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80 Space Research Paper Topics: Ideas for Astronomical Grades!

space topics

Why space research? The universe is replete with worlds apart from the planet earth. From our historical ancestors discovering fire to modern man exploring space, inquisitiveness has been vital to the innovation and exploration of our universe, and the survival and advancement of the human species. Space science has become increasingly popular over the years. With the study of outer space and space discoveries piling up by the day, it is essential to be able to write an essay on space. Writing on any topic about space will require that you are abreast of the latest space discoveries.

Writing a space essay would require that you have a working knowledge of other types of essays that we have described in our previous posts. For example, knowing how to write a descriptive essay will help in an article on the study of objects in space, while knowledge of how to write an argumentative essay will come in handy when writing an essay on controversial space topics. If you’re not sure you can do all this on your own, get college thesis writing help .

Coming Up With Great Space Topics

Space race topics, space research topics, space exploration topics, space topics for presentation, controversial space topics, earth and space science topics, astronomy research paper topics, astronomy essay topics, space arguable research topics, space science investigative essay topics.

Before writing an article on space study, you need to choose the right space topic. Choosing appropriate space topics is critical to the success of your space essay as the right topic will give you the luxury of a better flow of ideas. For this reason, we have crafted 80 topics about space that will make writing a space essay easy. You can never get bored while working on these interesting space topics because you will learn to explore and study space as you’ve never done before. These 80 cool space topics will come in handy in any space essay you plan to write.

Writing a space race essay is an excellent place to start if you want to explore the events that lead to the explosive growth of the space industry. The space race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to attain the capability of space flight from the period of 1955 to 1975. If you’re interested in going back in time to tell these space stories uniquely, these space race topics will surely land you on the moon!

  • The 1955 Space Race: Its Pros and Cons on the Rival Countries.
  • The 1955 Space Race: Its Enduring Impact on Modern Space Technology and Travel.
  • The 1955 Space Race: A Battle for Supremacy.
  • How the Space Race Transformed America.
  • The 1955 Space Race: The reason the Soviet Union lost to the USA.

Space research has become popular over the last decades. It is an extensive research field that seeks to study outer space scientifically. Research topics about space are relatively easy to find considering the broad research areas, which include: Earth observations, Geodesy, Atmospheric Sciences, Space physics, Planetology, Astronomy, Materials sciences, Life sciences, and Physics. Space research paper topics must stimulate and birth inquiry and answer compelling questions. Are you ready to get on the space shuttle? Here are some space research topics to help you!

  • 2000 – 2010: A successful Decade in Astronomy?
  • The Theory of Relativity in Space.
  • UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Fact or Fiction?
  • Space Colonization: Reasons, Goals, and Methods.
  • Big Bang Theory: The Birth of the Universe?

Space exploration is the investigation of outer space with the use of space technology and astronomy. While the study of space is carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration is carried out by both robotic space probes and human spaceflight. Writing a space exploration essay opens your imagination to the wonders of outer space. You sure need to be ready for the unexpected! Here are some space exploration topics to whet your adventurous appetite!

  • The Need for Continuous Space Exploration.
  • Space Exploration: Differences between the then and now.
  • Space Exploration: Its Importance to the Knowledge of the Earth and Universe.
  • Space Exploration: Operations and Future Exploration Plans.
  • The Importance of Unmanned Space Exploration.

Giving a presentation or seminar on space could be quite dicey. It requires that you can make complex phenomena appeal to the mind of your listeners. To be able to do this, you need to have a considerable amount of knowledge in any of the space science topics that you choose. A tip will be to choose topics that your audience will easily relate to, prepare adequately, and remember that you’re communicating with earthlings. Here are some space topics for a presentation that will earn you the respect of the extraterrestrials!

  • The Earth and Universe.
  • Getting the Big Picture from the Study of Dwarf Galaxies.
  • History of Astronomy: A scientific Overview.
  • What Exists in Space beyond our Solar Neighborhood.
  • Future Space Missions: A look into what they should be.

Something as big as space study does not come without its controversies. Space exploration and travel are not without their risks and benefits. Many believe that robots, instead of humans, should man shuttles for space travel because of the risk space travel poses to humans. Many people also see space study as a sheer waste of time and resources and think it better to channel these vast amounts of money to more critical areas like health and education. All these different views and more, are what make space study a controversial topic. Here are some controversial space topics that will give you a hang of what to discuss in a space-related debate. Some of these topics could also be helpful in a space travel essay.

  • Space Travel: At the Expense of our Health, Earth, and Future?
  • Space Travel: A thing for Robots or Humans?
  • Space Research: A Pointless Adventure and Waste of Resources?
  • Earth and the Search for Other Habitable Planets.
  • Science Versus Religion: The Big Bang?

Earth and Space Science or ESS, for short, connects systems by exploring the interrelationships between the land, atmosphere, ocean, and life on Earth. These include the water cycle, carbon cycle, rock cycle, and other materials that continually influence, shape, and sustain the earth. Here are some new earth and space science topics just for you!

  • The Interactions between Weather and Climate.
  • The Process of Rock Formation and Erosion.
  • Plate Tectonics: An In-depth Exploration.
  • Natural Catastrophes: Its consequence on the Ecosystem.
  • The Moon and Sun: Effects on Ocean Tides.

There are two fields of study in carrying out astronomical research – the observational and theoretical fields of astronomy. Observation primarily deals with the study and monitoring of actual celestial objects in space like stars, planets, moons, and asteroids.

Theoretical dwells more on creating and studying models of astronomy that cannot be observed and haven’t been properly seen. Some astronomy research paper topics include;

  • What happens during a solar eclipse?
  • What are the major factors responsible for the solar eclipse?
  • What should you expect during a lunar eclipse
  • What lies beyond our visible universe
  • Light and its dimension in space
  • The lunar cycle – how does it function?
  • Understanding solar system, sun, and the planets
  • What is astrophysics?
  • What are the different grand unification theories?
  • The latitude and longitude of the earth.
  • Fast mode, slow mode, and nonlinear effects

Celestial bodies like the sun, moon, other planets, and relatively closer objects in space are examined and comprehensively written upon under astronomy. Examples of astronomy essay topics include;

  • How our planet came to exist
  • How solar flares occur
  • Our solar system, in broad view
  • The effect of the moon on our oceans
  • How stars are born
  • What are the different types of stars in existence?
  • Understanding molecular cloud
  • How does the universe accelerate?
  • Understanding cosmic acceleration and galaxy cluster growth
  • Hubble constant and dark energy theories
  • Formation, evolution, and destruction of clouds in galaxies
  • What is the meridian and transit circle?

The mystery of what occurs inside a black hole is still up for debate, and so are other astronomical events. These form the bulk of space arguable research topics, which discuss things yet to be fully understood. Some space arguable research topics include;

  • What is truly beyond the Milky Way?
  • What is antimatter?
  • Why does space keep expanding?
  • How long does it take to travel the space?
  • The physics behind a black hole.
  • Is earth the most prominent of all the planets?
  • How do people who live on other planets survive?
  • Is Pluto an official planet or not?
  • Should the journey to Mars be opened to everyone?
  • What do astronauts eat while in space?
  • Is Pluto a dwarf planet?
  • A detailed analysis of the 2012 transit of Venus
  • What are the best defenses against killer asteroids?
  • Interplanetary matter and how to relate it to space activities.

Space is so vast and mysterious that there’s a lot to uncover with events to monitor and investigate. Creating agencies like NASA and the first mission to the moon was born out of curiosity about our place in this vast universe. Some space science investigative essay topics you could present include;

  • How does the sun affect our water bodies?
  • Where do asteroids come from?
  • Molecular Cloud: Molecules, Properties, and Distribution
  • How do solar systems with two stars operate?
  • Is there an earth-like planet in the nearest solar system?
  • Would we ever discover aliens?
  • Conducting exoplanet research
  • What is interstellar extinction?
  • What are the essentials needed for space travel?
  • Beyond this realm – understanding extraterrestrial life.
  • What is a deep impact mission?
  • Understanding the structure of the solar chromosphere.
  • An analysis of the Wilson-Bappu effect
  • What is a color index?

So here we are! 80 awesome space topics absolutely for free! Hopefully, you’ve got the perfect topic for your assignment or project. Keep shining like the star that you are! If you need more ideas, please check the following graduate project ideas .

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100+ Space Research Topics [Updated]

space research topics

Space has always attracted humanity’s imagination. The vastness of the cosmos, with its twinkling stars, mysterious planets, and enigmatic black holes, beckons us to explore its depths. But why do we study space? What are the research topics that drive scientists to reach for the stars? In this blog, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of space research topics, exploring key topics that continue to inspire and challenge researchers around the globe.

Why Do We Study Space?

Table of Contents

Here are some key points explaining why we study space:

  • Understanding our Origins: Space research helps us uncover the origins of the universe, including how galaxies, stars, and planets formed.
  • Advancing Scientific Knowledge: Studying space leads to breakthroughs in physics, astronomy, and other scientific fields, expanding our understanding of the cosmos.
  • Technological Innovation: Space exploration drives the development of new technologies, such as satellite communication and medical imaging, benefiting society as a whole.
  • Exploration and Discovery: Humans are inherently curious, and space offers a vast frontier for exploration, fueling our desire to discover new worlds and phenomena.
  • Earth Observation: Space-based observations provide valuable data on Earth’s climate, weather patterns, and environmental changes, aiding in disaster management and conservation efforts.
  • Search for Life: Investigating other planets and celestial bodies helps us understand the conditions necessary for life, potentially leading to the discovery of extraterrestrial life forms.
  • Inspiration and Education: Space exploration inspires future generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers, fostering innovation and curiosity about the universe.

