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WHY HUMANS DON’T HAVE TAILS

Article Analysis-Why Humans Don’t Have Tails.

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WHY HUMANS DON’T HAVE TAILS

Published by Smithsonian Magazine, Corryn Wetzel 2021 article, “Why Humans Don’t Have Tails”, delves into how and why some primates, such as human beings lost their tails. For a long time, this issue has remained largely a mystery, however, new information suggests that a single genetic mutation might have caused the sudden change. Wetzel notes that the primate ancestors relied on their tails to provide balance as they navigated the treetops. This was not until 25 million years ago when researchers came across fossil records of tailless apes. A graduate student at NYU, Bo Xia, grew interested in researching the disappearance of tails in human beings after he had an accident and injured his coccyx, a triangular bone found at the base of the human spine.

To know exactly how and why human beings lost their tails, Xia and his colleagues took it upon themselves to study the stages of embryonic growth during which specific genes are switched off and on. These genes contain regulate the formation of various sections of a skeleton. Scientists had already recognized 30 genes critical to tail development among other animals. As such, the study already suspected the possibility of a genetic mutation(s) as being responsible for erasing human tails. Upon comparing DNA of six apes without tails to nine species of monkeys with tails, they found that humans and apes shared a mutation that monkey’s lacked (Magazine & Wetzel, 2022). Their research led to the discovery of a gene called TBXT. To assess whether it was possible to connect tail disappearance to mutation, the researchers genetically tweaked mice to give the same TBXT mutation as humans. After making the genetic edit, most of the rodents did not grow tails, while some developed short tails. A geneticist from Cornell University noted that although the research could not prove that a single mutation was entirely responsible for the mutation that led to the disappearance of tails in humans, it was the closest thing to a smoking gun we could get. Most importantly, the research concluded that our ancestors lost their tails suddenly and not gradually, which aligns with fossil record findings of scientists.

Judging from the findings of the research highlighted in this article, there is a huge possibility that human beings at one point had a tail that eventually disappeared. In my standpoint, I agree with Xia’s findings that either a single mutation or several mutations were responsible for the disseverance of the human tail. Although the findings of the research are sturdy, the main concern would be what other factors triggered the mutation. From my standpoint, I feel that multiple factors could have triggered the mutation. Without a doubt, genes had everything to do with the mutation, but that does not take away from the possibility that other factors such as change of environment, diet, or even climate could have triggered the genetic mutation of tail disappearance. In essence, genetic mutation is such a complex issue that can be difficult to understand especially if one does not have a scientific background. The discovery of the TBXT gene is the closest lead that we could have to understanding the sudden disappearance of genes in human beings. I agree with the discoveries made in this article; that the mutation randomly emerged in one single ape millions of years ago and from there was passed from offspring to offspring spreading like wildfire. Until we come across new information that contradicts the discovery that gene (s) mutation is responsible for tail disappearance, it would be better to hold on to this information as the truth because it is the closest we have gotten.

References

Magazine, S., & Wetzel, C. (2022). Why Humans Don’t Have Tails. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 9 February 2022, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-genetic-mutation-that-could-explain-how-humans-lost-their-tail-180978764/.

It is with no doubt that I have grown from the little person I was in the past years to the current huge person I am today

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It is with no doubt that I have grown from the little person I was in the past years to the current huge person I am today. Through a lot of transformations have happened in my life, it is very little that has changed in me. The same facial expressions I used to have still have been retained to the person am growing to be. I have been a serious individual as it can be identified from the portrait, a face that I always wear when being engaged into serious issues and to which I have the responsibility to show how am able to manage. From my portrait, it can be depicted that am a little bit concerned about a certain issue that am deeply thinking on how to overcome it and therefore my facial doesn’t seem that happy.

In my portrait, I used fine art black and white portrait to draw my image. There are several reasons as to why I choose to use the black and white, and that is: the black and white method is simple as it does not require a lot of coloration in modifying the image. Also, it is the easiest way through which a person can express their emotions as well as their mood as the background is already suggestive of a not very well colored mood. In addition, the background of the portrait is also dark indicative of the past dark days to which I have been through in my past life.

