne’s historic flight. Private aerospace firms hope to make space travel less costly by perfecting a reusable launch system thats safe and efficient. Aerospace engineers at companies like SpaceX continue to make progress, moving us closer to a future of commercial space flight.   Sources Bray, Nancy. â€Å"Space Shuttle and International Space Station.† NASA, NASA, 28 Apr. 2015, www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html.Moon, Mariella. â€Å"What You Need to Know about Commercial Spaceflight.† Engadget, 14 July 2016, www.engadget.com/2014/08/18/commercial-space-flight-explainer/.Charlton, Alistair. â€Å"Space Race 2.0: How SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and More Will Take Us to the Stars.† International Business Times UK, Blizzard Entertainment, 11 July 2017, www.ibtimes.co.uk/space-race-2-0-how-spacex-virgin-galactic-blue-origin-more-will-take-us-stars-1627455.Sharp, Tim. â€Å"SpaceShipOne: The First Private Spacecraft | The Most Amazing Flying Machines Ever.† Space.com, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2014, www.space.com/16769-spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft.html.Valdes, Robert. â€Å"How SpaceShipOne Works.† HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 8 Mar. 2018, science.howstuffworks.com/spaceshipone.htm.â€Å" How SpaceShipTwos Feathered Wings Were Supposed to Work.† NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/storyline/virgin-voyage/how-spaceshiptwos-feathered-wings-were-supposed-work-n240256.â€Å"Discover.† Mojave Air Space Port, www.mojaveairport.com/discover.html.Chmielewski, Tom. â€Å"Space Shuttle Pilot Salary.† Chron.com, 21 Nov. 2017, work.chron.com/space-shuttle-pilot-salary-1618.html.â€Å"SpaceShipOne.† The Wright Brothers | The Wright Company, Smithsonian Institute, 9 June 2018, airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spaceshipone.

Prison System Rehabilitation And Self Growth - 1217 Words

Today’s prison system is riddled with problems, filled with corruption, crime, and little to no programs for rehabilitation. The current goal of the owners and operators of the prisons is to punish prisoners and to make as much money as possible. The welfare of the people locked in cages is not accounted for as much as it should be— safety, physical, and mental health of the inmates is should be prioritized over money and self-interest. Prison should be about rehabilitation, acknowledging the mistakes a person has made, and accepting the consequences of their actions. It should not be about dehumanization, judgment, and punishment. Therefore, I have developed a prison system based on these principles that will help people move on with†¦show more content†¦Keeping people locked away by themselves for extended periods of time can lead to mental insanity; and no social interaction is dangerous for the well being of humans. Solitary confinement is a barbaric way to punish someone—it is a legal way to torture people. The removal of solitary confinement would be the first strep in a more effective incarceration system. There are other, more effective ways to enforce rules other than throwing a person in a dark hole for days or weeks or even months on end. In order to get rid of solitary confinement, there has to be another system of punishment that is not as cruel but still gets the point across. I wanted to create a system of positive reinforcement and negative punishment among our system of incarceration. The more the inmates follow the rules and listen to the guards, the easier their lives are in prison. They can gain privileges such as extra phone time, extended visiting hours, priority on jobs, the ability to wear clothing of their choice, etc. for good behavior. For breaking the rules, their privileges can be taken away from them. They will not be allowed to see their family members, use the phone, etc. until the exhibit a change i n behavior and follow the rules. They will also have mandatory work added to their schedules or mandatory therapy sessions. However, the prisoners will feel more compelled to follow the rules if they are rewarded for their good behavior and they will not want to lose their

Who Killed Reconstruction Free Essays

North or South: Who Killed Reconstruction? Harper’s Weekly September 1, 1868 Harper’s Weekly September 1, 1868 â€Å"Is This a Republican Form of Government? Is This Protecting Life, Liberty, or Property? † â€Å"Is This a Republican Form of Government? Is This Protecting Life, Liberty, or Property? † Overview: The twelve years after the Civil War proved to be a difficult time for America. Called Reconstruction by historians, this era saw an increase of freedom for former slaves. However, there was also great resistance to change. We will write a custom essay sample on Who Killed Reconstruction? or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1877 attempts to reconstruct the South officially ended, leaving white-only governments in power. This DBQ asks you to decide who, North or South, was most responsible for the end of Reconstruction Background Essay North or South: Who Killed Reconstruction †¦ the slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery. -W. E. B. Dubois 1876 was an exciting year for America. It was the 100th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence and America was on