100+ Space Research Topics: Category Wise

Astronomy and astrophysics.

  • Exoplanet detection methods and recent discoveries
  • The life cycle of stars: from birth to death
  • Supermassive black holes and their role in galaxy formation
  • Gravitational waves: detection and implications
  • Dark matter and dark energy: understanding the mysteries of the universe
  • Supernovae explosions: studying the aftermath of stellar deaths
  • Galactic dynamics: exploring the structure and evolution of galaxies
  • Cosmic microwave background radiation: insights into the early universe
  • Gamma-ray bursts: uncovering the most energetic explosions in the cosmos
  • The search for extrasolar planets with potential habitable conditions

Planetary Science

  • Martian geology and the search for signs of past life
  • Jupiter’s Great Red Spot: dynamics and longevity
  • Saturn’s rings: composition, structure, and origin
  • Lunar exploration: past missions and future prospects
  • Venusian atmosphere: understanding the greenhouse effect and extreme conditions
  • Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto: Jupiter’s diverse moons
  • Titan: Saturn’s moon with an Earth-like atmosphere and hydrocarbon lakes
  • The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud: reservoirs of comets and icy bodies
  • Dwarf planets: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres
  • Planetary volcanism: processes and consequences on various celestial bodies

Space Technology and Engineering

  • Satellite constellations for global internet coverage
  • CubeSats: miniaturized satellites for scientific research and technology demonstration
  • Space debris mitigation strategies and technologies
  • Ion propulsion systems: efficient propulsion for deep space missions
  • Space telescopes: next-generation observatories for astronomy and astrophysics
  • Space-based solar power: harvesting solar energy in orbit
  • Asteroid mining: extracting resources from near-Earth objects
  • In-situ resource utilization on other planets and moons
  • Additive manufacturing (3D printing) in space exploration
  • Autonomous spacecraft navigation and control for long-duration missions

Astrobiology and the Search for Life

  • Extremophiles: organisms thriving in extreme environments on Earth and their implications for extraterrestrial life
  • Biosignatures: markers of past or present life on other planets
  • Methanogenesis on Mars: potential evidence for subsurface microbial life
  • Europa’s subsurface ocean: exploring the possibility of life beneath the ice
  • Enceladus: hydrothermal vents and the search for life in its subsurface ocean
  • The habitability of exoplanets: assessing conditions for life beyond the solar system
  • Panspermia: the transfer of life between celestial bodies
  • Astrobiology field research in extreme environments on Earth
  • SETI: the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and communication
  • The implications of discovering microbial life on Mars or other celestial bodies

Space Policy and Ethics

  • International collaboration in space exploration and research
  • The Outer Space Treaty: principles governing the use of outer space
  • Space tourism regulations and safety considerations
  • Space law and jurisdiction: legal frameworks for activities in space
  • Military applications of space technology and potential arms race in space
  • Space resource utilization and ownership rights
  • Space environmentalism: advocating for the protection of celestial bodies and their environments
  • Space colonization ethics and implications for human societies
  • Space governance beyond national boundaries
  • Cultural heritage preservation on the Moon and other celestial bodies

Challenges and Future Directions

  • Funding challenges and opportunities in space research and exploration
  • Space radiation hazards and mitigation strategies for astronauts
  • Interplanetary communication and navigation for deep space missions
  • Long-duration spaceflight: physiological and psychological effects on astronauts
  • Terraforming Mars: engineering a habitable environment on the Red Planet
  • Space elevator concept: a revolutionary approach to space access
  • Next-generation space launch vehicles and propulsion technologies
  • Nuclear propulsion for crewed missions to Mars and beyond
  • Space settlement design and infrastructure requirements
  • Advancing artificial intelligence and robotics for autonomous space exploration

Space Weather and Space Environment

  • Solar flares and coronal mass ejections: impacts on Earth’s magnetosphere and technology
  • Space weather forecasting and its applications in satellite operations
  • Magnetospheres of Earth and other planets: comparative studies and dynamics
  • Solar wind interactions with planetary atmospheres and magnetospheres
  • Aurora phenomena on Earth and other planets
  • Radiation belts: understanding and mitigating hazards for spacecraft and astronauts
  • Cosmic rays: sources, composition, and effects on space missions
  • Space climate change: long-term variations in solar activity and their consequences
  • Space weather effects on satellite communications, navigation, and power systems
  • Space weather monitoring and prediction networks

Space Exploration and Missions

  • Mars Sample Return mission: challenges and scientific objectives
  • Artemis program: NASA’s plans for returning astronauts to the Moon
  • Asteroid impact mitigation strategies and planetary defense initiatives
  • The James Webb Space Telescope: capabilities and scientific goals
  • Europa Clipper mission: exploring Jupiter’s icy moon for signs of habitability
  • China’s Chang’e lunar exploration program: past achievements and future missions
  • Commercial crew and cargo transportation to the International Space Station
  • Voyager and Pioneer missions: the farthest human-made objects in space
  • Space missions to study near-Earth objects and potential asteroid mining targets
  • International Mars exploration collaborations and missions

Space Communication and Navigation

  • Deep space communication networks and relay satellites
  • Laser communication technology for high-speed data transmission in space
  • Satellite-based navigation systems: GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS
  • Interplanetary Internet: protocols and architectures for space communications
  • Radio astronomy and interferometry: probing the universe with radio waves
  • Quantum communication in space: secure and ultra-fast communication channels
  • Delay-tolerant networking for deep space missions
  • Autonomous navigation systems for spacecraft and rovers
  • Optical communications for small satellites and CubeSats
  • Space-to-ground communication systems for remote sensing and Earth observation satellites

Space Medicine and Human Spaceflight

  • Microgravity effects on human physiology and health
  • Countermeasures for mitigating bone and muscle loss in space
  • Psychological challenges of long-duration space missions
  • Space food technology: nutrition and sustainability in space
  • Medical emergencies in space: protocols and procedures for astronaut health care
  • Radiation shielding and protection for crewed missions beyond Earth orbit
  • Sleep and circadian rhythms in space: optimizing astronaut performance
  • Artificial gravity concepts for maintaining crew health on long-duration missions
  • Telemedicine applications for space exploration missions
  • Bioastronautics research: advancing human spaceflight capabilities and safety

Space Industry and Commercialization

  • NewSpace companies: the rise of private space exploration ventures
  • Satellite constellation deployments for global internet coverage
  • Space tourism: opportunities, challenges, and market trends
  • Commercial spaceports and launch facilities around the world
  • Space manufacturing and in-space assembly techniques

Tips To Write Space Research Papers

Crafting space research papers can be a thrilling and fulfilling pursuit, yet it demands meticulous planning and implementation to guarantee that your efforts effectively convey your discoveries and make meaningful contributions to the discipline. Here are some tips to help you write space research papers:

  • Choose a Narrow Topic: Space is a vast field with numerous sub-disciplines. Narrow down your topic to something specific and manageable, ensuring that it aligns with your interests and expertise.
  • Conduct Thorough Research: Before you start writing, immerse yourself in the existing literature on your chosen topic. Familiarize yourself with key concepts, theories, and recent discoveries to provide context for your research.
  • Develop a Clear Thesis Statement: Define the central argument or hypothesis of your paper in a concise and focused thesis statement. This statement should guide your writing and serve as the foundation for your research.
  • Outline Your Paper: Create a detailed outline outlining the structure of your paper, including the introduction, literature review, results, and conclusion sections. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your paper flows logically.
  • Write a Compelling Introduction: Begin your paper with a captivating introduction that offers context about your subject, underscores its importance, and delineates the paper’s framework . Grab the reader’s interest and inspire them to delve further into your work.
  • Provide a Comprehensive Literature Review: Synthesize the existing research on your topic in a literature review section. Examine pertinent research, theories, methodologies, and results, pinpointing any disparities or deficiencies in the existing literature that your study seeks to rectify.
  • Detail Your Methodology: Describe the methods you used to conduct your research, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation techniques. Provide enough detail for readers to understand how your study was conducted and to evaluate its validity and reliability.
  • Present Your Results Clearly: Present your research findings in a clear, concise manner, using tables, figures, and charts to illustrate key data points. Interpret your results objectively and discuss their implications in relation to your research question or hypothesis.
  • Engage in Critical Analysis: Analyze your findings in the context of existing literature, discussing their significance, strengths, limitations, and potential implications for future research. Be critical and objective in your evaluation, acknowledging any potential biases or limitations in your study.
  • Craft a Strong Conclusion: Summarize the main findings of your research and reiterate their significance in the conclusion section. Discuss any implications for theory, practice, or policy and suggest avenues for future research.
  • Proofread and Revise: Before submitting your paper, carefully proofread it for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Edit your writing to ensure clarity, coherence, and consistency, guaranteeing that your points are adequately backed and logically organized.
  • Follow Formatting Guidelines: Follow the formatting instructions provided by the journal or conference to which you intend to submit your paper. Pay attention to details such as font size, margins, citation style, and reference formatting to ensure that your paper meets the publication requirements.

Space research offers a window into the vastness of the cosmos, revealing the beauty and complexity of the universe we inhabit. From the depths of space to the surfaces of distant planets, scientists are uncovering new wonders and answering age-old questions about our place in the universe. As we look to the stars, let us be inspired by the spirit of exploration and discovery that drives humanity ever onward, towards new horizons and unknown worlds. I hope you find the best space research topics from the above list.