In the portrait, I incorporated several principles of designs as well as the elements of design. The principle of alignment has been used in such a way that all the items are placed to where they are supposed to be for example the spectacles are on the eyes. The principle of contrast has also been used in the portrait, the brighter elements such as the face and the clothing can be identified, and as well the boundaries can be distinguished clearly from the other. Among the features of design used in the portrait include the line element that has been achieved at the back of the portrait to indicate the presence of a curtain covering a window. Color is another element of design used, and all through there has been a black and white shading of the portrait. An aspect ratio of the size of the objects and the image has been observed, and all are of the same proportion. My portrait was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s work especially the Mona Lisa painting.

Page 495, fig. 21.24 – Carnival of the Harlequin by Joan Miro, ca. 1924-25

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1) Page 495, fig. 21.24 – “Carnival of the Harlequin” by Joan Miro, ca. 1924-25. Also see http://paintingandframe.com/uploadpic/joan_miro/big/carnival_of_harlequin.jpg 

Describe the shapes in this painting. Are the shapes organic or geometric? Which ones? Describe how the shapes interact, or “touch” each other. Are the edges of the shapes soft or hard? Do they bump, blend, or overlap? Support your answers with specific examples.

Answer:

The shapes in the painting are composed of both organic and geometrical shapes. The organic shapes resemble natural world and include the sun and animals like dogs and insects. The geometric shapes include circle, a cube and a rectangular mart. The edges of the shapes are both soft and hard with others overlapping.

2) Page 183, fig. 8.5 – “Workers of the World, Unite!” by Rockwell Kent, 1937. Also see https://art.famsf.org/sites/default/files/artwork/kent/3154201309360035.jpg 

Describe the use of line in this print. What types of line (long/short, smooth/jagged, slow/aggressive, etc) are present and what do you believe these lines express? Are there any contour lines? Hatching or cross-hatching? Where? In what direction(s) do the lines move? Support your answers with specific examples.

Answer:

The lines used in the painting are slow and aggressive lines to which I believe they represent agility. There are contour lines to which have been used to sketch the image of the man and as well both hatching lines are present all over the painting in a horizontal manner and parallel to each other. The hatch lines have been used to produce value variations in the whole painting.

3) Page 398, fig. 17.12 – “Sortie of Captain Banning Coq’s Company of the Civic Guard (The Night Watch)” by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642. Also see https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/The_Nightwatch_by_Rembrandt.jpg 

Describe the use of light in this painting. Is it generally light or dark? Does it have a broad or narrow value range? Is the light hard or soft? What is your subjective reaction to the painting (do you like it or not and why)? Support your answers with specific examples.

Answer:

The lighting of the painting is generally dark. The painting has a broad range of lighting value. The lighting is hard as the source of light is generally small to the objects. I like the painting because it regards night watching to which is depicted by the lighting to indicate darkness at the night thereby a clear impression of the watchmen.

4) Page 381, fig. 16.18 – “St. Luke Drawing the Virgin” by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435. Also see http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH_214images/rogier/luke/luke_bruges.jpg 

What are the system(s) or method(s) being used to convey the illusion of space? Hint: the artist has used at least 2 methods here. Name and describe them. What is your subjective reaction to the painting? Support your answers with specific examples.

Answer:

Color and value have been used to create the illusion of space as he has used lighter and cooler color to indicate further objects. In addition he has used overlapping to convey illusion of space, the space has been positioned behind the people and the buildings. I like the painting as the illusion of space has been outlined and conveyed clearly differentiating between objects that are close and far such as the women and the sky.

5) Page 248, fig. 11.10 – Colossal Head, Olmec, 1500-300 BCE. Also see http://www.art-prints-on-demand.com/kunst/olmec/colossal_head_1_san_lorenzo_v_hi.jpg 

Describe the mass, form, and shape of this object. Consider the size, density, material(s) used, and how it might interact with the real space around it. How would you describe its texture? Support your answers with specific examples.

Answer:

The object is heavy and in a three dimensional form and shape. The object is huge and heavy and can be used to implicate authority in stature. The texture of the object is rough as the face is wrinkled and there are so many holes around the face implying a rough texture.

6) Page 509, fig. 22.10 – “Blam” by Roy Lichtenstein, 1962, oil on canvas. See also http://www.roylichtenstein.com/images/paintings/blam.jpg 

Describe the use of color in this painting. What hues are present (primary, secondary, and/or tertiary)? Refer to the color wheel on page 90 for assistance. How intense are these individual colors? What are their individual values? What are their temperatures? How has the artist used color to communicate mood? 

