Time Schedule:
Robert M Winglee
ESS 102
Seattle Campus
Explores powering the sun, making of space weather conditions, observations from space and from Earth, Earth's space environment, radiation belts and hazards, plasma storms and auroras, electron beams, spacecraft requirements, tooling up for manned exploration. Open to non-science majors.
Class description
A concepts course for liberal arts and beginning science and engineering students interested in the space environment around the Earth, its control by solar activity, and potential opportunities for the exploration of the solar system. The course covers the filling of space with hot ionized gases called plasmas, the Sun as a source of the plasma, the formations of electron beams and guns, orbital mechanics, advanced spacecraft propulsion concepts including plasma propulsion, issues for manned exploration to the planets, the occurrence of plasma storms and aurora, terrestrial and space observations, today's space weather and radiation hazards. Students gain hands-on experience though illustrative demonstrations and participation in a water rocket competition.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Instruction is by 3 lectures a week, a class lab with TA run demonstrations (so no experience is needed) and a computer class involving web-based searches for current spacecraft data.
Recommended preparation
No prerequisites required except a willingness to try something different.
Class assignments and grading
Weekly assignments based on work covered in lectures, reading and the lab and computer classes.
Grade is based approximately 60% on the weekly assignments, 20% on the mid term and 20% on the final.