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123 Topics about Space

For a space essay, you need a rocketing title! Welcome to our space essay topics, where we journey beyond Earth’s boundaries. Space exploration, astronomy, and the mysteries of the universe have captivated human curiosity for centuries! Go through these space topics for presentation and uncover the wonders arising from our quest to understand the cosmos.

🚀 TOP 7 Topics about Space

🏆 best space essay topics, 👨‍🚀 space exploration topics, ✍️ space essay topics for college, 🌶️ hot research questions about space, ❓ space topics for presentation.

  • Arguments for Space Exploration
  • Mathematics and Space Travel
  • Space Exploration: The Liberal Arts Lenses
  • Investing in Climate Change vs. Space Exploration
  • The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethics
  • Indian Space Mission and Its Negative Aspects
  • The Transcendental Exposition of the Concept of Space
  • Ocean Research vs. Outer Space Exploration Both the study of the outer space and the research of the processes that take place on Earth, particularly, in the ocean, are crucial for facilitating the safety of the humankind.
  • Valero Refinery Disaster and Confined Space Entry On November 5, 2010, a disaster occurred at the Valero Delaware City, Delaware. Two workers succumbed to suffocation within a process vessel.
  • Space Exploration: India Space Mission The following paper will discuss the topic of ISRO to launch India’s first spacecraft to Mars. Some of the benefits attributed to the mission relate to the race between India and China.
  • Space Investigation and Its Limits Humanity has always been trying to investigate nature and discover new things. The thrill of knowledge resulted in numerous discoveries that altered the way we evolved.
  • The NASA Space Colonization Plans The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is putting efforts into advancing space colonization by using its existing competencies.
  • Space Telescope Science Institute Presentation This paper presents a reflection on the presentation hosted by the Space Telescope Science Institute. The event provided insight about scientific idea and Hubble press releases.
  • The Vancouver Art Gallery: Perception of Space At the moment, the Vancouver Art Gallery is located in what was previously the provincial courthouse. The VGA is Canada’s fifth-largest art gallery but in Western Australia, it is the largest.
  • Museum Space of the British Museum This paper is aimed at the comparative analysis of two approaches concerning museum spaces by Duncan and Hillier and Tzortzi in relation to the visit to the British Museum.
  • Space Exploration: UAE and INDIA Space Cooperation The potential collaboration between India and the UAE in the context of space programs’ development seems to be highly promising.
  • High-Temperature Materials Selection: Space Shuttle Shield and Turbochargers The paper analysis the service requirements for these components and attempts to find the group of material that would suit these products.
  • Long-Term Space Travel and Psychological Issues The exploration of space is one of the strategic goals humanity is likely to focus on in the nearest future. Astronauts have spent months during quite lasting spaceflights.
  • Astronomy: International Space Station The space station operating at international level known as ISS is a partnership operation comprised of several countries with a common objective of conducting space explorations.
  • Katya Echazarreta, a Mexican American Woman in Space This paper considered the first case when Katya Echazarreta, a Mexican-born American woman, was sent into orbit for the first time in the history of space exploration.
  • The Evolution of Space Exploration: From the Space Race to the Present.
  • The Mars Rover Missions: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Red Planet.
  • Collaborative Research and Human Survival at the International Space Station.
  • Pioneering Female Astronauts and Their Contributions.
  • Prospects and Challenges of Lunar Colonization.
  • The New Space Age: Private Companies and the Future of Space Travel.
  • Space Tourism: Commercial Ventures Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere.
  • The Role of Satellites in Modern Life.
  • Asteroid Mining: Tapping into Celestial Resources for Earth’s Benefit.
  • The Search for Earth-Like Worlds – Exoplanets and Habitable Zones.
  • Expanding Our Understanding of the Universe with the Space Telescopes.
  • Space Junk and Debris as the Growing Threat to Spacecraft.
  • Challenges and Possibilities of Journeying Beyond Our Solar System.
  • The James Webb Space Telescope: Opening New Windows to the Universe.
  • What Are the Potential Barriers to Advanced Spacefaring Civilizations?
  • Voyages to Explore Beyond Our Planetary Neighborhood.
  • The Cosmic Microwave Background: Insights into the Early Universe.
  • Space Weather and Its Impact on Earth’s Technological Infrastructure.
  • Can We Estimate the Number of Communicative Extraterrestrial Civilizations?
  • Space Law and Governance: Regulations for Activities Beyond Earth.
  • The Challenges of Propulsion Systems for Interplanetary and Interstellar Travel.
  • Robotic Vs. Human Space Exploration: Pros and Cons of Each Approach.
  • The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Contact.
  • The Discrepancy Between the High Probability of Extraterrestrial Life and the Lack of Contact.
  • The Implications of Discovering Microbial Life Beyond Earth.
  • The Concept of Space Elevators: An Alternative to Rocket-Based Space Access.
  • Ethical Considerations and Potential Impacts on Indigenous Martian Environments.
  • The Search for Cosmic Signatures of Life: Biosignatures and Technosignatures.
  • The Effects of Microgravity on Human Health.
  • The Long-Term Viability of Human Settlements on Other Planets.
  • Space Mining and Exploration: Legislative Basis During the Cold War, countries designed laws to govern space exploration. While these laws have worked, militarization and desire for space mining have created tension.
  • Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster: Results After the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, NASA identified the management failure elements that led to the disaster and substituted them with sustainable alternatives.
  • Microgravity – Effects on the Human Body During and After Long-Duration Space Flight The volume of selected muscles, lean body mass, and spinal bone marrow composition can be measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Bone Mineral Loss and Recovery.
  • The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Factors One of the causes of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster is that NASA put more emphasis on the timeframe of the project as compared to the quality standards of the project.
  • The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster The space shuttle is known to be one of the most ambitious projects of the modern age. The idea to create a spaceship seemed fantastic and even ridiculous.
  • The International Space Station: Building for the Future The International space station is a globally established exploration facility constructed in a low- world orbit. It is the biggest space station ever assembled.
  • Space Studies: Why Should People Enter Space? Space exploration has benefited the earth and those who live on it. Humans have already made improvements to technology and medicine due to space exploration.
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Space Colonization The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is actively working on the project of Mars colonization, which is its biggest space colonization goal.
  • Space Exploration Through the Humanitarian Lens This paper discusses the implementation of the humanitarian lens in the context of space exploration, considering both technological and economic factors.
  • NASA’s Efforts of Space Colonization: Pros and Cons NASA’s active efforts in space colonization are based on evidence and economically viable, but the concerns on the long-term sustainability aspects are valid.
  • Space Informational Guides: Analysis Space and the universe are filled with mysteries that the Astronautical Space Exploration Centre seeks to solve.
  • NASA and Space Colonization Space colonization efforts should adhere to universal design principles in order not to discriminate against people with disabilities.
  • “Space Mining & Exploration” Article by Skauge Skauge’s article “Space Mining & Exploration: Forcing a Pivotal Movement” discusses essential issues regarding space mining, which is a quick-approaching reality.
  • The Future of the Space Missions The current obsession with space discoveries leaves enough room for innovative developments in the area that are expected to take humanity closer to interplanetary missions.
  • Accident Investigation: Space Shuttle Columbia Report The crash of any aircraft is a serious incident demanding an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of factors resulting in the emergence of an unexpected situation.
  • Autonomous Space Robots Actualization The actualization of NASA’s idea of autonomous space robots with the capacity to repair and refuel satellites will pave the way for further developments and exploration.
  • The International Law Rules in the Space Despite the insignificant presence of people in space, every action out of Earth is governed by international law rules, including autonomous space exploration.
  • Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: Causes of the Tragedy and the Measures to Be Taken On January 28, 1986, the Challenger was launched to explode 73 seconds after its lift-off. The tragedy is commonly called “the worst disaster in the history of the space program”.
  • Space and Place in the History of the American West The United States of America is a vast country that appeared due to the expansion of its frontiers by pioneers who conquered the wilderness.
  • Different Races in the Same Space The attitudes toward people of different races functioning in the same space would vary depending on the assumptions dominating the society in relation to that race.
  • Record Breaking X-37B Unmanned Space Plane Resistance to unintentional interferences, low probability of interceptions, and worldwide availability of frequencies are critical concerns in enhancing the functionality of UAS.
  • SpaceX Company Sends Humans to the International Space Station This paper discusses the story of SpaceX, its founder Elon Musk, and their latest historical achievement of sending humans to space.
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Management Issues NASA is experiencing significant challenges in its management and program risks. The organization has had advanced knowledge in science and space exploration for many years.
  • The Link Between Space Exploration and Advancements in Science and Military Defense
  • Columbia Space Shuttle- Final Mission
  • The Future Looks Promising for Space Exploration
  • Why Space Colonization Will Be Fully Automated?
  • The History and Origins of Space Travel
  • The Science Behind Human Space Travel Over Time
  • Will Asia Win the Next Space Race?
  • The International Space Station: History and Future Literature Review
  • The Space Race and the Tension Between the United States and the Soviet Union
  • Principles of The North Korean Space Program
  • The Second Race for Space: NASA vs. Private Space Enterprise
  • The Space Shuttle Challenger Disintegrated 73 Seconds After Its Take Off
  • The Past, Present, and Future of the Hubble Space Telescope
  • General Information about The Next Generation Space Telescope
  • The Economic, Health, and International Agreement Issues of Space Exploration
  • Why Space Explorations Are Essential for Humanity?
  • Case NASA: The End of the Space Shuttle Program
  • The Symbolic and Social Meanings of Space
  • The Reusable Booster Rockets of the U.S. Space Shuttle
  • Why the United States Joined the Space Race
  • The Human’s Great Yearning to Travel in Space
  • The Four Major Space Crafts Launched in the Seventies
  • General Information About the U.S. Space Program
  • The Pros and Cons of Space Tourism’s Expansion
  • The Space Race Greatly Affected the Cold War History
  • Why Can’t You Trust Private Space Programs?
  • How the Government’s Space Program Influenced the United States Economy?
  • What Is the History and Perspectives of Space Exploration?
  • Who Controls the Private Sector in Space?
  • Why the United States Join the Space Race?
  • How Did the Space Race Affect the Cold War?
  • What Are the Ethical Principles and Practices of Space Exploration?
  • Can the High Costs of Space Exploration Be Justified?
  • How Do Carbon Composites Protect the Lives of Astronauts and Shuttles from the High Temperatures in Space?
  • What Is the GDP Growth Forecast from Space?
  • Why Space Exploration and Innovation Is Important for the Human Race?
  • What Are the State R&D Programs for the Commercialization of Space?
  • How Can Poor Countries Afford Space Programs?
  • Which Space Programs Are Funded by the US Government?
  • What Is Known about the Air Force Space Station at Cape Canaveral?
  • How Does the Education Reform Impact the Space Race?
  • What Benefits Has the United States Brought Space Inventions?
  • How Did the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Happen?
  • What Are Off-Planet Mobility and Media Perspectives of Virtual Space Tourism?
  • What Are the Ethical Aspects of the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident?
  • How Is Economic Growth and Regional Convergence Carried Out in a Sustainable Space Economy?
  • Why Shouldn’t People Explore Outer Space?
  • How Space Travels Inspires the Minds of the Youth?
  • What Do You Know About Extraterrestrial Life and Outer Space?
  • How Is the Space Debris Population Controlled?