Answer:

The color used in the painting is bright with high contrast. Primary hues are present in the painting as it consist of the red, yellow and blue colors. The colors are of deep intensity as well as dark color value. The temperatures of the colors present are both warm and cool, with red and yellow being warm and advances higher and blue being cool.

7) Page 417, fig. 18.8 – Underglaze-painted mosque lamp from the Dome of the Rock, 1549. See also http://www.bmimages.com/pix/PRS/00034175_006.JPG 

Is this an example of rhythm or pattern? Why? Please describe to what degree this object depicts rhythm or pattern.

Answer:

The painting is a pattern. The reason behind is that the objects that are repeated have no variations and are consistent in the same form and manner. The pattern is repeated at an able of 180 degrees.

8) Page 432, fig. 19.7 – “Vishnu Dreaming the Universe”, relief panel, 6th century CE. See also http://arthistoryteachingresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/vishnu_on_the_cosmic_waters-141D1F509017700EE20-531×700.jpg Describe the balance in the relief sculpture. Since no image/object utilizes just one type of balance, please use all applicable terms (horizontal, vertical, occult, etc) in your description. Remember to describe in detail why the image is balanced in this way by pointing out areas that demonstrate this.

Answer:

The balance of the relief sculpture can be termed as being symmetrical as there is equal weights on the equal sides. There are also horizontal and vertical balance. Vertical balance has been achieved by Vishnu while the horizontal balance has been achieved by the servants.

9) Page 256 – “Kneeling Mother with a Child at Her Breast”, Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1907. See also https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/cd/37/d0/cd37d00b344b44dc71d7062730c43423.jpg 

Define “contrast” as a principle of design. What is the level of contrast in this image? Explain in regards to the visual elements (light, line, texture, space, shape, etc). Make sure you consider a variety of types of contrast present in the image, not just one or two.

Answer:Contrast refers to the arrangement of the different elements in a piece of art to create visual interest. Medium contrast level has been used in the image as it is not of low quality and neither are there lots of details in the image. There is no much lighting in the picture but the contrast is good, the texture of the image is smooth and the space has been achieved through overlapping. Size contrast has been achieved by the mother and the breastfeeding baby while light contrast have been achieved by differentiating bright and dark images.

10) Page 451, fig. 19-34 – “The Great Wave at Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai, 1830-32. See also http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/hb/hb_JP1847.jpg 

In your opinion, what is being emphasized in this print? Which visual elements and/or principles of design did the artist subordinate or allow to dominate in order to create this effect. Explain.

Answer:

In the print, motion of water has been emphasized. Visual elements of motion that has been used include rhythm, to which the tides have been repeated though with variations in size. There is also asymmetrical balance as some weight tend to be heavier in the direction of motion. Besides, the lines have been used to indicate motion as well to indicate the movement of water in an aggressive manner.

The Centrality Of An Argument And Analyzing Arguments

Arguments

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The Centrality Of An Argument And Analyzing Arguments

Your first trial to communicate was probably an argument. An argument is not just about disputes and disagreements. It also entails how human beings express themselves to achieve a particular purpose. We encounter and make several arguments every day.

Arguments today are used to seduce people to do a particular deed. You can see this in the advertisement and even when people are asking for funds. A good example is whereby a lady with lovely skin is used for advertising a facial cleanser. It is solely your responsibility to differentiate good arguments from bad ones. Arguments change according to the setting they are used. People also understand arguments differently according to their cultures and beliefs. While coming up with an argument, you should look at the intended audience and use terms to understand. ‘Because arguments are central to our lives, it’s important to understand how they work -and learn how to make effective arguments of your own, remembering that you can do so simply by paying meticulous attention to your purpose, your intended audience, and the rest of your rhetorical situation.’

For you to make a good argument, you have to consider the arguments of other people. When reading an argument, the reader should try and identify it’s the source and what other people think about it. An author should construct his arguments according to how they would like people to perceive him. You should also support your argument with evidence to make it more believable. You can come up with several questions that you would like to base your argument on. Doing this will assist you in coming up with a highly satisfactory argument.

Introduction (14)

Are Families Declining, or are they Resilient in the Face of Change?

