It was a video clip on the discussion with NASA, TAIOKOL, and their engineers, on the night before the launch. It was the first time NASA welcomed qualified people on board together to go to space feel the extraordinary experience apart from astronauts. NASA had launched space shuttles into the space and having its astronauts coming back in one piece for 19 times before that, and the twentieth marked the first time it would be taking customers “for a ride”.
The engineers from TAIOKOL were extremely uncertain the day before the launch. From their Point of View, the old rings in the shuttles were too cold and has thus contracted, thus it cannot serve its function of sealing up the gases such that they do not leak out. Yet, NASA thinks that they should, and have, to launch the space craft or they could not explain to the rest of the world, and The Challengers. The engineers took several pictures of the old rings in the space craft but they stated that from their personal experience, the old rings looked blacker than normal and are afraid, not ready for the next day. The temperature outside that day was around 17 degrees, which is way lower than the minimum temperature the old rings were designed to accommodate for.
Yet, NASA rebutted by stating two examples of which also flew when the temperature was below the range old rings could withstand and still seal and nothing happened to them. The engineers could very well explain to NASA about why, but they did not know how, and the next day, the space shuttle exploded a few minutes after its take off…….
From this video clip, i have learnt many lessons, the first being how important every single step is in making decision, especially heavy ones like whether the space craft should take off the next day. It is absolutely necessary to make sure of everything and plan it ahead. The mistakes made in the film that caused the disaster was the firstly, the engineers should not have just gave up when they knew something was just not right. Next, they should have, like NASA said, brought up the issue about just how cold can the old ring function in. Thirdly, this discussion should not have even took place just the night before the takeoff, it should have been planned way ahead, such that they can have time to discuss of any sudden change.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Incident in Norway
On the 25th of July, the government building of Norway was greeted by a suddenly explosion, killing 10 and harming many others. Without even giving time for the citizens of Norway to recover from the shock, another worse case of massive death happened. On small island just near the coast of Oslo, more than a hundred teenagers were killed. These two acts are done by the same person, but shockingly not a terrorist, but someone whom has grown up in Norway. All of these make the entire world wonder if it really did happened in Norway.
Police took about 2 and more hours to arrive at the island to stop the massacre by the Norway man, whom was killing anyone on sight with a Micro Galil Scope. On that day, the island was filled with teenagers from different countries. The result of the slow reaction of the police and the army resulted in the deaths of more than 100 teens on the island.
Actually, the fact that the police took so long to arrive is expected. Firstly, in such a peaceful country like Norway, they are not trained to respond too well to these situations. Next, the reason the government gave for such a slow response was because of the lack of helicopter in the place and had to take a car to travel there. This was expected, since Norway is a country not like China or America which are developing. Instead, Norway gives a sense of calm and slow paced society perfect for tourism. But this is also why many citizens in Norway are unhappy with so many immigrants.
We can see that after so many years after the collapse of the WTC, those whom disagree with the government and the letting in of so many immmigrants became the main cause of the problems of such countries. ALthough there have been some unhappy conflicts in between, such a massacre is still extremely rare. What does this mean to Singapore, a country which their citizens are also unhappy with the influx of immigrants? Although PM lee always emphasizes of racial harmony, I personally think that a special platform for Singaporeans to voice their views for the government to work is required to further prevent these things from happening.
Anyway, who wants their family and loved ones to be in danger?
Police took about 2 and more hours to arrive at the island to stop the massacre by the Norway man, whom was killing anyone on sight with a Micro Galil Scope. On that day, the island was filled with teenagers from different countries. The result of the slow reaction of the police and the army resulted in the deaths of more than 100 teens on the island.
Actually, the fact that the police took so long to arrive is expected. Firstly, in such a peaceful country like Norway, they are not trained to respond too well to these situations. Next, the reason the government gave for such a slow response was because of the lack of helicopter in the place and had to take a car to travel there. This was expected, since Norway is a country not like China or America which are developing. Instead, Norway gives a sense of calm and slow paced society perfect for tourism. But this is also why many citizens in Norway are unhappy with so many immigrants.
We can see that after so many years after the collapse of the WTC, those whom disagree with the government and the letting in of so many immmigrants became the main cause of the problems of such countries. ALthough there have been some unhappy conflicts in between, such a massacre is still extremely rare. What does this mean to Singapore, a country which their citizens are also unhappy with the influx of immigrants? Although PM lee always emphasizes of racial harmony, I personally think that a special platform for Singaporeans to voice their views for the government to work is required to further prevent these things from happening.
Anyway, who wants their family and loved ones to be in danger?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Snow White, poisoned by the apple?
Who haven't heard of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? And who doesn't know about how she was poisoned by her step-mother? Such as story has accompanied us through our early years, but who would have thought that such a story would be played over and over again in our realistic life now?
