First real assignment! Whoo!
Hello all! The points are in from the cleanout survey and the class roster has been amended as needed. Those who did not fill out the cleanout survey have been removed from the class roster and the community member list. If you wish to rejoin the community, you can most certainly do so. Newcomers are welcome all year. However, you will have to re-enter the class as a newcomer.
Please check the community info before you commense with doing an assignment, just to make sure you are familiar with the rules of the class, and to check to see if I correctly added you to the roster.
From what I derived from the cleanout survey, a lot of you who are returning seem to have wanted to see more text assignments, rather than the ones dealing with pictures. Well, your wish is my command.
I decided that our first order of business in the finally returning community of ch_astronomy is some elements of space itself. I figured that it would probably be easier, and possibly more interesting, to look at it from the viewpoint of Muggle technology. (Psst, thanks iknowthyself !)
Section A: The Space Race Begins
In October, 1957, the whole world watched in awe as the former Soviet Union beat the Americans in the space race to launch the first artificial satellite into the earth's atmosphere. The satellite consisted of a 23-inch steel ball that weighed 184 pounds. Attached to this steel ball were four antennae that ranged from 2.2 to 2.6 yards long. This satellite had many functions: it gathered information about the Earth's lonosphere and the temperatures of outer space.
Section B: The Vanguard Program
After the Soviet's completed and successful launch of the Sputnik, the US was pressured to start its own version of the Space Race. The Department Defense thought up two programs. One was a dismal failure; the other was a great success. The Vanguard Program successfully launched two satellites into orbit. The first sattelite was nicknamed "The Grapefruit" by the former Soviet Union.
Section C: The Explorer Program
In January 1958, the US finally made a breakthrough in the Space Race. Explorer 1 successfully launched a satellite into the earth's atmosphere. The Explorer is the longest space program to date, ranging from the year 1958 to 1984. However, the Space Shuttle missions have just about caught up with them. The Shuttle missions began in 1981...but more about the shuttle later. The Explorer satellites were and are providing us with a wealth of information about the earth.
Homework:
Answer at least three of the five review questions in each section. You can use any source you like, just as long as you cite them. Each completed assignment must have a minimum of nine answered questions; however, if you wish you may complete all fifteen.
The review questions are as follows:
Section A:
1) What was the name of the first satellite in outer space?
2) What was the speed of the satellite?
3) How often did the satellite orbit the earth?
4) Who led the effort to launch the satellite?
5) What is the English translation of the satellite's name?
Section B:
1) What was the name of the first successful space program alluded to in this section?
2) When was the first attempted Vanguard launch?
3) What happened to the first attempt?
4) When was the second Vanguard launch?
5) What happened to the second attempt?
Section C:
1) Name three things the Explorer satellites are providing information about?
2) How many Explorer satellites have been launched?
3) How long after the Sputnik satellite launch did the US launch the first Explorer satellite?
4) Who was the brains behind the rocket used in the first Explorer mission?
5) How much did the Explorer 1 satellite weigh?
Bonus Points:
Provide one picture of the Sputnik, Vanguard, and Explorer satellites. This part is totally optional, but it is worth easy points, and will hopefully provide a better understanding of the material. You can send in a picture for any of the satellites that you wish--a select one, two, or all three of them. However, only provide one of each.
Points Available:
Each correct response to the review questions will earn five points towards your House. An incorrect response will not be awarded any points. You can earn a maximum of 75 points for this section, given that you answer all fifteen questions correctly.
Each picture sent in will be worth ten points toward your House. If you do not send a picture for all three satellites, it will not count against you. You can earn a maximum of 30 points for this section.
Maximum Points: 105 (includes answering all fifteen questions correctly and doing the Bonus Points section)
Minimum Points: 45, give or take.
Due Tuesday, December 12th, 2006, midnight ET.
Please remember to include your name and House when you turn in the assignment. Cite your sources, please! Failure to do so will result in a loss of points. All comments will be screened until I award House points.
Have fun!
Please check the community info before you commense with doing an assignment, just to make sure you are familiar with the rules of the class, and to check to see if I correctly added you to the roster.
From what I derived from the cleanout survey, a lot of you who are returning seem to have wanted to see more text assignments, rather than the ones dealing with pictures. Well, your wish is my command.
I decided that our first order of business in the finally returning community of ch_astronomy is some elements of space itself. I figured that it would probably be easier, and possibly more interesting, to look at it from the viewpoint of Muggle technology. (Psst, thanks iknowthyself !)
Section A: The Space Race Begins
In October, 1957, the whole world watched in awe as the former Soviet Union beat the Americans in the space race to launch the first artificial satellite into the earth's atmosphere. The satellite consisted of a 23-inch steel ball that weighed 184 pounds. Attached to this steel ball were four antennae that ranged from 2.2 to 2.6 yards long. This satellite had many functions: it gathered information about the Earth's lonosphere and the temperatures of outer space.
Section B: The Vanguard Program
After the Soviet's completed and successful launch of the Sputnik, the US was pressured to start its own version of the Space Race. The Department Defense thought up two programs. One was a dismal failure; the other was a great success. The Vanguard Program successfully launched two satellites into orbit. The first sattelite was nicknamed "The Grapefruit" by the former Soviet Union.
Section C: The Explorer Program
In January 1958, the US finally made a breakthrough in the Space Race. Explorer 1 successfully launched a satellite into the earth's atmosphere. The Explorer is the longest space program to date, ranging from the year 1958 to 1984. However, the Space Shuttle missions have just about caught up with them. The Shuttle missions began in 1981...but more about the shuttle later. The Explorer satellites were and are providing us with a wealth of information about the earth.
Homework:
Answer at least three of the five review questions in each section. You can use any source you like, just as long as you cite them. Each completed assignment must have a minimum of nine answered questions; however, if you wish you may complete all fifteen.
The review questions are as follows:
Section A:
1) What was the name of the first satellite in outer space?
2) What was the speed of the satellite?
3) How often did the satellite orbit the earth?
4) Who led the effort to launch the satellite?
5) What is the English translation of the satellite's name?
Section B:
1) What was the name of the first successful space program alluded to in this section?
2) When was the first attempted Vanguard launch?
3) What happened to the first attempt?
4) When was the second Vanguard launch?
5) What happened to the second attempt?
Section C:
1) Name three things the Explorer satellites are providing information about?
2) How many Explorer satellites have been launched?
3) How long after the Sputnik satellite launch did the US launch the first Explorer satellite?
4) Who was the brains behind the rocket used in the first Explorer mission?
5) How much did the Explorer 1 satellite weigh?
Bonus Points:
Provide one picture of the Sputnik, Vanguard, and Explorer satellites. This part is totally optional, but it is worth easy points, and will hopefully provide a better understanding of the material. You can send in a picture for any of the satellites that you wish--a select one, two, or all three of them. However, only provide one of each.
Points Available:
Each correct response to the review questions will earn five points towards your House. An incorrect response will not be awarded any points. You can earn a maximum of 75 points for this section, given that you answer all fifteen questions correctly.
Each picture sent in will be worth ten points toward your House. If you do not send a picture for all three satellites, it will not count against you. You can earn a maximum of 30 points for this section.
Maximum Points: 105 (includes answering all fifteen questions correctly and doing the Bonus Points section)
Minimum Points: 45, give or take.
Due Tuesday, December 12th, 2006, midnight ET.
Please remember to include your name and House when you turn in the assignment. Cite your sources, please! Failure to do so will result in a loss of points. All comments will be screened until I award House points.
Have fun!