Project Mercury and Its Legacy Essay Example for Free

Project Mercury and Its Legacy Essay In the twentieth century, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a competition called the Space Race. This was a race to who would be the first country to send a rocket and a human being up into space. Although the Soviet Union was the first to send both a rocket and a human up into space, the United States successfully carried out a space mission called Project Mercury. Project Mercury was carried out in 1959 and came to a conclusion in 1963. It was the first human spaceflight program that was undertaken by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). From when it was first introduced, to when the space mission was carried out, and when it had succumbed to its end, Project Mercury became an important mission which left one of the greatest legacies in United States history. In the initiation of Project Mercury, the government began a search for seven great Americans who would become United Statess first astronauts. To be considered for the position, the Americans had to meet some requirements, which were as follows: needed to be test pilots, needed to be no taller than 511, needed to weigh no more than 180 pounds, needed to be under the age of forty, needed to have a Bachelors degree or equivalent, have 1,500 hours of flying time, and have qualifications for flying jets. In addition to the requirements, the pilots had to go through rigorous testing and training that would assure that they were capable handling problems the spacecraft and the flight may pose on them. Out of the handful of pilots who met these requirements, only seven were chosen to become Americas first astronauts who were Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton. Since these flights were going to be manned, NASA contracted Max Faget as the primary designer, along with a team of engineers to build the Mercury Spacecraft. Its design was a cone-shaped one-man capsule with a cylinder mounted on top. Two meters (6 ft, 10 in) long, 1.9 meters (6 ft, 2 1/2 in) in diameter, a 5.8 meter (19 ft, 2 in) escape tower was fastened to the cylinder of the capsule. The blunt end was covered with an ablative heat shield to protect it against the 3000 degree heat of entry into the atmosphere (Mercury Spacecraft). This design would be the first capsule that would go up into space. Project Mercury was finally undertaken after all of the seven American Astronauts were physically and mentally prepared, the spacecraft was built, and the rockets were safe to launch. Before America could send the first human up into space, they needed to make sure that the rocket was not going to blow up as it had done in launch tests. Engineers and scientists were working hard to accomplish this, but trial after trial, the rockets were always blowing up. Finally, NASA was able to perfect the rocket, and on May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard was the first American to be launched into space on the spacecraft called Freedom 7. This event was one of the greatest moments for America which anticipated further launches into space to explore what is beyond Earths atmosphere. The second flight was manned by Gus Grissom who was launched into space on the spacecraft called Liberty Bell on July 21, 1961. He successfully was able to complete a suborbital flight, but as he landed, his spacecraft hatch blew open and NASA was not able to recover the spacecraft. The first American to orbit the Earth was the third flight using the Friendship 7 spacecraft that was manned by John Glenn on February 20, 1962. He was only able to orbit the Earth three times due to concerns about the spacecrafts heat shield. Then, on May 15, 1963, Gordon Cooper became the first American to be in space for over a day and successfully orbited the Earth twenty-two times using the Faith 7 spacecraft. He was also the last American astronaut to be launched into space alone. Ultimately, Project Mercury came to its end creating one of the greatest legacies of United States history. The overall cost for Project Mercury added up to $1.6 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars (Program Cost). There are numerous legacies that Project Mercury left to Americans. One of those legacies is the will of America to continue the space programs after President John F. Kennedy said that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth (President Kennedys Challenge). Also, Project Mercurys greatest legacy is that it was United States first successful human spaceflight program. Project Mercury also influenced author Tom Wolfe who wrote the book The Right Stuff, which was later developed into a movie directed by Philip Kaufman. In conclusion, from the inception and up to the end of the space program, Project Mercury was a prominent accomplishment for the United States, leaving one of the greatest legacies for America. It changed the game of how America would accomplish its goals of becoming the first country to send an astronaut to the moon. At the end, the seven American astronauts who were chosen to be part of the space program will always be part of United States history and Project Mercury will continue to be the reason for where we are today pertaining to Americas advanced space program.