the move. Homesteaders and ranchers were filling up the land west of the Mississippi River. Railroads were being built at an astounding rate. It seemed the United States was creating enough opportunity that all Americans and millions of immigrants could pursue their hopes for happiness just as Thomas Jefferson had envisioned 100 years earlier. So it is a great irony of history that the election of 1876 officially crushed the American dream for millions of black Americans. This election saw Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate and eventual winner, square off against Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic nominee. Although Tilden won the popular ote by a wide margin, election results in Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana were so close that a winner could not be determined. If these three states went for Hayes, he would win the Electoral College vote and become President. Talk of a new Civil War was in the air as the opponents in the disputed states submitted separate sets of electoral ballots. An informal agreement, now called The Compromise of 1877, avoided the crisis by granting Hayes the Presidency. In return, Hayes promised to remove the last Federal soldiers from the South, almost guaranteeing that all-white governments would rise to power. The dream of Reconstruction was officially dead. For a while, however, it had seemed that the dream of Reconstruction might be realized. The 13th Amendment ended slavery. The 14th Amendment gave black Americans citizenship and civil rights. A Military Reconstruction Act was passed to make sure African-Americans’ new rights were protected. Black churches were founded. Public schools were built for black children, and universities like Howard, Fisk, Morehouse, and Hampton were founded for black students seeking higher education. Sixteen African-Americans were elected to Congress and numerous others served at state and local levels. Finally, the 15th Amendment was ratified making it illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on race. Indeed, real progress was made. However, in the early 1870s, the tide shifted. Southern states began to elect governments dedicated to whites-only rule. Between 1870 and 1876 all but three Southern states turned back Reconstruction efforts. When Rutherford B. Hayes agreed to remove federal soldiers, he was simply putting an end to an already dying effort. But dying or dead, what had gone wrong? Your job is to read the documents that follow and answer the question: North or South: Who killed Reconstruction? 1. Why was 1876 an important year for America? 2. Who ran for President in 1876? What were their political parties? 3. An â€Å"irony† is something you don’t expect, something that doesn’t seem to fit. What was the irony of history that occurred in 1876? 4. What was the Compromise of 1877? Who got what? 5. Describe each of the following Amendments to the Constitution. a. 13th Amendment: b. 14th Amendment: . 15th Amendment: Document A Source: In the years following the Civil War – throughout the South -state, city, and town governments passed laws to restrict the rights of free African-American men and women. These laws were often called â€Å"Black Codes. † The example below of â€Å"Black Codes† comes from laws passed in Opelousas, Louisiana immediately after the Civil War. —— ——————————————- 1. â€Å"No negro or freedmen shall be allowed to come within the limits of the town of Opelousas without special permission from his employers. Whoever breaks this law will go to jail and work for two days on the public streets, or pay a fine of five dollars. † ————————————————- ————————————————- 2. â€Å"No negro or freedman shall be permitted to rent or keep a house in town under any circumstances. No negro or freedman shall live within the town who does not work for some white person or former owner. † ————————————————- ————————————————- 3. No public meetings of negroes or freedmen shall be allowed within the town. † ————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————- 4. â€Å"No freedman shall be allowed to carry firearms, or any kind of weapons. No freedman shall sell or exchange any article of merchandise within the limits of Opelousas without permission in writing from his employer. † ————————————————- ————————————————- 5. â€Å"Every negro is to be in the service of (work for) some white person, or former owner. Document Analysis How did black codes restrict the freedom of freedmen? Document B Document Analysis Based on the document above and your knowledge of U. S. history, what was the real end result o f sharecropping? Document C Source: Albion Tourgee, Letter on Ku Klux Klan Activities. New York Tribune, May 1870. Note: Tourgee was a white, Northern soldier who settled in North Carolina after the War. He served as a judge during Reconstruction and wrote this letter to the North Carolina Republican Senator, Joseph Carter Abbott. ————————————————- ———————————————— It is my mournful duty to inform you that our friend John W. Stephens, State Senator from Caswell, is dead. He was foully murdered by the Ku-Klux in the Grand Jury room of the Court House on Saturday†¦ He was stabbed five or six times, and then hanged on a hook in the Grand Jury room†¦ Another brave, honest Republican citizen has met his fate at the hands of these