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Introduction

Without a doubt, the institution of marriage and family has gone through a transformation both in structure and its meaning to people’s lives. Initially, traditional gender roles dictated how work was carried out both inside and outside the home. Marriage marked entry into adulthood where children were allowed to leave their parents and forge their own lives (Arocho, & Kamp Dush, 2017). I hold that the changes experienced in the family set up have made the family unit to decline rather than being resilient. Findings contend that the family unit is falling apart owing to the vanishing family ties that diminishing by the day, the existence of troubling statistics and horrendous divorce statistics. The purpose of this essay is to assess the effects of major shifts in the conceptualization of marriage and family life and to support the stand that these changes are diminishing the family institution.

The Sexual Revolution, Relaxed Divorce Laws, the women’s liberation movement, and mobility of American families

Some societal changes that took place in the 1960s had a significant effect on the structure of the family structure. The changes had to do with the sexual revolution, relaxation of divorce laws, the women’s liberation movement, and mobility of American families. In the wake of the civil rights movement, women were liberated hence changing the perception of the family structure. Women who graduated from college were empowered and now had an opportunity to establish and assert their independent identities (Petren, Ferraro, Davis, & Pasley, 2017). There was intense awakening in realising that recognizing civil rights meant equal rights for every person in the society, including women. As such, women marched for sexual equality and a broad range of job opportunities and careers available to men. Although the movement bore good outcome, it changed the traditional notions of motherhood, marriage, and family unity forever. Even in the most conservative families, women began standing up for themselves by letting their partners know they would be returning to school or work. This was informed by the need for having two incomes to sustain a decent standard of living. Notably, the legal system allowed no-fault divorce meaning that society did not blame either spouse for divorces. This made the dissolution of marriage easy, including shared responsibility of raising children and property division. Also, following increased mobility, family members no longer lived in close proximity to one another. College graduates were able to take up jobs thousands of miles away from where they lived. The relocations made individuals invest time setting up their lives without the help of family members.

Family Conflicts and Estrangements

Other reasons that make families drift apart range from conflicts and misunderstandings, petty grievances, jealousy, inheritance feuds, sibling rivalry, homosexuality outings and family business disputes. Nowadays, family estrangements have become the norm, and they have become more hurtful and intense. It is common to find sisters not speaking to each other since their parents died or brothers who rarely visit each other because their wives do not get along. Additionally, some sons alienate themselves from the family if they marry a woman who does not want to be associated with the husband’s family. On the hand, daughters will avoid contact with their mother because their mother is always guilt-tripping her. Moreover, conflict in the family occurs when a daughter is disowned for marrying outside their religion or race. Even fathers are disowning sons for revealing they are homosexuals.

Dysfunctional Families and Increasing Divorce Rates

Worth noting, it is clear that the family unit is diminishing as it is no longer a haven. Instead, the family has become dysfunctional and is surrounded by a heartless world. Nations are facing a family relationship landscape that keeps on changing. Assumptions about family structures have been challenged, including raising children out of wedlock, boundaries of single mothers, grandparents raising their grandchildren to gay couple adopting and raising children. Notably, cracks on the American family structures began widening in the last 40 years of the 20th century, but they did not become visible until the mid-1970s when the divorce rate doubled (Pilkauskas & Dunifon, 2016). According to a study conducted by Rutgers University, divorce rates rose by 30% since 1970, marriage rates declined, and only 38% consider themselves happy in their marriages, a significant drop from the 53% recorded 25 years ago (Allendorf & Thornton, 2015). Notably, today 51% of all marriages end in divorce. Unlike the past, the spouse one has in their 20 is less likely the one they will go through mid-life crisis in their 40s.

Counterargument: Grand Parents May not provide Financial Support as they are Not Economically Productive

Worth noting, there is the school of thought that maintains that major shifts have made marriage and families to be resilient than ever. These social scientists believe that despite the challenges, families are happier today because there are multigenerational relationships that they enjoy. Because people have grandparents and great grandparents, they are close to them and get economic and emotional support. I can’t entirely agree with this standpoint because adults are worn and stressed out in their old age. Although children grow up knowing their grandparents, they might not support them moreso financially because they are retired and economically unproductive.

Conclusion

There has been a major shift in the structure of marriage and families and the meaning it has on people’s lives. The family institution has been declining as a result of these changes. Women, for instance, became empowered and ventured into education as well as employment. Additionally, there have been increased rates of divorce among couples and children out of wedlock. Other reasons that make families drift apart range from conflicts and misunderstandings, petty grievances, jealousy, inheritance feuds, sibling rivalry, homosexuality outings and family business disputes.

References

Allendorf, K., & Thornton, A. (2015). Caste and choice: The influence of developmental idealism on marriage behavior. American Journal of Sociology, 121(1), 243-287.