Sports Agents Essay -- History Athletics Sport Agent Essays

Sports Agents People have been entertained by sport since before the gladiators in the Roman Coliseum. In the 20th century, the publics’ passion for sport consumes more and more of their free time. As sports figures became internationally recognized, athletes began to realize their need for professional representation. Thus, sports agents were born. The field of sports agents has grown since then into an enormous field. Agents now deal with every aspect of an athlete’s life. Agents can be considered professional mangers who find the best place for their client’s talent. Sports Agents have not been around for a long time. â€Å"Until the 1970’s, very few players had agents because teams would not deal with agents (Masteralexis, 244).† Many times players found that having an agent was a disadvantage to them. For example, â€Å"In 1964 Jim Ringo brought his financial advisor (agent) to help negotiate a contract with Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. Lombardi excused himself for a minute, when he returned he told the agent that he was negotiating with the wrong team (Masteralexis, 244).† Agents had been around since prior to the 70’s, but were few and far between. C. C. â€Å"cash $ carry† Pyle is though to be the first Sports Agent. The first account of negotiations came when Pyle â€Å"Negotiated a deal with the Chicago Bears for Red Grange to earn $3,000 per game and $300,000 in endorsement and movie rights (Masteralexis, 244).† A few years later Babe Ruth allegedly consulted sports cartoonist Christy Walsh to serve as his financial consultant through the depression. These early accounts are the beginning of the Sports Agent. It took years for the agent to develop however.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the 1970’s the Sports Agency business has sky rocketed. There are five main factors that account for this. The reserve system is the first factor that lead to the growth of the Sports Agent. The reserve system was a restrictive system that limited the free, or open market. This enabled owners to retain rights to players and depress their salaries. Major League Baseball had the first system, which consisted of two parts, the reserve clause and the reserve list. The reserve clause stated that each player’s contract could be renewed by the team season after season, for as long as the club wished. The reserve list was sent to each team by the league. Teams had to place the names of r... ... sport, but is generally under five years. Therefore, it is the agent’s job to maximize earning potential during and after the athlete’s playing career. At the same time it is the agents job to protect the athlete from overexposure. â€Å"The agent must balance the need to maximize exposure with doing what is best personally and professionally for the athlete† (Masteralexis, 1998). This function also includes the agent investing time, energy, and money into the athlete’s career before the player has made it big. If the athlete’s career doesn’t take off, this results in the agent losing money. Dispute resolution follows career and post career planning on the list of functions. Dispute resolution is somewhat self-explanatory. It includes the agent resolving disputes with the league, team, teammates, fans, referees or umpires, the media, and endorsement companies. â€Å"Renowned baseball agent Dennis Gilbert likens the role of the agent to a shield, stating that it is the agent’s task to shield the athlete from the headaches that go along with resolving disputes† (Schwarz, 1996). This so called â€Å"shield† allows players to concentrate completely on their sport, without outside distractions.

Child Beauty Pageants Should Be Banned

Child beauty pageants should be banned Child beauty pageants should be banned because they cause children, especially little girls, to use artificial means to boost their self esteem. People were not born with makeup, spray tans, big hair, and false teeth. Beauty pageants set false rules on beauty. They make children believe they have to wear make-up, jewelry, wigs, fake nails, and other acessories to be beautiful. Every child is beautiful in their own way. Their beauty is natural and they shouldn't have to have anyone's opinion on the way they look.Beauty pageants can also cause serious mental and health issues. They can lead to depression, anorexia, suicide, and many other serious issues. Children might starve themselves to lose which could lead to eating disorders. Beauty pageants can cause depression, and depression may later lead to a suicide Children shouldn't be forced to be in pageants. Mothers try to live their dream through their children. Children shouldn't get their lives taken away from them.They only get one childhood, they don't get it back after it's over. Any parent placing their child in these types of pageants, based solely on looks, is giving their child the attitude that appearance can get you anywhere in life. It is wrong to teach children that looks are the most important asset to possess. I am not stating that children shouldn't be encouraged to develop a talent or skill, and compete with that talent or skill, I am stating that competing over looks is sending the wrong message to children.