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These essay examples and topics on Space were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

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154 hot astronomy research topics for a-grade papers.

astronomy research topics

Do you have a college astronomy paper or essay and have been wondering how to get the best topic? You might also be stuck with the paper, wondering how to go about it.

The truth about astronomy is that getting interesting space topics is never easy, but how do you address the challenge? There is no need to worry anymore because we are here to help.

In this post, we list 154 astronomy paper topics and further highlight the traits of a great research paper. Why get content with standard or low-quality paper when you can get the best in your class by checking out the guide and topics, as well as getting lab report help ?

What Is Astronomy?

Before looking at the leading space science topics for your university assignment, let’s start with the definition. Astronomy is the study concerned with researching and understanding everything that takes place beyond the earth’s atmosphere. Although the advances in technology, especially on telescopes, satellites, and manned space vehicles, have helped people to peep deeper into space, this is just a scratch on the surface. There is a lot more waiting to be explored, including the controversial question, “Is there life on other planets?”

Characteristics Of A Good Astronomy Research Paper

From the definition of astronomy, it is clear that you can have a long list of astronomy project topics or ideas. Once you have picked the preferred option from our research topics in cosmology, the next step is preparing your paper. Here are the main characteristics of a good school research paper in astronomy:

  • Systematic: This means that your research paper should be structured per clearly defined rules. So, students should start by reviewing requirements by their professors or teachers and think creatively of how to make their papers professional.
  • Logical: This implies that the student carefully reasons all the points to ensure they support the selected topic. Although there is so much one can write on a specific topic, you must narrow it down to those points that are current and that support your topic.
  • Comprehensive: Your paper also needs to be as comprehensive as possible. So, you must exhaustively identify the core points in a selected topic. It should also fit well in the current literature on the same topic, helping to advance the discipline.
  • Plagiarism-Free: All universities out there have very strict rules on plagiarism. Therefore, your work must be 100% original.
  • Clearly flowing points and free from errors: Finally, your paper should be arranged well to ensure that all the points flow logically from the start to the end. Again, it should be proofread to ensure it is free from errors.

Best Astronomy Essay Topics

Now that we have looked at the main characteristics of a high quality astronomy paper or essay, it is time to dig deeper into the main topics. Check out our list of the leading astronomy research topics for top grades.

Top Astronomy Research Topics

  • What is the future of space exploration?
  • A closer review of the big bang theory.
  • Compare two theories that explain the origin of the universe.
  • Stephen Hawking theories.
  • Space Challenger disaster: What are the sociological impacts?
  • A review of the recent space exploration breakthroughs.
  • The moon landing.
  • The Mars landing of space rovers.
  • A deeper look at the history of astronomy.
  • Reviewing the heliocentric model of the galaxy.
  • Analyzing the lifecycle of a star.
  • What impact does the moon have on the earth?
  • Space debris and its impact on the solar system.
  • What impact do humans have on the solar system?
  • The rise of space tourism: What impact will it have on space exploration?
  • Is space tourism a good thing?
  • What could go wrong with space tourism?
  • Space manufacturing: Is it a good thing?
  • The mythologies associated with heavenly bodies.
  • What impact do the stars have on earth?

Unique Astronomy Research Paper Topics

  • A review of the Hubble telescope.
  • A closer look at the Haley’s comet.
  • Through the mind of early astronomers: Galileo Aristotle, and Ptolemy.
  • What are the advantages of exploring space?
  • The race to explore space and the cold war.
  • Reviewing the first astronauts to visit the moon.
  • What lessons did NASA learn from its first mission to the moon?
  • Can life exist on the moon?
  • What is the biggest difference between earth and moon?
  • Explaining the earth’s outlook as viewed from space.
  • The design of space vehicles: Are the modern models riskier compared to those used in the 20th century?
  • What impact will private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have in astronomy?
  • If we have a space station where scientists travel often, is the idea of space hotels far-fetched? A closer look at Blue Origin’s idea of a space hotel.
  • Looking beyond the Milky Way.
  • A review of Pluto: How does it compare to other planets?
  • How does earth compare to Jupiter?
  • Explain the sun’s source of heat and light for millions of years.
  • Analyzing the rings of Saturn.
  • A review of astronauts physical and health preparedness before setting off for space exploration.
  • What effects does long stay in space have on the human body?
  • What can astronauts do to reduce the danger of muscle atrophy?
  • Zero gravity in space.

Awesome Astronomy Topics To Write About

  • What are wormholes?
  • A review of the evolution of space exploration changes in history.
  • Speed of light travel: what are the implications?
  • A closer look at time travel: Theory versus fiction.
  • Zero gravity: What impact does it have on astronauts’ health over time?
  • The interdisciplinary perspectives of space.
  • Astrophysics: A review of the main controversies.
  • Explore the possibility of having life on other planets.
  • What implications would life on other planets have on planet earth?
  • Think of yourself as an astronaut: What would be your reaction upon encounter with aliens?
  • Stars and how people use them for navigation.
  • Comparing different theories that explain the origin of life on planet earth.
  • Space weather.
  • How does space weather compare to the earth’s weather?
  • Global warming: An astronaut’s view.
  • The sun and its relationship with the earth.
  • Comparing the sun’s relationship with Saturn and Pluto.
  • Robotic space exploration: Is it a good idea?
  • Constellations: A review of human interpretations.
  • A review of emerging business opportunities in space.
  • Space travel for non-astronauts: Is it a good idea?
  • Comparing space travelling scientists to tourists: What is the difference?

Engaging Space Research Paper Topics

  • What is the difference between planets and asteroids?
  • How did the “northern lights” come about?
  • Capture hypothesis: A review.
  • What caused the Challenger to explode after take-off?
  • The challenger shuttle disaster: A review of the preparations.
  • What lessons did we learn from the challenger disaster?
  • Was the Challenger the greatest failure in NASA’s history?
  • Analyzing President Ronald Reagan’s speech after the Challenger disaster.
  • Space Challenger disaster analysis: Why we are on the blink of another bigger and deadlier disaster.
  • Are the current space policies ample to guide the new era of space travel?
  • Dennis Tito: Looking at the experience of the first space tourists.
  • Space politics: Is competition a good thing when it comes to space exploration?
  • Reimagining the space: What would happen if we suddenly discovered that it was possible to inhabit the moon?
  • Space will form the next generation combat zone for superpowers in competition for new resources.
  • Factoring the distance and other logistics: Would mining in space be viable?

Great Space Exploration Topics

  • A review of three biggest planets that orbit outside the solar system.
  • Comparing the characteristics of gas planets to terrestrial planets.
  • Fission Hypothesis by George Darwin.
  • A review of the Giant Impact Theory.
  • Exploring the theories that explain the origin of the moon.
  • How long does it take for a new planet to form?
  • Imagining a Marxist society living on Mars.
  • Exploring the process of formation of the biggest stars in the cosmos.
  • Is it possible for light to escape from the black hole?
  • Determining the moon’s diameter: How accurate is the method used for calculation?
  • Is the Big Bang Theory the best explanation of the origin of the universe?
  • Reviewing the fate of the universe.
  • Gravitational waves: Why their discovery is so important.
  • Monitoring the State of the Environment using Ecologically Clean devices.
  • Reviewing the doctrine of Noosphere.
  • The legends of Starry Sky.
  • The importance of mathematics in space explorations.

Astrophysics Research Topics For Debate

  • Relativity theory and gravity.
  • What is a variable star?
  • Gravity and eclipse.
  • Venus: Reviewing its formation.
  • The mass of matter and nebulae.
  • The Big Bang Theory.
  • Brown Dwarf.
  • Space manufacturing: What materials and products are manufactured in space?
  • What happens during a solar eclipse?
  • Celestial mechanics.
  • Manned space shuttles.