As technology advances, more and more people young people are interacting with technology and advanced devices. Wherever one goes, we would find a few people with an "Iphone" at hand, some listening to music, some playing apps like "Angry Birds" or "Fruit Ninja", while others with an Ipad watches a movie or plays a racing game. As the number of high-tech products gets even more in the market, more people involve themselves in a virtual world, instead of feeling the real nature of the Earth.
Its is true that these products have brought life much easier for us, if it was not for these inventions, we would not be able to communicate with each other, if it was not for these things we wouldn't be able to gain access to millions of information at the click of a mouse.
But now we are too dependent of them, instead of using technology with a grateful thought in mind. This deadly, poisoned apple has already infected many in the world, even little kids who still cant speak, you see them carrying a Ipad around while their parents is busy. Well then, imagine what will they be like when they grow up? Spending their childhood with such products instead of friends?
Thus, i think we should stop spending too much time to these addictive products and go out and enjoy the nature. Don't wait till you are already too old before you realise how much of life you have missed when you were young.
As technology advances, more and more people young people are interacting with technology and advanced devices. Wherever one goes, we would find a few people with an "Iphone" at hand, some listening to music, some playing apps like "Angry Birds" or "Fruit Ninja", while others with an Ipad watches a movie or plays a racing game. As the number of high-tech products gets even more in the market, more people involve themselves in a virtual world, instead of feeling the real nature of the Earth.
Its is true that these products have brought life much easier for us, if it was not for these inventions, we would not be able to communicate with each other, if it was not for these things we wouldn't be able to gain access to millions of information at the click of a mouse.
But now we are too dependent of them, instead of using technology with a grateful thought in mind. This deadly, poisoned apple has already infected many in the world, even little kids who still cant speak, you see them carrying a Ipad around while their parents is busy. Well then, imagine what will they be like when they grow up? Spending their childhood with such products instead of friends?
Thus, i think we should stop spending too much time to these addictive products and go out and enjoy the nature. Don't wait till you are already too old before you realise how much of life you have missed when you were young.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
In the newspaper, there have been a stunning achievement for Shanghai, China. In an international contest for all countries in three areas, the city topped in all. These three areas are science, math and reading ,their mother tongue. Countries like the united States, England and Singapore participated in this test. The principal of HCI was interested in the reason as to why Singapore could not score higher than Shanghai in any of the areas and thus wishes to know how the method of education is different from Singapore, learning from a school in Shanghai.The current secondary school principal of that school in Shanghai is Zhangren Li, and the method of teaching he uses is called '后茶馆教学方法'. This teaching method is inherited from his teacher, 段力佩. He was a famous educator, and the method was invented by him.
Just like what a tea shop hints, this method is mainly the students doing the discussion and talking instead of the traditional teacher way. The method consists of 4 components, reading, discussing, practicing and talking. Reading, is reading of textbooks, on what will be thought that day. Whereas discussing, is a group discussion. While the students reads the textbook, the teacher will write down, on the white board what to take note off in the text. Then, after the reading is over, questions will be asked by both the teacher and students and groups of, normally 4, will be assigned to discuss about the questions and come out of answers with their knowledge and from the textbook. Then, each group would answer each other's questions, with the help of the teacher. Only then would a lesson end.
What i would like to ask it is, why is it, Singapore a more developed country as compared to China, cannot score higher than Shanghai in any of the three areas? Shouldn't Singapore be worried?
Just like what a tea shop hints, this method is mainly the students doing the discussion and talking instead of the traditional teacher way. The method consists of 4 components, reading, discussing, practicing and talking. Reading, is reading of textbooks, on what will be thought that day. Whereas discussing, is a group discussion. While the students reads the textbook, the teacher will write down, on the white board what to take note off in the text. Then, after the reading is over, questions will be asked by both the teacher and students and groups of, normally 4, will be assigned to discuss about the questions and come out of answers with their knowledge and from the textbook. Then, each group would answer each other's questions, with the help of the teacher. Only then would a lesson end.
What i would like to ask it is, why is it, Singapore a more developed country as compared to China, cannot score higher than Shanghai in any of the three areas? Shouldn't Singapore be worried?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Music Project ~
Our music project, which Mr Ong had assigned us to do, started off with me, quek yong jie and raywen. We decided to play an orchestra piece since we three are all from the hwachong string orchestra. I play the viola, raywen the cello and yongjie plays the double bass. Thus, we initially chose the piece Canon in D since it is simple yet can be played with these few people. Canon in D also requires a violinist and thus we invited eliel to help us.
Then, as the weeks went by, i changed my CCA and we could not get all the parts of the score for Canon in D. Therefore, we decided to change to sing a rap song by Jay Chou titled 听妈妈的话. It is a song about how and why we should listen to our mother.
Lets hope we archive success tomorrow (:
Then, as the weeks went by, i changed my CCA and we could not get all the parts of the score for Canon in D. Therefore, we decided to change to sing a rap song by Jay Chou titled 听妈妈的话. It is a song about how and why we should listen to our mother.
Lets hope we archive success tomorrow (:
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