Outline of Ancient Greece Society and Culture - 1833 Words

Classes of citizens Aristoi (Upper Class) †¢ Citizens without jobs †¢ Had slaves attend to their material needs †¢ They lived in leisure Metics (Middle Class) †¢ Largely non-citizen working class Periokoi (Lower Class) †¢ Mostly freedmen who at one point had been slaves †¢ Usually not citizens †¢ Ceramic Industry owned by the middle class †¢ Made sure the navy fleet was maintained Slaves †¢ Rescued infants †¢ prisoners of war †¢ criminals †¢ victims of slave raids †¢ Very few Greek slaves †¢ Slaves were whipped when they misbehaved †¢ Most people were kind to their slaves Roles of men †¢ Men were in charge of the family or household. †¢ Treated with great respect †¢ Men laid on couches and had slaves attend to them while eating dinner †¢ Women and children ate in separate room. †¢ Considered the most important people in ancient Greece. Roles of women †¢ Not allowed to eat or sleep in the same room as men. †¢ Not allowed to go to the Olympics or marketplace of a city. †¢ Ran the household and managed the slaves. Roles of children †¢ All girls were taught how to cook, weave, and clean †¢ Girls of wealthy families were expected to marry the man their father chose for them at age 15 †¢ Boys were considered more important than girls †¢ Went to school at age 6 †¢ Learned to read, write, and add †¢ Expected to have a healthy mind and body †¢ Began to train for the their future jobs at age 16 Events 1. The Battle of Thermopylae †¢ Took place in 480 BCE †¢ Between the Greeks and the Persians †¢ First battle inShow MoreRelatedThe French Revolution Essay examples1018 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween the French Revolution and the age of antiquity, more specific Ancient Greece. We shall compare dominant figures of both the French Revolution and Ancient Greece by using examples from writings from both ancient literature and contemporary and giving direct examples to support the ideas in this essay. Furthermore, this essay will discuss how similar the emergence of democracy in Ancient Greece is to the emergence of it in the French Revolution. The French RevolutionRead MoreGreek Gods and Goddess875 Words   |  4 PagesThe Greek Gods: Ancient vs. Modern Views According to ancient Greek mythology the Greek gods and goddesses had at one time lived the savage, brutal and ugly life of humans. Eventually, however, they managed to rise above this ancient fierceness to become the nineteen elder gods and goddesses the Greeks knew as The Titans, who ruled the earth in a primordial era before the Olympian gods overthrew them. The ancient Greeks of the first millennium before the Christian era believedRead MoreGeography And History Assessment Of Ancient Olympia1566 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion 1: Using two different types of maps show the location of the site of Ancient Olympia. Political map of Ancient Olympia Physical map of Ancient Olympia Question 2: Outline the World Heritage Criteria the site of Ancient Olympia meets. Refer to specific criteria. The Site of Ancient Olympia meets the World Heritage Criteria in points i, ii, iii, iv and vi. The Site of Ancient Olympia is not only a famous masterpiece of beauty, but beneath it’s maskRead MoreAthenians and Spartans : Difference in Values1369 Words   |  6 PagesHow and why did the values of Athenians differ from that of the Spartans? Ancient Greece provided the rudiments of Western civilisation; it has had a colossal influence on language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, science, and arts. In the following several pages I hope to demonstrate explicitly, the bold differences between the two provinces, and to suggest the relativity, of Ancient Greece conventions, to modern times. In doing this I will bring upon wars, economic stances, and mostRead MoreThe Other Hand By Anthony Smith Essay735 Words   |  3 PagesOn the other hand, Anthony Smith, for example, illustrates that identities have clear deterministic characteristics that shape both small societies, nations and states. There are four major determinants that Smith illustrates in his work: distinguishable characteristics of national as opposed to other kinds of collective cultural identification; the role of ethnic bases in the formation of new nations; the nature and impact of different nationalist ideologies and symbolism of the formation of et hnicRead MoreAncient Greek And Roman Architecture Essay1972 Words   |  8 PagesThis essay will mostly outline the main similarities and differences associated with ancient Greek and Roman architecture. This paper will venture to distinguish the physical and integral differences between ancient Roman and Greek architecture. It will also determine the similarities associated with these two variations of ancient architecture. In addition, this paper will explain why and how these forms of architecture are still relevant in today’s society. Ancient architecture is not just a thingRead MoreGoddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves: Classical Women of Antiquity1109 Words   |  4 Pagesof females in the literary imagination and the societies of ancient Greece and Rome, over a period of fifteen hundred years. Beginning with goddesses, Pomery retells some Greek myths, outlining the social functions of female Olympians – the goddesses are archetypical images of human females, as envisioned by males. Desirable characteristics among a number of females rather than their concentration in one being are appropriate to a patriarchal society. Demosthenes states in the fourth century B.C.Read MoreAristotle s Views On Ancient Greek Democracy884 Words   |  4 PagesSwiss-French writer Benjamin Constant and ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle offer conflicting viewpoints concerning the merits and possibilities of ancient Greek democracy. Aristotle’s political theory attempts to justify his city-state’s political structure by providing a model of the common good, or Chief Aim, his end goal for Athenian democracy. He believed Athenians could reach the Chief Aim as a society by individually learning to be virtuous and then instilling laws and morals based on theseRead MoreSocial Class During Ancient Roman Music1769 Words   |  8 PagesSocial Class in Ancient Roman Music What was social classes impact on the evolution of music in Ancient Rome? That is an important question because it parallels how music in modern day, mostly American, society has progressed. Similar to Rock and Roll being taken from the Blues(History), the Romans took all of their musical knowledge from the areas the empire conquered. The Roman empire was alive from 146 BCE-395 CE, the empire covered most of modern day Europe, and small parts of North Africa,Read MoreTaking a Look at the Italian Renaissance690 Words   |  3 Pages- 1700 → Raphael, Titian, Carlo Maderno, Artemisia Gentileschi Take notes on the contributions that the artist made to: → development of art techniques → furthering of ideas of philosophy, nature, and society. → influence on or reveals about techniques (art), society (values, ideas, culture), artist ⇒ beauty, value (sales price), techniques (style) ~~ The Renaissance is the rebirth of Europe, and considered as the beginning of modern history. In this era of time, people looked back and studied