Discussion Topics In Astronomy

  • A thematic review of the heliocentric theory.
  • The conflicting theories on the origin of the earth: science versus religion.
  • Expecting the worst: What could go wrong with space missions?
  • Is the cost and effort for space exploration worth it?
  • Beyond the visible universe: What should we expect?
  • How does the lunar cycle function?
  • The dimensions of light in space: How does it differ after entering the earth’s atmosphere?
  • What is astrophysics?
  • Nonlinear, slow mode, and fast mode effects.
  • Grand unification theories.
  • What impact does the moon have on the oceans?
  • The longitudes and latitudes of the earth.
  • What are the different types of stars?
  • The formation and destruction of clouds in the Galaxies.
  • Meridian and transit circles: What are they?
  • The galaxy cluster growth.
  • A review of the molecular cloud.

Investigative Astrophysics Research Topics

  • How long does it take to travel to space?
  • Which is the most prominent of all planets? Is it earth?
  • Survival on other planets? How to make it possible.
  • Pluto should not be considered another planet: Discuss.
  • Journey to Mars: Should we open it to all?
  • Comparing the journeys to the International Space Station (ISS) and the Moon.
  • Space keeps expanding: Explain.
  • The best defense against killer asteroids.
  • How to relate interplanetary matter with space activities.
  • The 2012 transit of Venus: A detailed review.
  • What do astronauts eat when travelling to space?

Controversial Astronomy Topics For Research Paper

  • Militarization of space: Is it avoidable?
  • Asteroid mining: Is it a good idea?
  • A review of space exploration issues and connection to women.
  • State exploration is very important: Approve or disapprove this statement.
  • Colonizing other planets: Is it ethical?
  • Terraforming on Mars.
  • The security challenges of space explorations.
  • Space exploration: Does it have any impacts on planet earth.
  • Using VR and AR should replace humans for space explorations.

Other Cool Astronomy Topics

  • The impact of the sun on water bodies.
  • Interstellar extinction: What is the cause?
  • What is the deep impact mission?
  • Essential requirements for space travel.
  • Preparing for space travel.
  • Is there an earth-like planet that is habitable?
  • Solar systems with two stars: How do they operate?
  • Comparing the preparation for space tourists and astronauts.
  • Where do asteroids come from?
  • What is antimatter?

Seek Help From The Best Paper Writing Service

Now that we have listed the characteristics of a great research paper, are you ready to write the assignment? If you find it challenging, know that you are not alone. A lot of students find it tough because the topics are very broad and require a lot of research. “I need a paper written for me” is a thought of many, not just you. Well, no matter the reason why preparing the paper is challenging, you should seek help from online expert writers.

Our service works with professionals, and you can count on them to the best grade in your paper. They are native English writers with a lot of experience in writing custom astronomy papers. The service is also secure and trustworthy, implying that no one other than you can know that the paper was bought. The writers are also excellent in editing, cheap and fast. They will handle even your papers with very tight deadlines. All that you need is to visit our site and tell us to “ write my paper .”

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Article Contents

  • The puzzle of peace in space
  • The origins of space as a cooperative domain
  • Comparisons to Space Race 2.0
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The social construction of the space race: then and now

The author would like to thank Justin Haner for his valuable research assistance, NASA archivist Elizabeth Sukow, as well as Robert Cross, Marianne Riddervold, Kristi Govella, Julie Klinger, Pernille Rieker and three anonymous reviewers for their feedback.

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Mai'a K. Davis Cross, The social construction of the space race: then and now, International Affairs , Volume 95, Issue 6, November 2019, Pages 1403–1421, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz190

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The proposed creation of a US Space Force has led to a ratcheting up of a sense of competition and threat among spacefaring powers. Many top government officials and experts around the world believe that space will inevitably become the next battlefield, either among countries, or private companies, or both. India successfully blew up a satellite, China landed a probe on the dark side of the moon and many other countries have rapidly developed launch capabilities. The term ‘Space Race 2.0’ is increasingly invoked. But are we in the midst of a new space race, or on the verge of a new space age? This article argues that despite many governmental efforts to militarize space over the past 70 years, on the whole, non-state actors have ensured that space has been a highly cooperative realm of human interaction, even during the height of the Cold War. While on the surface there has been a narrative of threat-based competition, the author argues that this has largely been socially constructed. Drawing upon fresh archival research and participant observation, the author provides the historical context for understanding the increasingly diverse field of space actors today.

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Articles on Space race

Displaying 1 - 20 of 50 articles.

space race research paper topics

Is Russia looking to put nukes in space? Doing so would undermine global stability and ignite an anti-satellite arms race

Spenser A. Warren , University of California, San Diego

space race research paper topics

India has landed on the Moon: here’s what the political and economic gains are

Christopher Newman , Northumbria University, Newcastle

space race research paper topics

If the world were coming to an end, what would be the most ethical way to rebuild humanity ‘off planet’?

Evie Kendal , Swinburne University of Technology

space race research paper topics

Is the US in a space race against China?

Svetla Ben-Itzhak , Air University

space race research paper topics

Meet the next four people headed to the Moon – how the diverse crew of Artemis II shows NASA’s plan for the future of space exploration

Wendy Whitman Cobb , Air University

space race research paper topics

More lunar missions means more space junk around the Moon – two scientists are building a catalog to track the trash

Vishnu Reddy , University of Arizona

space race research paper topics

China’s new space station opens for business in an increasingly competitive era of space activity

Eytan Tepper , Indiana University and Scott Shackelford , Indiana University

space race research paper topics

NASA’s Artemis 1 mission to the Moon sets the stage for routine space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit – here’s what to expect and why it’s important

Jack Burns , University of Colorado Boulder

space race research paper topics

Space debris is coming down more frequently. What are the chances it could hit someone or damage property?

Fabian Zander , University of Southern Queensland

space race research paper topics

Space law hasn’t been changed since 1967 – but the UN aims to update laws and keep space peaceful

Michelle L.D. Hanlon , University of Mississippi and Greg Autry , Arizona State University

space race research paper topics

Why the Russian anti-satellite missile test threatened both the international space station and the peaceful use of outer space

Melissa de Zwart , Flinders University

space race research paper topics

Musk v Bezos: real rivals or fake feud? Our research gives a clue

Ben Little , University of East Anglia

space race research paper topics

Space exploration should aim for peace, collaboration and co-operation , not war and competition

Kuan-Wei Chen , McGill University ; Ram S. Jakhu , McGill University , and Steven Freeland , Western Sydney University

space race research paper topics

Space travel for billionaires is the surprise topic with bipartisan American support – but not from Gen Z

Joseph Cabosky , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

space race research paper topics

John Glenn’s fan mail shows many girls dreamed of the stars – but sexism in the early space program thwarted their ambitions

Roshanna P. Sylvester , University of Colorado Boulder

space race research paper topics

Branson vs Bezos: as the billionaires get ready to blast into space, who’s got the better plan?

Chris James , The University of Queensland

space race research paper topics

Biden wants corporations to pay for his $2 trillion infrastructure plans, echoing a history of calls for companies to chip in when times are tough

Stephanie Leiser , University of Michigan

space race research paper topics

Mars: The Conversation Weekly podcast explores why three missions are about to reach the red planet

Gemma Ware , The Conversation and Daniel Merino, The Conversation

space race research paper topics

How Mars became the prize for the new space race – and why China is hellbent on winning it

Steffi Paladini , Birmingham City University

space race research paper topics

The UAE’s Mars mission seeks to bring Hope to more places than the red planet

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Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, Air University

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space race research paper topics

Professor in Business Analytics, Queen Margaret University

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Professor of Business Studies, Trinity College Dublin

space race research paper topics

Director, Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research; Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW Sydney

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Professor (Digital Technology, Security and Governance), Flinders University

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Associate Professor of Critical Media Practices and Digital Humanities, University of Colorado Boulder

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Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University

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Research Topics List

JPL's charter is to conduct robotic space missions for NASA, to explore our own and neighboring planetary systems, understand the origin and evolution of the universe and make critical measurements to understand our home planet and help protect it. We do this by developing integrated capabilities in engineering, science and technology, in a unique environment that strives for excellence in any of the three areas. To be successful in our ability to implement missions for NASA, we foster research in those areas of space-based science that establish our leadership in the science community and those technologies that allow the innovations that are crucial to maintaining our competitive edge. Our science, technology and engineering research covers many areas of planetary, astrophysics and Earth science, both as basic research leading to new observations and mission concepts, as well as research based on the data acquired by JPL flight projects. Our technology research covers areas ranging from robotic systems, a range of in-situ and remote sensing instruments, deep space communications and navigation, information systems, precision flying and planetary protection and survivability.

The Space Race between the 1960s and 1970s

  • Julia D'Alessandro Western University

“The Space Race between the 1960s and 1970s” is an analysis of the progression of science throughout the named decades and the impact the space exploration had on these achievements.  With a focus on the telemetry system of the Voyager Missions, this paper explores topics such as colour photography, satellites, and radio waves.  It will explain concepts such as Golay coding which allows for higher resolution photographs to be transmitted from space and radio waves allowing scientists to measure characteristics of other planets in our solar system (i.e., atmospheric composition).  “The Space Race between the 1960s and 1970s” will discuss how public support – and consequently funding - for space exploration has declined over time and how this has affected the progress of organizations like NASA.  The international space race was an instrumental part of scientific development in human history; this paper aims to bring light to both its successes and failures.

space race research paper topics

  • D'Alessandro PDF

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space race research paper topics

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The Space Race

By: History.com Editors

Updated: February 21, 2020 | Original: February 22, 2010

June 1965) Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot for the Gemini-Titan 4 (GT-4) spaceflight, floats in the zero-gravity of space during the third revolution of the GT-4 spacecraft.June 1965) Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot for the Gemini-Titan 4 (GT-4) spaceflight, floats in the zero-gravity of space during the third revolution of the GT-4 spacecraft. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

After World War II drew to a close in the mid-20th century, a new conflict began. Known as the Cold War, this battle pitted the world’s two great powers—the democratic, capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union—against each other. Beginning in the late 1950s, space became another dramatic arena for this competition, as each side sought to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower and–by extension–its political-economic system.

