Will Knox 3/4/14
Earth Science C-Even Mrs. McClellan
"NASA Does Five Earth Science Launches in 2014." Thecherrycreeknewscom. N.p., 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. <http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/nasa-does-five-earth-science-launches-in-2014/>.
"NASA Does Five Earth Science Launches In 2014"
NASA will have five launches including two to the International Space Station. The two to the ISS are apart of an active year for NASA Earth science researchers. The missions will measure ocean winds, clouds, and aerosols. The satellites help scientists and policymakers find answers to challenges that are facing Earth. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden stated, “With five new missions set to launch in 2014, this really is shaping up to be the year of the Earth, and this focus on our home planet will make a significant difference in people’s lives around the world.” The first NASA mission is the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) launched February 27th. The mission introduces a new international satellite constellation that will produce the first nearly global observations of snow and rain. This will help answer questions about the water cycle, and improve water resources, and forecasting. This summer in July NASA's mission to advance our understanding of CO2 in climate change. The mission will make precise global measurements of CO2 levels. And how greenhouse gases cycle through Earth's oceans, land and atmosphere. In November NASA will launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The mission will track Earth's water into the soil. SMAP will map Earth's soil moisture and show where the soil's freeze-thaw state is to improv understanding of cycles. SMAP will also show Earth's plant growth and agricultural productivity, weather and climate forecasts, and monitoring floods and droughts across the globe. "...ISS will come into its own as an important platform for studying the Earth system and global change,” said Julie Robinson, space station chief scientist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
I chose this article because I saw how important it was to start researching our planet more than trying to find ways to live on other planets. This will effect society because it will give more knowledge on Earth and our surrounding, and will give us better predictions for weather and natural disasters. I am very happy that NASA is wanting learn more about Earth than other planets because it will better everybody's future.
The article only gave brief points about the missions and did not go into much detail. I thought it was an easy article for everyone to read, it wasn't that challenging and it would be for the greater good of people to read this article to get a better understanding of our planet. I did like how the article was basic enough to keep the reader interested and to not lose them in the reading. Because it was an easy read it wasn't hard to understand what the article was talking about and thats what I wanted noting to hard so that I would get lost. But nothing that was to vague so that I would find the article boring to read.
I think the topic you chose is very interesting. I think it is very important that NASA is doing this. All around the world there are many water problems and droughts, such as California and Cyprus. Right now, while these droughts are “under control,” there will come a day where we can no longer control things. It is great that NASA is taking initiative and trying to learn more about the problems and take care of them before things get out of hand. I think you did a great job in explaining all the missions that are launched or will be launched. You explained in great detail about the GPM, the SMAP mission, etc. I also think that you actually had a good understanding of what you were talking about rather than just listing information. You actually understood all the missions and what they would mean and how they would help. I think the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission is really cool. I didn’t know they could map the soil moisture regularly in that way. I think all these missions are very important and will really help us take more control of our Earth, as you said. I think although your description of the missions were brief, you still managed to explain the main points of the missions very well. The only suggestion to you I would make is maybe come up with another reason of how this relates to our society and how it could help us 20 years in the future. I agree that it will help us give better predictions for natural disasters and a better chance to help from causing so much damage. However how would this research do you think could help droughts or help everyday life? But overall, very good job and I will definitely keep up on these missions, because of their importance.
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