ASTR 4800 – Space Science:
Practice & Policy
Spring 2008
Duane E-126
MWF 9:00 – 9:50 am
Professor Jack Burns, Ph.D.
Department of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences
Office: Duane D311
Office Hours: MW 10:00-11:00 pm or by appointment
Phone: 303-735-0963
E-mail: jack.burns@cu.edu
Web page: http://solo.colorado.edu/~jaburns
Required Texts: The Heaven and the Earth: A Political History
of the Space Age, 1997 by
Walter A. McDougall, Johns
Course
Description: Students will be exposed to current controversies in
science that illustrate the scientific method and the interplay of observation,
theory, and science policy. Students will research and debate both sides of the
issues, which include strategies and spin-offs of space exploration, funding of
science, big vs. small science, and scientific heresy and fraud. Approved
for the arts and sciences core curriculum: critical thinking.
Course
Prerequisites: ASTR 1110 and 1120, or equivalent, or PHYS 1110 and
1120, or PHYS 2010 and 2020.
Course
Objectives:
1.
How does NASA’s
history give us perspective on the Agency’s present programs and its Vision for
Space Exploration?
2.
What is the
rationale for federal support of scientific research in space, in particular,
astronomy? What fraction of the federal budget goes to basic science? To
astronomy? What federal agencies support astronomy and what are their missions?
3.
How do scientists
interact with policymakers in Congress and the White House? How are scientific
priorities established? How is the budget allocated? How/when do scientists
bring issues to the attention of policy makers? How/when do policy makers seek
information from scientists?
4.
What are the
scientific objectives, costs, and scientific impact of current space astronomy
instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Cassini, and such future
missions such as the New Horizons Pluto probe and lunar-based telescopes?
Strategies for Reaching
the Objectives:
· Text
chapters and other web materials should be read and thoughtfully analyzed
before class so that you are prepared to discuss issues, articulate insights,
evaluate others’ ideas, and defend your own ideas. Participate in
discussions of topics by asking original questions, bringing in outside
research articles to share with the class, and relating your own experiences or
observations.
· Find
time to read updates and articles on NASA and the space program at least
weekly. You will be asked to discuss one or more such articles in class
and how these articles relate to the learning objectives. Some potential
resources include Space News (published weekly and in the library) as
well as on-line sites such www.space.com, www.spacedaily.com, www.thespacereview.com, and http://science.nasa.gov.
· Make
PowerPoint presentation to the class at least once during the semester showing
your in-depth research on one of the themes, topics, missions, policies, or
science issues in the class schedule (see last section of this syllabus).
· Begin
research early on your mid-term and final papers.
· Late assignments will not
be accepted unless arrangements were made in advance.
Class Web page: http://solo.colorado.edu/jaburns/Astr4800Sp09
Exams: Short essay
examinations will be given twice during the semester, the first about a third
of the way through the class and the second about two-thirds of the way through
the semester. These exams will ask you to discuss, analyze, and interpret
issues presented in class.
Homeworks: Homework
assignments will given on occasion throughout the semester. These assignments may include calculations,
short essays, and interpretations of articles.
Class Presentations: Every
student will make at least one PowerPoint presentation to the class on one of a
topics described below under Planned Class Schedule or will participate as part
of a team in one of the debate topics.
Careful preparation, including at least one meeting with the Professor,
good presentation materials, practice, and reading materials for the class will
all contribute to this portion of the grade.
Papers: Two papers will be written during the
semester. The first midterm paper is a 5
page essay on your choice of topics relating broadly to Space Science and/or
Space Policy; topics must be approved in advance. The final paper, in lieu of a Final Exam,
will be a 10 page essay that will describe your vision of NASA if you were
selected as the new NASA Administrator in the Obama Administration (including
vision, goals, programs, budget, Congressional strategy).
Daily class attendance is
expected and is an individual responsibility. An occasional interview or
illness may cause you to miss class, but excessive absences will be penalized
in the point distribution system. If you need to miss class, please let me know
before class via E-mail or a written note.
Religious
Observances:
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires
that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students
who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams,
assignments or required attendance. In this class, please contact me in
advance of the religious observation to make arrangements. See details at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html.
Discrimination
and Harassment:
Classroom
Behavior:
Students and faculty each have responsibility for
maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to
such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy
and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics
dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual
orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor
with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you
by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference
early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my
records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html
and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code.
Academic Integrity:
All students of the
When in doubt about
plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, consult with me.
Disability Services:
If you qualify for
accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from
Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be
addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on
documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
Disability Services’ letters for students with disabilities indicate legally
mandated reasonable accommodations. The syllabus statements and answers
to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
E-Mail:
I will be communicating
weekly with you via E-mail on class assignments, reading articles, paper
preparation, etc. It is essential that you log onto your official
CU E-mail account at least twice weekly to read these communications!
Grading:
20% Class participation, homeworks, and Space
in the News presentations.
25% Exams
20% Class Presentation
35% Mid-term and final papers
Schedule of Student
Presentations (click here).
Schedule of Space
in the News Presentations (click here).
Space in the
News articles web link here!