Causes of the Space Race

By the mid-1950s, the U.S.-Soviet Cold War had worked its way into the fabric of everyday life in both countries, fueled by the arms race and the growing threat of nuclear weapons, wide-ranging espionage and counter-espionage between the two countries, war in Korea and a clash of words and ideas carried out in the media. These tensions would continue throughout the space race, exacerbated by such events as the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 and the outbreak of war in Southeast Asia.

Space exploration served as another dramatic arena for Cold War competition. On October 4, 1957, a Soviet R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile launched Sputnik (Russian for “traveler”), the world’s first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth’s orbit. Sputnik’s launch came as a surprise, and not a pleasant one, to most Americans. In the United States, space was seen as the next frontier, a logical extension of the grand American tradition of exploration, and it was crucial not to lose too much ground to the Soviets. In addition, this demonstration of the overwhelming power of the R-7 missile–seemingly capable of delivering a nuclear warhead into U.S. air space–made gathering intelligence about Soviet military activities particularly urgent.

Did you know? After Apollo 11 landed on the moon's surface in July 1969, six more Apollo missions followed by the end of 1972. Arguably the most famous was Apollo 13, whose crew managed to survive an explosion of the oxygen tank in their spacecraft's service module on the way to the moon.

Apollo 11

NASA Is Created

In 1958, the United States launched its own satellite, Explorer I, designed by the U.S. Army under the direction of rocket scientist Wernher von Braun . That same year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a public order creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ), a federal agency dedicated to space exploration.

Eisenhower also created two national security-oriented space programs that would operate simultaneously with NASA’s program. The first, spearheaded by the U.S. Air Force, dedicated itself to exploiting the military potential of space. The second, led by the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ), the Air Force and a new organization called the National Reconnaissance Office (the existence of which was kept classified until the early 1990s) was code-named Corona; it would use orbiting satellites to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union and its allies.

Space Race Heats Up: Men (And Chimps) Orbit Earth

In 1959, the Soviet space program took another step forward with the launch of Luna 2, the first space probe to hit the moon. In April 1961, the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit Earth , traveling in the capsule-like spacecraft Vostok 1. For the U.S. effort to send a man into space, dubbed Project Mercury, NASA engineers designed a smaller, cone-shaped capsule far lighter than Vostok; they tested the craft with chimpanzees  and held a final test flight in March 1961 before the Soviets were able to pull ahead with Gagarin’s launch. On May 5, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space (though not in orbit).

Later that May, President John F. Kennedy made the bold, public claim that the U.S. would land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. In February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, and by the end of that year, the foundations of NASA’s lunar landing program–dubbed Project Apollo –were in place.

Achievements of Apollo

From 1961 to 1964, NASA’s budget was increased almost 500 percent, and the lunar landing program eventually involved some 34,000 NASA employees and 375,000 employees of industrial and university contractors. Apollo suffered a setback in January 1967, when three astronauts were killed after their spacecraft caught fire during a launch simulation. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union’s lunar landing program proceeded tentatively, partly due to internal debate over its necessity and to the untimely death (in January 1966) of Sergey Korolyov, chief engineer of the Soviet space program.

December 1968 saw the launch of Apollo 8, the first manned space mission to orbit the moon, from NASA’s massive launch facility on Merritt Island, near Cape Canaveral, Florida . On July 16, 1969, U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong , Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins set off on the Apollo 11 space mission, the first lunar landing attempt. After landing successfully on July 20, Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon’s surface; he famously called the momen t “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Who Won the Space Race?

By landing on the moon, the United States effectively “won” the space race that had begun with Sputnik’s launch in 1957. For their part, the Soviets made four failed attempts to launch a lunar landing craft between 1969 and 1972, including a spectacular launch-pad explosion in July 1969. From beginning to end, the American public’s attention was captivated by the space race, and the various developments by the Soviet and U.S. space programs were heavily covered in the national media. This frenzy of interest was further encouraged by the new medium of television. Astronauts came to be seen as the ultimate American heroes, and earth-bound men and women seemed to enjoy living vicariously through them. Soviets, in turn, were pictured as the ultimate villains, with their massive, relentless efforts to surpass America and prove the power of the communist system.

With the conclusion of the space race, U.S. government interest in lunar missions waned after the early 1970s. In 1975, the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission sent three U.S. astronauts into space aboard an Apollo spacecraft that docked in orbit with a Soviet-made Soyuz vehicle. When the commanders of the two crafts officially greeted each other, their “ handshake in space ” served to symbolize the gradual improvement of U.S.-Soviet relations in the late Cold War era.

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The Space Race and Biodefense

Michael m. wagner.

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The events that followed the launch of Sputnik on Oct 4, 1957, provide a metaphor for the events that are following the first bioterroristic case of pulmonary anthrax in the United States. This paper uses that metaphor to elucidate the nature of the task ahead and to suggest questions such as, Can the goals of the biodefense effort be formulated as concisely and concretely as the goal of the space program? Can we measure success in biodefense as we did for the space project? What are the existing resources that are the equivalents of propulsion systems and rocket engineers that can be applied to the problems of biodefense?

History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.–U.S.S.R space race. 1

History also changed on Oct 4, 2001, 44 years to the day later, when health officials announced that a 63-year-old Florida man had contracted pulmonary anthrax and had been hospitalized with the infection. 2 This event, too, is ushering in an era of new political, technologic, and scientific developments, with a substantial, if not predominant, focus on the fields of medical care and public health. As a result, medicine is already experiencing fundamental changes, such as the demise of the time-honored practice of “watchful waiting” when a patient has symptoms of early viral illness.

Public health is experiencing even greater changes. Techniques of disease control such as sanitation, vaccination, and water treatment that have produced dramatic improvements in health and longevity over the past century are no longer sufficient for the protection of the public health. Traditional disease transmission cycles memorized by generations of students will henceforth include hundreds of new pathways, such as biowarfare plant > foreign agent > terrorist cell > mail handling facility > infected human along side the familiar infected human > mosquito > infected human.

Disease control now involves participation by national security agencies in the detection of terrorists with the motivation and capabilities to conduct such attacks, detection of biowarfare production capabilities, detection of plans to disseminate such material, and detection of actual covert transfers of material. Electron beam irradiation of the mail is an early example of changes in the methods of disease control that could ultimately grow to include the widespread deployment of environmental or even personal portable sensing devices. The broadening of the techniques and organizations involved in the protection of the public health is such that some are speaking of a new field called biodefense .

It is in the area of public health surveillance that the analogy between the space race and biodefense is perhaps closest. To mitigate a medium or large-scale surreptitious release of Bacillus anthracis will require breathtaking improvements in the rapidity of detection and of response decision-making in public health. Improvements of even an hour over current capabilities may reduce economic impact by hundreds of millions of dollars. 3 To attain such capabilities, however, the nation must develop electronic public health surveillance systems that process clinical and other types of data looking for the earliest possible clues of an outbreak in real time on a national or even international scale. Here, the breadth of technologic advances required and the scale of their deployment undoubtedly warrant the label Big Science .

The field of medical informatics, which is the study of the roles and uses of information and information technology in biomedicine, has made foundational contributions in the fields of medical care and public health. These contributions are being leveraged to build new public health surveillance systems. They include highly visible products such as electronic medical records and immunization registries as well as less visible but arguably more influential products such as technical contributions in the key areas of representation, inference, decision-making under uncertainty, and standards for exchange of biomedical data. Indeed, many of these results have influenced and been incorporated into the specifications for the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System being promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4

Rapid detection and response will also depend on tight coupling between the activities of public-health workers and the activities of individual clinicians. This coupling can be accomplished best through the embedding of decision support and disease reporting capabilities in clinical information systems. Such an infrastructure will help clinicians adhere to the rapidly changing population-based guidelines needed to manage optimally individual cases, and it will provide public health officials with aggregate information about disease activity needed for public health surveillance.

Those researchers in medical informatics who have witnessed the nation's slow progress toward ubiquitous clinical computing over the past four decades may wonder about the nation's capacity for such a breathtaking advance in disease surveillance, especially in light of the present state of deliberations in Congress. The early halting steps of the nation and Congress, however, should not be interpreted as the only and final reactions of the country. The early history of the space race suggests otherwise:

Immediately after the Sputnik I launch in October, the U.S. Defense Department responded to the political furor by approving funding for another U.S. satellite project. Werner von Braun and his Army Redstone Arsenal team began work on the Explorer project. On January 31, 1958, the tide changed, when the United States successfully launched Explorer I. This satellite carried a small scientific payload that eventually discovered the magnetic radiation belts around the Earth, named after principal investigator James Van Allen. The Sputnik launch also led directly to the creation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In July 1958, Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act (commonly called the “Space Act”), which created NASA as of October 1, 1958, from the National Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and other government agencies. 1

It may be reassuring to us now to recognize that President Eisenhower and Congress, under a less dire threat, were nonetheless able to come together to take immediate action in the form of the Explorer I program. Nine months later, they followed with definitive action—consolidation of multiple, small, overlapping efforts into a single dedicated agency. This consolidating of resources under NASA is even more noteworthy given that, at the time, the Army had the most advanced rocket propulsion system (the Jupiter C) and the von Braun team, which subsequently became a key asset of the NASA team. The analogy raises the question of whether the country needs a NASA-like reorganization and consolidation of diverse federal efforts in biodefense.

