Topics in Communication Studies (395-0-30)
Topic
The New Outer Space
Instructors
James J Schwoch
Meeting Info
Locy Hall 301: Wed 3:00PM - 5:50PM
Overview of class
This course offers a selective, yet galactic, approach to investigating the contemporary conditions of outer space in 2020s and 2030s. No longer the semi-exclusive domain of a few powerful nations and a handful of rich corporations (although both remain very active), still grudgingly shared with scientists such as astronomers and earth scientists (now shared more grudgingly than ever before) what is increasingly called The New Outer Space involves activities by most of the nations of the planet, a huge range and diverse scale of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and inventors, and a largely uniformed public that knows little to nothing about The New Outer Space that is arriving for our future. We will look at issues such as the vanishing of dark and quiet skies as satellites increase in number and undermine astronomical research; plans to build telescopes on the Shielded (Dark) side of the Moon; the growing environmental problems of space debris returning to Earth and splashdown at Point Nemo, the rapidly filling oceanic graveyard of satellites; the competition for access to and control of Cislunar Space; whether and why The Moon needs its own time zone; mega-constellations of satellites that will grow to includes thousands of satellites in orbit; LEO, MEO, GEO and other orbits; new direct-to-smartphone satellites such as BlueWalker 3, at certain moments the 9th-brightest object in the skies of the Northern Hemisphere; Space Advertising with coordinated satellites depicting corporate logos and similar images; names and corporations you have likely heard of, such as Elon Musk and SpaceX, as well as activities likely unknown to many, such as the rising importance of New Zealand as a launch site; and why nations we do not often associate with outer space activities (Rwanda, Luxembourg, and many others) are now co-investing with industry start-ups for a huge and growing range of outer space activities. Assignments will include attendance, short papers, short in-class oral reports, and tracking and reporting on selected satellites, projects, and corporations. When weather conditions permit (generally clear skies and ice and snow free) the last hour of class will be held outdoors as we attempt to observe ISS, Tiangong, BlueWalker 3, and the ACS3 Solar Sail if and when these and other objects are visible in the Evanston night sky. If we are very lucky, we might even see a Starlink deployment of 50+ cubesats at once. Dress for winter outdoors and look up.
Class Attributes
Attendance at 1st class mandatory
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Communication Studies Majors only until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.