Arocho, R., & Kamp Dush, C. M. (2017). Like mother, like child: Offspring marital timing desires and maternal marriage timing and stability. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(3), 261.

Pilkauskas, N. V., & Dunifon, R. E. (2016). Understanding grandfamilies: Characteristics of grandparents, nonresident parents, and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(3), 623-633.

Petren, R. E., Ferraro, A. J., Davis, T. R., & Pasley, K. (2017). Factors linked with co-parenting support and conflict after divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 58(3), 145-160.

Introduction (15)

Approaches to Ethical Dilemmas

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Part Two

In the face of health crisis such as the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, doctors and physicians are faced with the tough choice of deciding who gets to live and who will die. This is the scenario particularly when hospitals do not have enough equipment including ventilators, beds, and medical personnel to cater for all patients. I agree with the theory of utilitarianism which contends that morality has to do with the consequences of our actions hence the right thing to do is give priority to the people with the highest chances of survival. In my opinion, although nobody should have to bear the burden of deciding the fate of people, in the face of such an unprecedented viral pandemic we must realize that availing scarce treatment to patients with small chances of survival reduces the chances of people with higher survival. In essence, it is only fair that we distribute scarce resources in a way that saves maximum lives.

Part Three

The story of Elizabeth Holmes goes to show the extent to which she went to cover up the fact that her Company Theranos had created and promoted laboratory equipment that was inaccurate and unreliable. Ms. Holmes alongside his partner was charged with conspiring to defraud investors and partners of Theranos in multi-billion dollar scheme. Lying and insisting that the device was carrying out its intended purpose was the cowardly thing to do. Elizabeth maintained that the company was on a mission to revolutionalize how medical tests were done in the laboratory using its innovative methods of drawing, and testing blood as well as interpreting results. The fact that Elizabeth knew that the device was not capable of producing consistent results yet she had been used on patients suffering from serious conditions does not sit right with me. In the real sense, Theranos used commercially-available analyzers as third party testers. It was inconsiderate of her to mislead poor investors into funding her cause with millions of dollars which was never put to good use. Elizabeth was obsessed with making her company a success at all costs including firing members of staff that dared to cross her.

Today I am going to report on an appreciative inquiry done on a restaurant through an interview conducted with the general ma

Appreciative Inquiry presentation.

Today I am going to report on an appreciative inquiry done on a restaurant through an interview conducted with the general manager of Donna Chang restaurant.

An appreciative inquiry involves questions on areas of an institution that is working well and finding the reasons for the current state as well as determining the methods for improvement. It includes four phases; however, I am going to address two, which is the discovery and the dream.

The first phase is the discovery. The discovery interview process involves a conversation with the manager of the restaurant to find out the reasons for their previous successes. It involves questions based on their activities that have ctreated the best positive impact in the organization. It is concerned with the strengths of the company that have helped in its growth and managerial improvement. Looking at the Donna Chang restaurant, the most pressing issue was customer service to attain satisfaction. Customer service is essential in a restaurant as it determines the number of consumers who will visit them as well as how loyal they will be to the firm.

The discovery questions addressed the success factors of the restaurant that made it one of the best in Australia. The questions included:

How would you describe the dynamics of your team?

What influence did your relationship with the team have on the performance of the restaurant?

How well did your team support our objective of increasing consumers?

How did your clients react?

Now let us discuss what I found from the interview. From the manager, the service team have strong interactions, active listening, and communication skills and have developed teamwork. His relationship with employees enhanced problem -solving. Also, the central theme for its success has been management involvement in employee activities as it improved employee engagement, hence improved and quality services.

Now, the second phase of the appreciative inquiry is the dream. The dream theme focuses on envisioning the future of the restaurant through imaginations of possibilities.

I got the findings through an interview with the manager of the restaurant. The conversation included questions that envision what will happen in the future. The questions included:

What is the ideal future customer servicing methodology in the restaurant?

What are the three main accomplishments in achieving the objective of the restaurant five years from now?

Think of an ideal working day in the organization. What goals and strengths have you achieved and utilized to get there?

In an ideal future of collaborative and creative restaurant, how is the interaction between customer and service providers?

Now, what was the dream of the manager at the restaurant? According to him, an ideal future customer servicing involves consistent products and services to ensure the retaining of consumers. To attain quality customer service, the manager dreams of having excellent communications, skills, practical problem solving, and achieve financial stability. Being stable financially means higher payments and rewards for employees, hence motivating them to work harder.