fiends†¦ —â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- I have very little doubt that I shall be one of the next victims. My steps ave been dogged for months, and only a good opportunity has been wanting to secure to me the fate which Stephens has just met†¦ I say to you plainly that any member of Congress who, especially if from the South, does not support, advocate, and urge immediate, active, and thorough measures to put an end to these outrages†¦is a coward, a traitor, or a fool. ————————————————- Source: Independent Monitor, September 1, 1868. Document Analysis What group(s) is the KKK threatening? According to Tourgee, what types of people are being attacked by the KKK? Why would the KKK attack these people? How do these documents help answer the DBQ question? Document C Source: Abram Colby, testimony to a joint House and Senate Committee in 1872. Note: Colby was a former slave who was elected to the Georgia State legislature during Reconstruction. ————————————————- Colby: On the 29th of October 1869, [the Klansmen] broke my door open, took me out of bed, took me to the woods and whipped me three hours or more and left me for dead. They said to me, â€Å"Do you think you will ever vote another damned Radical ticket? I said, â€Å"If there was an election tomorrow, I would vote the Radical ticket. † They set in and whipped me a thousand licks more, with sticks and straps that had buckles on the ends of them. ———————————————â€⠀- ————————————————- Question: What is the character of those men who were engaged in whipping you? ————————————————- ————————————————- Colby: Some are first-class men in our town. One is a lawyer, one a doctor, and some are farmers†¦ They said I had voted for Grant and had carried the Negroes against them. About two days before they whipped me they offered me $5,000 to go with them and said they would pay me $2,500 in cash if I would let another man go to the legislature in my place. I told them that I would not do it if they would give me all the county was worth†¦ No man can make a free speech in my county. I do not believe it can be done anywhere in Georgia. Source: Harper’s Weekly, October 21, 1876. Caption: â€Å"Of Course he wants to vote the Democratic ticket. † Document Analysis Why did the KKK attack Abram Colby? According to Colby, what types of people make up the KKK? What seems to be the ultimate goal of the KKK? What is the main idea of the cartoon? Document D Source: Gerald Danzer et al. , The Americans, McDougall Littell, 1998. ————————————————- †¦ in the 1870s, Northern voters grew indifferent to events in the South. Weary of the ‘Negro Question’ and ‘sick of carpet-bag’ government, many Northern voters shifted their attention to such national concerns as the Panic of 1873 and corruption in Grant’s administration†¦. Although political violence continued in the South†¦ the tide of public opinion in the North began to turn against Reconstruction policies. Source: Kenneth Stampp, The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877, Vintage, 1967. ————————————————- Meanwhile southern Democrats gained strength when Congress finally removed the political disabilities from most of the prewar leadership. In May 1872, because of pressure from the Liberal Republican, Congress passed a general amnesty act which restored the right of office holding [and voting] to the vast majority of those who had been disqualified†¦After the passage of this act only a few hundred ex-Confederates remained unpardoned. Document Analysis Explain the phrases â€Å"weary of the ‘Negro Question’† and â€Å"‘sick of carpet-bag’ government. † Why might increased anger about the corruption in government lead to less interest in government attempts to reconstruct the South? How did the restoration of voting rights to white Southerners undermine efforts to preserve and protect the voting rights of the freedmen? Document E Source: Heather Cox Richardson, The Death of Reconstruction: Race, Labor and Politics in the Post-Civil War North, 1865-1901. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2001. ————————————————- In the fall of 1873, even the staunchly (firmly) pro-Grant and pro-freedman Boston Evening Transcript ran a letter †¦ arguing that â€Å"the blacks, as a people, are unfitted for the proper exercise of political duties†¦. The rising generation of †¦ blacks needed a period of probation and instruction; a period †¦ long enough for the black to have forgotten something of his condition as a slave and learned much of the true method of gaining honorable subsistence and of performing the duties of any position to which he might aspire. Northern artist’s portrayal of the South Carolina State Legislature during Reconstruction. Source: The Cover of Harper’s Weekly, March 14, 1874 Document Analysis According to the letter from the Boston Evening Transcript, why did some people believe blacks were unfit to be government officials? How does this letter show racism existed in the North? How do this cartoon letter help explain why Northerners lost interest in Reconstruction? How does the image above depict black politicians in the South? Document F Document Analysis How was it possible that Hayes â€Å"won† the election of 1876? How did this disputed election lead to the end of Reconstruction? How to cite Who Killed Reconstruction?, Essay examples