Rocket Science: National Aeronautic and Space Administration - Essay Example

Physics (including Earth and space sciences) 19 November Rocket Science NASA stands for National Aeronautic and Space Administration. It was established in 1958, as a part of the United States government (“what is NASA,” nasa.gov), where the agency is in charge of the United States science and technology that deals with airplanes and space. For over four decades, NASA has undertaken a number of successful human space flight programs. The role of NASA and ways it could implement to achieve its goals was redefined by President Barak Obama. Some of the current NASA plans for the manned space flight program include Tier One, this aircraft is the newest project, and the in-house name of this program was known as Tier One. This name was not uncommon as Rutan had used it earlier with , `Tie One`, `Tier Two ‘and `Tier Three to designate what he termed as “fun factory “of a program. When Tier One was established, the company would bid on the other two Tiers, because they were motivational programs for the employees; this program helped him to retain his skilled employees (Clarke and Linehan 20) and this program had two vehicles. The reason behind calling the Spaceship One program Tier One was that Rutan wanted the program to be fun. When the program began to entertain, the idea was to come up with other manned spacecrafts, because it was a good breakdown and defined that if they did programs in the future to send people to Earth`s Orbit, it would be called Tier Two (20). The spaceship and carrier aircraft were therefore named; the spacecraft was Rutan Model 318 and the aircraft Model 318. The Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft is similar in design to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. “Shenzhou is 9.3 meters long…… and weighs about 7840 kg” (Gregersen 74). The launch of this vehicle was the Chang Zheng 2F, this version of CZ-2F was developed for Shenzhou program. The first Shenzhou mission was unmanned test flights launched over duration of three years that is between1999-2002. Shenzhou was launched on October 15, 2003 and carried the first Chinese Astronaut, Pilot Yang (Gregersen 74). China became the third country after Russia and the United States to launch a manned spacecraft. Shenzhou 6 was launched on October 12, 2005; the Shenzhou 7 was launched on September 25, 2008. The future plans for the Shenzhou program includes complex rendezvous maneuvers and the assembly of a space station in Shenzhou 8 and a laboratory module, Tiangong 1(Gregersen 74). The International Space Station is an American space program; it has expanded the human acquaintances, advanced our understanding about the universe, and the production of technological advances that have benefited all humanity. The new course of the American program has given NASA focus and vision for future exploration. According to Catchpole, NASA’s first goal was “to complete the International Space Station by 2010…... the second goal was to develop and test a new spacecraft……. and to conduct the first manned mission no later than 2014” (155). The third goal is to return to the moon by 2020, as a launching point for mission beyond NASA has established plans aimed at helping the agency sort through a number of decisions relating to retirement and transition. These aspects are focused on the NASA`s transition management structure and supplier base. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, NASA has developed an agency-level transition plan and a space shuttle program, which has demonstrated an effort to establish a strategy for managing change (NASA Supplier Base 6). Monitoring risks at different levels of the agency is among key issues addressed in the plan. The other issue that was addressed was the decision related to transitioning the supplier based on the space shuttle program to the constellation program. Recently, NASA approved the space shuttle program transition management plan: that defines how the space shuttle program should organize and manage its retirement that supports the overall vision.The International Space Station is one of the nation`s largest research and development projects. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, the challenges facing NASA are based on performance and accountability. The first challenge involves strengthening strategic human capital management. NASA is facing a shortage in its workforce, which will worsen as the workforce continues to age and the talent continues to die. This dilemma is pronounced in vital areas hindering its ability to perform its mission. NASA is addressing these challenges through its strategic plans, and through its workforce planning and analysis system (GAO, “Information Technology” 7 ). The United States Government Accountability Office asserts that development costs for an international space station rose to the point where NASA has had to reduce the program considerably, in addition to reducing the number crew members, construction, and scientific research (Information Technology 7). These reductions have raised issues among NASA international partners, who have massive interests in the research to be carried out in the station. Space launch costs were also reduced and contract management improved. An amendment to NASA `s budget request for fiscal year 2003 was submitted by the administration. The amendment prolongs the life of the space shuttle and improves its dependability, aids the growth of a new vehicle for transporting crew to and from the station and changes the time frame for a shuttle substitute (GAO, “Information Technology” 7). To improve contract management, NASA uses most of its funds on purchasing items. For a long time, the agency lacked precise and dependable information making it unable to manage contracts efficiently. The agency also had very few concerns on cost control, product performance, and end results. NASA has therefore placed more emphasis on many acquisition-related weakness, and it’s currently facing sound contract management (GAO, “Information Technology” 8).All these challenges affect NASA`s ability to effectively run the largest program. The agency has an increased aging workforce that is affecting science and the engineering expertise on its mission. However, cost overruns have primarily prevented NASA from achieving its main goal with the International Space Station. What NASA is doing is good; this is because it’s not easy to manage a company that needs millions of dollars to operate. Challenges have faced the agency and have affected the company, in their decision making, in their goals, and vision. Other than the challenges, the agency has faced many advantages that have boosted NASA and its environs in many ways; the public in general has also gained from the benefits that come with the usage of NASA aircrafts. In conclusion, NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration), is in charge of the U.S science and Technology that deals with Airplanes and space shuttles. NASA has come up with many manned programs that transport the Humans to space and the orbit of the earth; before these programs were launched they used the unmanned program that couldn’t allow people to travel to the moon and space. International space station is an American space program, which expands the human knowledge, revolutionized the understanding on the universe. It has given NASA the focus and vision for future exploration. This program was completed in 2010; their goals were to develop and test a new spacecraft and to conduct a manned mission no later than the year 2014 and finally to return to the moon by 2020. Some of the challenges that they face are: poor control of International space station costs, poor contract management and weak strategic human capital management. NASA has come up with some of the solutions for they weakness and they are: strengthening strategic human capital management, improving contract management, controlling International space station costs and strengthening strategic human capital management. Works Cited Catchpole, John E. The International Space Station: Building for the Future. Chichester: Praxis Publishing Limited, 2008. Print. GAO. Information Technology Architecture needed to guide NASA`s Financial Management Modernization. Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office, November 2003. Print. GAO. Major Management challenges and program risks: Department of transportation. Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office, 2001. Print. GAO. NASA Supplier Base: Challenges Exist in Transitioning from the Space Shuttle Program to the Next Generation of Human Space Flight Systems. Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office, July 2007. Print. GAO. Performance and accountability reported agency actions and plans to address2001 management challenges and program risk: Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office, 2002. Print. Gregersen, Erick. Manned Spaceflight. New York: Britannica Educational Publishing, 2010. Print.  Jones &Barlett Learning. Exploring Space: The High Frontier. Sudbary: Higher Education, 2010. Print. Linehan, Dan and Clarke, Arthur. SpaceShipOne: An Illustrated History. Minneapolis: Zenith Press, 2008. Print. “What is NASA.” nasa.gov. 18 July 2011. Web. 20 November 2012. Read More