He also envisions improvement in customer satisfaction, growth in restaurant traffic, and having reliable service delivery systems for its consumers.

Now, let me talk about the recommendations based on the manager’s response. First, due to the development of the management involvement theme, the restaurant should embrace a culture of open discussions between management and employees. Also, providing technical training to improve skills and integrating the technical service with the organization to achieve professional customer service.

These factors would enable the restaurant to achieve the manager’s dream in the future.

In the project, I found out that the success of an organization involves a lot of commitment from human capital. From the observation of the employee’s activities, it is amazing to see how the various departments in the company perform their responsibilities, and each activity counts to attaining the set objectives of the company. Therefore, from the accomplished tasks and employees’ hard work, it is possible to foresee the success of the company in the future.

Thank you for your attention.

SWOT analysis for JD.com

Appendices

Appendix 1

SWOT analysis for JD.com

STRENGTHS

Good brand effect and excellent user experience

Authentic guarantee

Various payment methods

The logistics distribution system has minimal imperfections (Li & Tran, 2021)

Strong team cohesion WEAKNESSES

Strong price dependence

High operating costs

The after-sales treatment is not standard

OPPORTUNITIES

The economic situation is good, and the online retail market has a broad prospect

Increase the scale of online shopping users

Policy support

THREATS

Threat of competitors

Improved bargaining power of suppliers and consumers

Global economic instability (Li & Tran, 2021)

Appendix 2

Evaluation of strategic options for JD.com– The SAFE Method

SUITABILITY The proposed strategies such as cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategy are suitable to address the key opportunities and threats (Guan & Kim, 2018)

ACCEPTANCE The strategies meet the stakeholder’s expectation with a likelihood of return acceptance and positive reactions.

The level of risk is acceptable and the stakeholder reactions will be positive (Shen and Sun, 2021)

FEASIBILITY In practice, the proposed solutions will work and the needed resources can be obtained and integrated.

The strategy can be financed.

People and skilled labour can be obtained.

Required resources can be obtained

EVALUATION Cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategy are suitable, acceptable and feasible (Guan & Kim, 2018)

Appendix 3

MARKET PENETRATION

Increase production capacity

Increased investments in marketing (Hussain et al., 2013)

Enhanced distribution

Competitive pricing

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Launch new products

Modify existing products (Hussain et al., 2013)

Strategic partnerships

Improve product quality

Research and development (Hussain et al., 2014)

MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Research and development

Regional expansion

Brand awareness

New customer segments (Hussain et al., 2013)

DIVERSIFICATION

Vertical diversification

Horizontal diversification (Hussain et al., 2014)

Diversifying towards new businesses (mergers and acquisitions) (Hussain et al., 2014)

References

Ansoff, H., 1957. Strategies for diversification. Harvard business review, 35(5), pp. 113-124.

Hussain, S., Khattak, J., Rizwan, A., & Latif, M. A. (2013). ANSOFF matrix, environment, and growth-an interactive triangle. Management and Administrative Sciences Review, 2(2), 196-206.

Hussain, S., Khattak, J., Rizwan, A., & Latif, A. (2014). Interactive Effects of Ansoff Growth Strategies And Market Environment on Firm’s Growth. British Journal of Business and Management Research, 1(2), 68-78.

Li, M., & Tran, C. T. L. T. T. (2021, August). A Case Study of Pinduoduo Strategy Based on SWOT Analysis. In 1st International Symposium on Innovative Management and Economics (ISIME 2021) (pp. 337-346). Atlantis Press.

Shen, Z. M., & Sun, Y. (2021). Strengthening supply chain resilience during COVID‐19: A case study of JD. com. Journal of Operations Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/joom.1161

Guan, L. R., & Kim, K. T. (2018). Comparative Analysis on Corporate Strategy of B2C E-Commerce in China: The Cases of JD. Com and Tmall. Journal of International Trade & Commerce, 14(1), 119-146.