NASA from its inception was managed by rocket engineers who were (largely) undistracted by objectives other than the single-minded goal of winning the space race. A question for the nation is, Who are the rocket engineers for the field of biodefense? The answer may be that they are the experts in medical informatics. For the past several years, researchers in medical informatics have developed and fielded electronic public health surveillance systems and have provided direction to projects such as those described in a separate article in this issue of the Journal. 5 As in the field of rocketry prior to the space race, the nation has available a body of knowledge, parts, and existing teams of researchers working on actual fielded systems.

The analogy between the space race and biodefense can provide additional insights and guidance to the country. It is widely acknowledged that President Kennedy's promise to land men on the moon and return them safely by the end of the decade inspired Congress and the nation through its simplicity and clarity. This clear goal statement was a source of guidance to legislators, managers, scientists, engineers, and construction workers throughout the world as they made the millions of individual decisions that led to our success in the space race.

It is an interesting question whether the goals of the biodefense effort can be formulated as concisely and concretely as the goal of NASA. Similar goal statements for biodefense might be to, within a year, reduce detection and response time by two days over current levels and, within five years, to detect and respond, within a day of their release, to any biological agents that threaten the health of our citizens.

The Sputnik launch revealed deficiencies in training and education in the sciences that were ameliorated by massive changes in the educational system. A parallel exists in the area of training of the public health workforce in information technology. The analogy also suggests the question of whether the expected technologic spin-offs in the areas of large-scale computing, simulation, and mitigation of naturally occurring epidemics will equal the spin-offs of NASA in the areas of materials, computers, communications, and electronics. The analogy may also reveal differences. Biodefense may fundamentally be best accomplished by regional deployments under central coordination and support, rather than a single national effort.

The development of early warning capability for biological events is Big Science. The nation should draw on lessons learned from the space race 6, 7 and other historical challenges, including the Manhattan Project, to ensure success in meeting the present challenge. These lessons include the value of a clear call to action, identification of existing resources, consolidation of the resources, and in highly technical areas such as early warning systems for biodefense, assignment of responsibility and authority to scientists and engineers in fields that are already working on the problem.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Gregory Cooper, MD, PhD, and Eric Rodriguez, MD.

This paper is based on a plenary presentation at the AMIA Annual Symposium, Nov. 5, 2001, in Washington, DC.

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Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion

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In the predawn hours of Sept. 5, 2021, engineers achieved a major milestone in the labs of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), when a new type of magnet, made from high-temperature superconducting material, achieved a world-record magnetic field strength of 20 tesla for a large-scale magnet. That’s the intensity needed to build a fusion power plant that is expected to produce a net output of power and potentially usher in an era of virtually limitless power production.

The test was immediately declared a success, having met all the criteria established for the design of the new fusion device, dubbed SPARC, for which the magnets are the key enabling technology. Champagne corks popped as the weary team of experimenters, who had labored long and hard to make the achievement possible, celebrated their accomplishment.

But that was far from the end of the process. Over the ensuing months, the team tore apart and inspected the components of the magnet, pored over and analyzed the data from hundreds of instruments that recorded details of the tests, and performed two additional test runs on the same magnet, ultimately pushing it to its breaking point in order to learn the details of any possible failure modes.

All of this work has now culminated in a detailed report by researchers at PSFC and MIT spinout company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), published in a collection of six peer-reviewed papers in a special edition of the March issue of IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity . Together, the papers describe the design and fabrication of the magnet and the diagnostic equipment needed to evaluate its performance, as well as the lessons learned from the process. Overall, the team found, the predictions and computer modeling were spot-on, verifying that the magnet’s unique design elements could serve as the foundation for a fusion power plant.

Enabling practical fusion power

The successful test of the magnet, says Hitachi America Professor of Engineering Dennis Whyte, who recently stepped down as director of the PSFC, was “the most important thing, in my opinion, in the last 30 years of fusion research.”

Before the Sept. 5 demonstration, the best-available superconducting magnets were powerful enough to potentially achieve fusion energy — but only at sizes and costs that could never be practical or economically viable. Then, when the tests showed the practicality of such a strong magnet at a greatly reduced size, “overnight, it basically changed the cost per watt of a fusion reactor by a factor of almost 40 in one day,” Whyte says.

“Now fusion has a chance,” Whyte adds. Tokamaks, the most widely used design for experimental fusion devices, “have a chance, in my opinion, of being economical because you’ve got a quantum change in your ability, with the known confinement physics rules, about being able to greatly reduce the size and the cost of objects that would make fusion possible.”

The comprehensive data and analysis from the PSFC’s magnet test, as detailed in the six new papers, has demonstrated that plans for a new generation of fusion devices — the one designed by MIT and CFS, as well as similar designs by other commercial fusion companies — are built on a solid foundation in science.

The superconducting breakthrough

Fusion, the process of combining light atoms to form heavier ones, powers the sun and stars, but harnessing that process on Earth has proved to be a daunting challenge, with decades of hard work and many billions of dollars spent on experimental devices. The long-sought, but never yet achieved, goal is to build a fusion power plant that produces more energy than it consumes. Such a power plant could produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases during operation, and generating very little radioactive waste. Fusion’s fuel, a form of hydrogen that can be derived from seawater, is virtually limitless.

But to make it work requires compressing the fuel at extraordinarily high temperatures and pressures, and since no known material could withstand such temperatures, the fuel must be held in place by extremely powerful magnetic fields. Producing such strong fields requires superconducting magnets, but all previous fusion magnets have been made with a superconducting material that requires frigid temperatures of about 4 degrees above absolute zero (4 kelvins, or -270 degrees Celsius). In the last few years, a newer material nicknamed REBCO, for rare-earth barium copper oxide, was added to fusion magnets, and allows them to operate at 20 kelvins, a temperature that despite being only 16 kelvins warmer, brings significant advantages in terms of material properties and practical engineering.

Taking advantage of this new higher-temperature superconducting material was not just a matter of substituting it in existing magnet designs. Instead, “it was a rework from the ground up of almost all the principles that you use to build superconducting magnets,” Whyte says. The new REBCO material is “extraordinarily different than the previous generation of superconductors. You’re not just going to adapt and replace, you’re actually going to innovate from the ground up.” The new papers in Transactions on Applied Superconductivity describe the details of that redesign process, now that patent protection is in place.

A key innovation: no insulation

One of the dramatic innovations, which had many others in the field skeptical of its chances of success, was the elimination of insulation around the thin, flat ribbons of superconducting tape that formed the magnet. Like virtually all electrical wires, conventional superconducting magnets are fully protected by insulating material to prevent short-circuits between the wires. But in the new magnet, the tape was left completely bare; the engineers relied on REBCO’s much greater conductivity to keep the current flowing through the material.

“When we started this project, in let’s say 2018, the technology of using high-temperature superconductors to build large-scale high-field magnets was in its infancy,” says Zach Hartwig, the Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Hartwig has a co-appointment at the PSFC and is the head of its engineering group, which led the magnet development project. “The state of the art was small benchtop experiments, not really representative of what it takes to build a full-size thing. Our magnet development project started at benchtop scale and ended up at full scale in a short amount of time,” he adds, noting that the team built a 20,000-pound magnet that produced a steady, even magnetic field of just over 20 tesla — far beyond any such field ever produced at large scale.

“The standard way to build these magnets is you would wind the conductor and you have insulation between the windings, and you need insulation to deal with the high voltages that are generated during off-normal events such as a shutdown.” Eliminating the layers of insulation, he says, “has the advantage of being a low-voltage system. It greatly simplifies the fabrication processes and schedule.” It also leaves more room for other elements, such as more cooling or more structure for strength.

The magnet assembly is a slightly smaller-scale version of the ones that will form the donut-shaped chamber of the SPARC fusion device now being built by CFS in Devens, Massachusetts. It consists of 16 plates, called pancakes, each bearing a spiral winding of the superconducting tape on one side and cooling channels for helium gas on the other.

But the no-insulation design was considered risky, and a lot was riding on the test program. “This was the first magnet at any sufficient scale that really probed what is involved in designing and building and testing a magnet with this so-called no-insulation no-twist technology,” Hartwig says. “It was very much a surprise to the community when we announced that it was a no-insulation coil.”

Pushing to the limit … and beyond

The initial test, described in previous papers, proved that the design and manufacturing process not only worked but was highly stable — something that some researchers had doubted. The next two test runs, also performed in late 2021, then pushed the device to the limit by deliberately creating unstable conditions, including a complete shutoff of incoming power that can lead to a catastrophic overheating. Known as quenching, this is considered a worst-case scenario for the operation of such magnets, with the potential to destroy the equipment.

Part of the mission of the test program, Hartwig says, was “to actually go off and intentionally quench a full-scale magnet, so that we can get the critical data at the right scale and the right conditions to advance the science, to validate the design codes, and then to take the magnet apart and see what went wrong, why did it go wrong, and how do we take the next iteration toward fixing that. … It was a very successful test.”

That final test, which ended with the melting of one corner of one of the 16 pancakes, produced a wealth of new information, Hartwig says. For one thing, they had been using several different computational models to design and predict the performance of various aspects of the magnet’s performance, and for the most part, the models agreed in their overall predictions and were well-validated by the series of tests and real-world measurements. But in predicting the effect of the quench, the model predictions diverged, so it was necessary to get the experimental data to evaluate the models’ validity.