Planned Class Schedule
1. Week 1
(January 12-16): Overview of Space Science & Space Policy
·
January 12
Introductions and Course
Overview, Syllabus
·
January
14 Overview
of Space Policy
o
·
January
16 Introduction
to Outer Space
o
o
o
Homework #1 (link here)
2. Week 2
(January 19-23): Beginnings of the Space Race – Before Sputnik
·
January 19 Martin
Luther King Day – No
class.
·
January
21 The
o
·
January
23 The
o
o
Web
links: Inflation
calculator and AAAS
Federal Budget Analysis for FY08/09
3. Week
3 (January 26-30): NASA Emerges from the Cold War
·
January
26 The
Endless Frontier (student presentation)
o
o
o
·
January
28 Why
Does the
o
·
January
30 The
Birth of NASA
o
o
Reading:
“Eisenhower
Farewell Address” (web link)
4. Week 4
(February 2-6):
·
February
2 Khrushchev
and U.S.S.R. Space Policies
o
·
February 4 The
Many Faces of Hubble – Meet at Fiske Planetarium
o
·
February 6 Kennedy’s Vision for the
U.S. Space Program
o
5. Week 5
(February 9-13): The Apollo Program
·
February 9 The Apollo Program
o
·
February
11 A
Conversation with Apollo 17 Astronaut (and former U.S. Senator) Dr. Harrison
(Jack) Schmitt
o
o
·
February 13 Legacies of Apollo
o
6. Week 6
(February 16-20): The Space Shuttle
·
February
16 History
and Accomplishments of the Space Shuttle Program (student presentation)
o
·
February
18 A
View from the Cockpit of the Space Shuttle – A conversation with Shuttle Pilot
Admiral Richard Truly, former NASA Administrator
o
·
February 20 Servicing of the Hubble
Space Telescope from the Shuttle – A conversation with Shuttle Astronaut Dr.
John Grunsfeld.
o
7. Week 7
(February 23-27): Funding for Research, Education, and NASA
·
February
23 NASA’s
Budget
o
Reading:
Summary of NASA’s
Budget Request for FY09 (web link here)
·
February 25 National Academy Report
“Rising Above the Gathering Storm” – A conversation with Norm Augustine, former
CEO of Lockheed-Martin.
o
o
·
February
27 Overview
of how NASA’s budget bill is passed through the Congress (student panel)
o
Reading:
Chapter 4 in Beyond Sputnik
8. Week 8
(March 2-6): Mock House Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics Hearing
·
March 2 Exam
1—Solutions here!
·
March 4-6 Overview
of how NASA’s budget bill is passed through Congress & Mock Hearing of the
House Science Committee (student panel)
o
View
video of hearing
on NASA’s FY09 budget request before the House Science Committee (click on
webcast on right side)
o
Reading:
Burns Testimony on “NASA’s
Science Programs: Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request”
o
Pictures here of the in-class Mock
Hearing.
·
March 5 Fiske
Planetarium show on “Dr. Einstein’s Universe” by J. Burns at 7:30 pm. Extra credit for attendance!
9. Week 9
(March 9-13): NASA’s Plans for Space Exploration
·
March 9 Back to the Moon, Back to
the Future – Fiske Planetarium Lecture by J. Burns
o
·
March
11 NASA’s
Constellation System – A Conversation with NASA ESMD Budget Director Andrew
Hunter (CU alumnus)
o
o
Reading: Review NASA’s webpage on Constellation
(web link here).
o
Pictures
of Constellation
component construction & testing (web link here).
·
March 13 NASA’s Exploration Roadmap
(student presentation)
o
o
Midterm paper due
10.Week
10 (March 16-20): Mars
·
March 16 What have we learned so far
about Mars? (student presentation)
o
·
March 18 Robotic Exploration of Mars
– Guest Lecture by Professor Brian Hynek, LASP/Geology
o
·
March 20 Spitzer Space Telescope
(student presentation)
o
11.Week
11 (March 23-27): Spring Break!
12.Week 12
(March 30 – April 3): Robotic Exploration of the Solar System
·
March 30 Messenger at Mercury
(student presentation)
o
·
April 1 Cassini
at Saturn (student presentation)
o
·
April 3 Exam
2 – Exam solutions here!
13.Week 13
(April 6-10): Science with Flagship Telescopes
·
April 6 JWST
(Dennis Ebbets, Ball Aerospace)
o
·
April 8 Fermi/GLAST (student presentation)
o
·
April 10 Q&A
Session with recent NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin
(tentative)
o
14.Week 14
(April 13-17): Search for Life in the Universe
·
April
13 Life
in the Universe Debate(student presentation)
o
·
April 15 New Worlds Observer
(Professor
o
·
April 17 The European Space Agency
o
15.Week 15
(April 20-24): The Sun and Space Weather
·
April
20 The
Space Scientist as an Honest Broker in Space Policy – guest lecture by
Professor Roger Pielke, CU Center for Science & Technology Policy Research
o
·
April 22 Space Radiation Hazards –
Dr. Scot Elkington, CU LASP
o
·
April 24 Astrobiology - Professor
Bruce Jakosky, Geology and CU LASP
o
16.Week 16
(April 27 – May 1): Global Warming & Debate on Climate Change
·
April 27 Student Debate on Global
Climate Change
o
·
April 29 Global Warming – Guest Lecture by
Professor Lisa Dilling, CU Environmental Studies
o
·
May 1 The
NASA Advisory Council and Summary Class Discussion
o
Final Paper due