NASA’s attempt to put people on the moon in the 1960s and early 1970s was known as the Apollo program

Apollo 11

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Apollo 11

NASA’s attempt to put people on the moon in the 1960s and early 1970s was known as the Apollo program. With the achievement of Apollo 11, which landed humans on the moon for the first time in history in 1969, the United States was able to proclaim triumph in the Cold War space race against the Soviet Union. The Apollo program needed a massive effort, including nearly half a million people in the United States. The initiative cost $28 billion throughout its existence, or roughly $283 billion when accounting for inflation. According to NASA, the Apollo program comprised 11 total spaceflights that began in 1961, four of which were tested equipment, and six of the other seven landed humans on the moon (Mann, 2020). The very first human-crewed flight took place in 1968, while the last one took place in 1972. NASA’s Mercury mission, which operated from 1959 to 1963 and sent one-person teams into orbit to investigate if people could live and work in space, laid the groundwork for Apollo. The next step was the Gemini program, which spanned from 1962 to 1966 and comprised two-person missions that evaluated numerous maneuvers and components necessary for landing on the moon.

The Saturn V rocket was the most renowned of NASA’s new rockets created, particularly for Apollo. The Saturn V, tall as a 36-story skyscraper and had three stages, represents one of the largest propulsion systems ever flown. In addition, the Apollo command module, a three-person capsule that carried astronauts to the moon and back, was affixed to the rocket. Thus, during the nearly week-long lunar trips, the vessel’s cabin had almost the same amount of space as a vehicle, providing for rather tight travel circumstances.

Finally, there came the lunar module, which transported two people to the moon’s surface and landed on spindly legs. The lunar module’s top part started its engine and ascended to the command module for the return to Earth after the surface excursions were completed, and the crew had returned inside. The Saturn I rocket, a smaller version of the Saturn V intended to test the program’s engines and components, was utilized for the initial Apollo tests.

The first astronauts were scheduled to fly on Apollo 1, but a cabling flare on the day of a launch rehearsal caused a fire to spread throughout the command module, killing the three-person crew. January 27, 1967, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White, and Roger B. Chaffee veterans of NASA’s Mercury and Gemini missions. All three men died as a consequence of a tragedy involving the highly oxygenated air within their capsule and a stray spark, as well as the vessel’s hatch being impossible to open from the inside.

The failure was a watershed moment for the software, prompting significant changes to the command module. As a result, NASA did not attempt to launch more astronauts into orbit for another 18 months. Instead, the CIA sent six uncrewed flights to investigate the Saturn V rocket’s efficiency and effectiveness during that period. During Apollo 7, the first successful crewed launch was a defining moment in the program’s history. The expedition proved the safety of transporting humans to space with the Saturn V rocket, even though personnel stayed in Earth orbit for the duration.

Apollo 8 was the first expedition to send men all the way to the moon, albeit they merely circled it rather than landing on its surface. The team took shifts reading from the Book of Genesis during the event, which took place on Christmas Eve in 1968 and captured the iconic snapshot of our world known as “Earthrise,” which is attributed with inspiring the environmental movement.

The Apollo 11 mission, when the first astronauts stepped foot on the moon, was the pinnacle of the Apollo program. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface while Michael Collins flew the Columbia command module. As he took his first steps onto the moon, Armstrong said, “That’s one tiny stride for man, one great leap for mankind.” Upon returning to the command module, the astronauts spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the surface.

Apollo 13 is regarded as the mission spared from disaster by a combination of hard labor and ingenious engineering solutions. Even though the crew never made it to the moon, their ordeal was chronicled in the Award-winning Academy film “Apollo 13.” The Apollo program was canceled in the early 1970s due to its exorbitant cost and declining public interest. President Richard Nixon and Congress chose to divert Apollo’s financing to other causes, including the Vietnam War. Apollo 17 was the program’s penultimate mission and the first to carry a scientist, geologist Harrison “Jack” Smith, who assisted in identifying significant rock specimens for return to Earth.

To understand why the United States was so determined to beat Russia in the space race, we need to look at the subsequent activities that culminated before the first landing of man on the moon and the previous space races that existed, if any. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union competed to see who possessed the most advanced space technology. This featured competitions such as who would be the first to launch a human spaceship into orbit and who would be the first to land on the moon. The Space Race was significant because it demonstrated to the rest of the world which country had the most scientific knowledge, technology, and economic system. Both the United States and the Soviet Union understood the military importance of rocket research after World War II. They both enlisted the aid of Germany’s finest rocket experts to further their studies. As a result, both sides made rapid advancements in rocket technology. The Space Race began in 1955, when both countries stated that satellites would be sent into orbit shortly. The Soviets regarded the United States statement as a challenge, forming a committee to beat the Americans to launch a satellite into orbit.

