One Small step for… NFA-LD?
Alright! Our first poll is finished at SoCal-LD.net and our community topic for next year that we’ll submit is on Space Exploration.
Here are the requirements for the brief due by Jan 31 – so we have about two weeks.
In order to be accepted for consideration, the topic area must be in the form of a 1-2 page brief which includes:
1. A statement of the significance of the topic area in current events;
2. A statement of why the topic is interesting, challenging, and/or provocative;
3. A statement of the perceived educational value of the topic area for debaters;
4. A brief bibliography of selected readings (5-10) that capture the nature of the controversy surrounding the area; and
5. Contact information should the committee need further clarification.
Remember, in order for a brief to be accepted, it must meet all of the above qualifications.
I think the best thing we can do now is start searching for the 5-10 readings that capture the nature of the controversy in space exploration right now. Once we have those 5-10 we should be able to craft 1-3 pretty easily. Nick has actually already done a lot of the work in his comment to the poll post. Remember that you are limited to 1-2 pages so this needs to be brief rather than exhaustive.
I know that the high school topic in 1990-91 was “Resolved: that the United States Government should significantly increase space exploration beyond Earth’s mesosphere.” That year, if I remember correctly, the topic was amended after it was announced to add “mesosphere” because the literature base was just too much without “beyond Earth’s mesosphere.” But remember that at this step we’re not proposing a resolution – just a topic area.
If you find a particularly good article regarding space exploration please post it in the comments.
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Comments
I just want to put in my $.02 that I think this will be a timely topic. My father works for United Launch Alliance (All the U.S.-based rockets that put satellites up are built and operated by them), and after the imminent retirement of the Shuttle Program, individual rockets will be the only way for anything to get into space (you know, beyond the mesosphere).
Get off the rock is an obvious place to start, but one of the things my Dad is always reminding me of is how much of our current technology was discovered directly or indirectly through the space program. It’s difficult to claim “we’ll know more stuff” as solvency since we don’t know exactly what that knowledge will be, but if we can examine the last forty years and extrapolate out, we should be able to make a persuasive claim for dramatically increasing funding to our space program.
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Here’s my little preface
“Space…the final frontier.”
These four simple words have captivated American television audiences for over four decades. While Captain Kirk has long since departed the decks of the original Starship Enterprise, the vision encapsulated by Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” has remained persistent. Five spin-offs, eleven feature films, and hundreds of novels grant testimony to the mass appeal of space exploration.
Of course, space expands well beyond the realm of fictional pop culture. Examples of controversy surrounding space are numerous and complex.
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Current Events in Space Exploration
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I’ll just post citations with tags and let you figure out the rest
NASA FUNDING AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE
UPI.com 09 (12/30/09, ” 2011 budget key to NASA ambitions “, http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/12/30/2011-budget-key-to-NASA-ambitions/UPI-37501262192150/)
US ROLE IN SPACE EXPLORATION IS AT A TURNING POINT
Space Review 1/11 (Roger Handberg, 1/11/10, ” The future of American human space exploration and the “Critical Path” “, http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1543/1)
US DOMINANCE IN SPACE EFFORTS ON THE BRINK – NOW IS THE KEY TIME
Florida Today 09 (John Kelly, 12/21/09, ” World awaits US decision on space exploration’s future “, http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091221/NEWS02/91221002/1006/news01/World+awaits+U.S.+decision+on+space+exploration+s+future)
CHINA IS HEADED TO SPACE
Washington Times 1/7 (John J. Tkacik Jr., 1/7/10, ” China space program shoots for moon “, http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/08/china-eyes-high-ground/?feat=home_headlines)
PRIVATIZATION OF SPACE VENTURES ON THE HORIZON
Wall Street Journal 09 (Andy Pasztor, 12/21/09, ” New Course for Space Exploration Promotes Private Firms “, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126135372896199409.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories)
SQ POLICIES MEAN ISS GOES UNDERUTILIZED
Aviation Week 09 (Frank Morring, Jr., 12/24/09, ” GAO Warns NASA May Never Fully Utilize ISS “, http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/GAO122409.xml&headline=GAO%20Warns%20NASA%20May%20Never%20Fully%20Utilize%20ISS)
MARS ROVERS ARE COOL
CNN International 1/11 (ShelLin Erdman, Maria Boynton, 1/11/10, ” NASA moves forward with Mars exploration plan “, http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/11/mars.exploration/)