“The highest-fidelity models that we had predicted almost exactly how the magnet would warm up, to what degree it would warm up as it started to quench, and where would the resulting damage to the magnet would be,” he says. As described in detail in one of the new reports, “That test actually told us exactly the physics that was going on, and it told us which models were useful going forward and which to leave by the wayside because they’re not right.”

Whyte says, “Basically we did the worst thing possible to a coil, on purpose, after we had tested all other aspects of the coil performance. And we found that most of the coil survived with no damage,” while one isolated area sustained some melting. “It’s like a few percent of the volume of the coil that got damaged.” And that led to revisions in the design that are expected to prevent such damage in the actual fusion device magnets, even under the most extreme conditions.

Hartwig emphasizes that a major reason the team was able to accomplish such a radical new record-setting magnet design, and get it right the very first time and on a breakneck schedule, was thanks to the deep level of knowledge, expertise, and equipment accumulated over decades of operation of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, the Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, and other work carried out at PSFC. “This goes to the heart of the institutional capabilities of a place like this,” he says. “We had the capability, the infrastructure, and the space and the people to do these things under one roof.”

The collaboration with CFS was also key, he says, with MIT and CFS combining the most powerful aspects of an academic institution and private company to do things together that neither could have done on their own. “For example, one of the major contributions from CFS was leveraging the power of a private company to establish and scale up a supply chain at an unprecedented level and timeline for the most critical material in the project: 300 kilometers (186 miles) of high-temperature superconductor, which was procured with rigorous quality control in under a year, and integrated on schedule into the magnet.”

The integration of the two teams, those from MIT and those from CFS, also was crucial to the success, he says. “We thought of ourselves as one team, and that made it possible to do what we did.”

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The Sunday Read: ‘Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion?’

How the criterion collection became the film world’s arbiter of taste..

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In October 2022, amid a flurry of media appearances promoting their film “Tàr,” the director Todd Field and the star Cate Blanchett made time to visit a cramped closet in Manhattan. This closet, which has become a sacred space for movie buffs, was once a disused bathroom at the headquarters of the Criterion Collection, a 40-year-old company dedicated to “gathering the greatest films from around the world” and making high-quality editions available to the public on DVD and Blu-ray and, more recently, through its streaming service, the Criterion Channel. Today Criterion uses the closet as its stockroom, housing films by some 600 directors from more than 50 countries — a catalog so synonymous with cinematic achievement that it has come to function as a kind of film Hall of Fame. Through a combination of luck, obsession and good taste, this 55-person company has become the arbiter of what makes a great movie, more so than any Hollywood studio or awards ceremony.

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Additional production for The Sunday Read was contributed by Isabella Anderson, Anna Diamond, Sarah Diamond, Elena Hecht, Emma Kehlbeck, Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan.

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  1. The Space Race During The Cold War: A Rivalry That Transcended Earth

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  2. ⇉Space Race Research Paper Space ExplorationThe Essay Example

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COMMENTS

  1. 80 Best Space Research Paper Topics

    The 1955 Space Race: Its Enduring Impact on Modern Space Technology and Travel. The 1955 Space Race: A Battle for Supremacy. How the Space Race Transformed America. The 1955 Space Race: The reason the Soviet Union lost to the USA. Space Research Topics. Space research has become popular over the last decades.

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    Explore the wonders of 100+ space research topics, from exoplanets to astrobiology. ... Military applications of space technology and potential arms race in space; Space resource utilization and ownership rights; ... Here are some tips to help you write space research papers: Choose a Narrow Topic: Space is a vast field with numerous sub ...

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    Arguments for Space Exploration. The Transcendental Exposition of the Concept of Space. The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethics. Space Exploration: India Space Mission. Investing in Climate Change vs. Space Exploration. We will write a custom essay on your topic tailored to your instructions! 308 experts online.

  4. 154 Cool Astronomy Research Topics

    Unique Astronomy Research Paper Topics. A review of the Hubble telescope. A closer look at the Haley's comet. Through the mind of early astronomers: Galileo Aristotle, and Ptolemy. What are the advantages of exploring space? The race to explore space and the cold war. Reviewing the first astronauts to visit the moon.

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    The New Space Race. Space exploration today is a long way from the United States-Soviet Union space race in the 1960s. This means that the new space race isn't between a couple of countries but among several players, particularly the fast-growing economies of China, India, and Japan. Today the conversation is more centered on economic ...

  6. Space Race Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines

    Sputnik was the Soviets' first satellite into space—launched into orbit in 1957. Sputnik II followed one month later, and the Space Race began. Americans feared the Soviets would control space and be able to fire missiles at the U.S. from space. Thus, it became imperative that the U.S. be able to counter the Soviet space initiative.

  7. Sputnik and the Space Race: 1957 and Beyond

    The world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the space race. This guide provides suggested research materials on this topic at the Library of Congress and online.

  8. Space Race Essay Prompts

    The Space Race can be an excellent and exciting tool to get your students thinking about the Cold War and the political, military, and social issues that were present in the Cold War. The prompts ...

  9. The social construction of the space race: then and now

    Mai'a K. Davis Cross, The social construction of the space race: then and now, International Affairs, Volume 95, Issue 6, November 2019, Pages 1403-1421, ... Drawing upon fresh archival research and participant observation, the author provides the historical context for understanding the increasingly diverse field of space actors today.

  10. Explore the Space Race With The New York Times's Archive

    With the moon landing on July 20, 1969, America effectively "won" the space race that began with Sputnik's launch 12 years earlier. But public interest in the space program soon waned. By ...

  11. Space race News, Research and Analysis

    SpaceX's historic launch gives Australia's booming space industry more room to fly. Cassandra Steer, Australian National University. About 770 Australian entities are already developing space ...

  12. Reach for the stars: Research Topics on space exploration

    With recent advances in commercial space exploration, we have curated a list of our best Research Topics on outer space. Explore collections edited by experts f

  13. Research Topics List

    Research Topics List. JPL's charter is to conduct robotic space missions for NASA, to explore our own and neighboring planetary systems, understand the origin and evolution of the universe and make critical measurements to understand our home planet and help protect it. We do this by developing integrated capabilities in engineering, science ...

  14. What We Learned from Scientific Investigations on the Space ...

    Between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022, researchers published more than 400 scientific papers based on studies conducted aboard the space station. Read highlights of some of the groundbreaking space station science published this past year below. For more space station research achievements and additional information about the findings ...

  15. The Space Race between the 1960s and 1970s

    "The Space Race between the 1960s and 1970s" is an analysis of the progression of science throughout the named decades and the impact the space exploration had on these achievements. With a focus on the telemetry system of the Voyager Missions, this paper explores topics such as colour photography, satellites, and radio waves. It will explain concepts such as Golay coding which allows for ...

  16. Introduction

    Image courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik-1, the world's first artificial satellite. Only about the size of a beach ball (22.8 inches or 58 cm. in diameter) and weighing 183.9 pounds (83.6 kg), it orbited the Earth in around 98 minutes. The Sputnik ...

  17. Frontiers in Space Technologies

    Technologies for Prospecting, Extraction, and Utilization of Space Resources. An exciting journal which advances our understanding of space technologies and their commercialization - from weather forecasting to satellite navigation.

  18. The Space Race: Timeline, Cold War & Facts

    December 1968 saw the launch of Apollo 8, the first manned space mission to orbit the moon, from NASA's massive launch facility on Merritt Island, near Cape Canaveral, Florida. On July 16, 1969 ...

  19. ≡Essays on Space Race. Free Examples of Research Paper Topics, Titles

    The Space Race left an extensive effect in the field of space travel and led to a whole new advancements into new technologies like Satellite TV, smoke detectors, GPS, The joystick and many other technologies. It also incited many nations to send unmanned spaceships to... Space Race American History Cold War. 6.

  20. The Space Race and its Impact on the Cold War

    1957 Sputnik launches the space race: at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union sent the first satellite into space. A stunned America reacted by jump-starting its space program, leading to the historic moon landing 12 years later. Men on the moon: a view from Moscow: in July 1969, the United States was poised to make history in space.

  21. Databases

    These keywords and topics can be searched on the library databases and on Google for sources outside the library. As always, make sure to vet your sources. Keywords - for exploring a this topic. Space race: Kennedy Space Center: New space race: ... directories, grey literature, research reports, conference papers, web content, and more on ...

  22. The Space Race and Biodefense

    The development of early warning capability for biological events is Big Science. The nation should draw on lessons learned from the space race 6, 7 and other historical challenges, including the Manhattan Project, to ensure success in meeting the present challenge. These lessons include the value of a clear call to action, identification of ...

  23. FHSU Scholars Repository

    the Space Race, cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union were a vital. part in directing the Space Race toward peaceful ends. This paper examines the role that the IGY, the UN, and Cold War tensions played. in the progression of the Space Race during the 1950s and 1960s. In the process it.

  24. Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for

    Together, the papers describe the design and fabrication of the magnet and the diagnostic equipment needed to evaluate its performance, as well as the lessons learned from the process. Overall, the team found, the predictions and computer modeling were spot-on, verifying that the magnet's unique design elements could serve as the foundation ...

  25. NASA's Space Tech Prize Bolsters Diversity, Inclusivity Champions

    NASA selected the first winners of the agency's Space Tech Catalyst prize to expand engagement with underrepresented and diverse individuals in the space technology sector as part of the agency's broader commitment to inclusivity and collaboration. The winners are receiving $25,000 each to create more inclusive space technology ecosystems.

  26. The Sunday Read: 'Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion?'

    Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify. In October 2022, amid a flurry of media appearances promoting their film "Tàr," the director Todd Field and the star Cate Blanchett made ...