The first successful satellite launch occurred on October 4, 1957, by the Russians’ Sputnik 1. In the Space Race, the Russians had gained an advantage. Four months later, Explorer I, the first American satellite, was successfully launched. The race to send the first man into space was once again won by the Soviets. Yuri Gagarin became the first man to circle the Earth in the Vostok I spacecraft on April 12, 1961. The United States piloted the Freedom 7 three weeks later, and astronaut Alan Shepherd became the first American in space. Shepherd’s vessel, on the other hand, did not orbit the Earth. On February 20, 1962, over a year later, the first American, John Glenn, orbited the Earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft. The Americans felt humiliated by their role in the Space Race. President John F. Kennedy stated to Congress in 1961 that he intended to be the first to land a man on the moon. This, he believed, was crucial for the country and the western world. Thus, the Apollo lunar mission was launched.

The Apollo program arose from the space race, a competition between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union for space dominance that began in 1957. In his famous 1961 “Moon Speech” at Rice University in Texas, U.S. President John F. Kennedy challenged the newly established NASA to put men on the moon and return them safely, despite the Russians being ahead at the start of the race.

The following explains the subsequent event that took place from the launching of Apollo 11 to landing on the moon.

On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft was launched from Cape Kennedy at 13:32:00 UT. The S-IVB engine was restarted after 2 hours and 33 minutes in Earth orbit to accelerate the spaceship to the velocity necessary for Earth gravity escape. The insertion of the lunar orbit began at 75:50 GMT (GET). The spacecraft was put in an elliptical orbit (61 by 169 nautical miles) with a 1.25-degree inclination to the lunar equatorial plane. The service module propulsion system was restarted at 80:12 GET, and the orbit was made almost circular (66 by 54 nautical miles) above the moon’s surface. Each orbit took two hours to complete. Photographs from lunar orbit gave a broad perspective of the lunar surface, allowing researchers to investigate regional lunar geology. Following a comprehensive check of all the Lunar Modul systems, with Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin aboard, it was undocked from the command-service module (CSM) at 100:14 GET. The Lunar Modul descent engine was fired for around 29 seconds at 101:36 GET, and the fall to the lunar surface started. The Lunar Modul descent engine was ignited for the last time at 102:33 GET and burned until it landed on the lunar surface. Eagle landed 102 hours, 45 minutes, and 40 seconds after takeoff on the moon.

Armstrong and Aldrin configured the Lunar Modul for liftoff right after landing on the moon as a backup plan. Following the lunch, the astronauts requested a scheduled nap break be postponed, and they began preparing for their descent to the lunar surface. Armstrong was the first to exit the spaceship. He unfastened the Modularized Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA). The surface television camera was stored while descending, and the camera captured the first human walk on the moon at 109:24:19 GET. A sample of lunar surface material was gathered and stored to ensure that samples of lunar surface material would be returned to Earth if a situation forced an early conclusion to the scheduled surface operations. Following that, Aldrin landed on the lunar surface.

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The astronauts completed the scheduled series of events, which included the deployment of a Solar Wind Composition (SWC) test, the collection of a large sample of lunar material, scenic images of the region close to the landing site and the moon horizon, closeup photographs of in place lunar surface material, the deployment of a Laser-Ranging Retroreflector (LRRR), and the deployment of a Passive Seismic Experiment.

The astronauts began preparing to reenter the Lunar Modul around two and a quarter hours after landing on the surface. At 124:22 GET, 21 hours and 36 minutes after the lunar descent, the ascent from the lunar surface commenced. Only one of the four scheduled midcourse corrections was necessary for the trans earth coast. With a speed of 36,194 feet per second (11,032 meters per second), the CM entered the Earth’s atmosphere and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

The number of technologies developed due to the space race is endless (Spadoni, 2020). LED lights, portable cordless vacuums, Wireless headsets, memory foam, scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses, and freeze-dried meals are technologies that we currently use that directly profited from space technology research and development.

References

Mann, A. (2020, June 25). The Apollo Program: How NASA sent astronauts to the moon. Space.Com. Retrieved from

https://www.space.com/apollo-program-overview.htmlSpadoni, A. (2020). How Technology From the Space Race Changed the World –. Now. Powered by Northrop Grumman. Retrieved from

https://now.northropgrumman.com/how-technology-from-the-space-race-changed-the-world/