Topic selection
Choose a topic that fits the scope of your assignment. Too
broad and you will never be able to adequately deal with the real issues. Too
narrow and you will end up repeating yourself endlessly. Look for these in your
Wikipedia article:
- articles with 20-80 references.
- articles 3-10 pages long (excluding references).
Pitches
A pitch a very short (2-3 sentences) way of convincing
someone that you should be allowed to pursue a project. Your pitch should talk
about:
- what aspects interests you about this topic
- why this topic is important (or why more research needs to be done on it).
Example: Space
elevators provide a way to reach space for a fraction of the current cost.
Space elevators will further the cause of space exploration, and provide a way
for everyday citizens to reach the stars.
Proposals
A proposal informs the reader of a specific topic,
illustrates the writer’s expertise, and illuminates the issues surrounding the
topic. Include the following parts in your proposal:
- Background: Introduce the topic by hitting the major points.
- Expertise: Go in-depth, demonstrating a thorough knowledge. Detail specific aspects, and why they’re important.
- Issues: What are the different sides (more than two!)? What does each side want, and why? What are the stakes? What happens if a side doesn’t see success for their view?
- Works Cited: Cite your sources as instructed.
The Realities of a Space Elevator (Example Proposal, yes,
you must create a title)
The concept of a space elevator was first proposed in
1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky as a structure like the Eiffel Tower. The idea
underwent a radical change in 1959 when Yuri N. Artsutanov proposed a
counterweighted cable design. This changes the concept from a compression
structure—like most buildings—to a tethered structure—-like a taut rope. Rockets
currently cost from $4,300/kg to $40,000/kg per launch, whereas the predicted
cost of a space elevator would be $220/kg (“Space Elevator”).
The main construction problem of the elevator has always
been the material. Up until the recent inventions of carbon nanotubes and the
stronger diamond nanothreads, no material has been able to bear the weight of
the cable itself. The cable will need to “reach a geostationary altitude of
35,786 km (22,236 mi)” (“Space Elevator”)—roughly a trip around the world—without
snapping. Longer cables have also been proposed to aid in deep space
exploration.
Not
only must the cable bear its own weight, it must bear the weight of the
elevator car (called a climber) as well. These climbers will be quite large and
heavy as they have to transport equipment as well as people, be able to make
the climb in a reasonable amount of time, and have the power to make the climb.
Unlike a normal elevator ride, a climber traveling “at the speed of a very fast
car or train of 300 km/h (190 mph) it will take about 5 days to climb to
geosynchronous orbit” (“Space Elevator”). Climbers will also need an efficient
power source to make the journey
Space elevators must also have mechanisms in place to
deal with potentially catastrophic events such as: weather, satellites,
corrosion, radiation, and vibration, just to name a few (“Space Elevator
Safety”). Mechanisms such as these add complexity to an already complicated
project, and a failure at any point will likely destroy the entire elevator,
resulting in the loss of the financial and time investment, the services of the
elevator as a way of reaching orbit, and human lives.
Many
challenges surround this technology, all of which prove a barrier to it ever
being developed. With concerns of the cost of development, safety, legal
implications, and military considerations, space elevators have a lot to
overcome. Politicians don’t consider it a practical consideration especially
with legal and international concerns. Scientists think it is the only practical consideration given the
prohibitive costs of rockets. The general public considers the elevator a waste
of money given the huge initial cost. The public’s growing disinterest in all
things space related also means that expensive rockets will also be cut, so the
long-term cost savings doesn’t matter to them. But there is a reality to
consider. Consumer electronics have a growing dependency on satellite connectivity,
so a low-cost option is necessary for the future. The public and politicians
will need to find common ground with the scientists’ desire for space
exploration at a reasonable cost. The space elevator may be humanity’s next
great construction project, like the pyramids or the Colosseum.
Works Cited (this will be on a separate page for your
proposal)
“Space Elevator” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
“Space Elevator Safety” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator_safety
