Annotated Bibliography (APA)

How can we make space travel safer? A very important question to ask, especially in this
day and age. NASA has announced that they will be heading back to the moon by 2024, and
then Mars soon after. Getting humans to the moon was no easy feat and getting them beyond
will be an even greater challenge. A plethora of dangers awaits so the question must be asked,
how can we reduce the risk of deep space travel? The answer can only be found through
identifying as many of the dangers as possible.
Ananthaswamy, A. (2012). Spaced out. New Scientist, 213(2849), 46. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=709387
45&site=eds-live
Anil Ananthaswamy’s article provides information and examples as to how astronauts’
mental health is fumbled with during space travel. Anil provides a list of symptoms that
accompany mental “befunddlement” during space travel. The article suggests that the absence
of gravity, and less use of our vestibular system, messes with the central nervous system, which
in turn interferes with certain sections of the brain. Finally, the article references many projects
and experiments in which an astronaut’s cognitive ability is tested.
This article relies heavily on logos and ethos. This can be seen through the inclusion of
various experiments and references throughout the article. Pathos is not used at all, but that
isn’t exactly a bad thing considering that it would not be the most appropriate rhetorical
approach to this article. Anil’s use of logos and ethos establishes credibility with the audience
and provides a lot of information, valuable to the intended audience. I’ve noticed that one of the
most imminent dangers that accompanies a zero gravity environment is the brain’s response to
it. This article provides information on yet another danger that will accompany deep space
travel, next to radiation.
Jandial, R., Hoshide, R., Waters, J. D., & Limoli, C. L. (2018). Space-brain: The negative effects
of space exposure on the central nervous system. Surgical Neurology International, 9(1),
173–195. https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.4103/sni.sni_250_17
The article, “Space-brain: The negative effects of space exposure on the central nervous
system”, was published in 2018. This article provides a significant amount of information in
regards to human health concerns during deep space travel. Providing many examples and
visual descriptions, this article identifies some of the many physical, mental, and emotional
health concerns that astronauts face, and will face, during their time in space. The article also
mentions a few possible solutions that could counter these health concerns, one of which being
artificial gravity.
This article addresses a lot of the potential dangers that astronauts would face during
deep space travel, more specifically, the journey to Mars. Many of the dangers that are
addressed seem unavoidable. However, elaboration on how these dangers could be avoided
was given at the end of the article. In doing this, the article states its viewpoint on the journey to
Mars as being difficut and challenging, but also possible and exciting.
This article uses ethos and logos very effectively, but lacks pathos. Logos is seen
through the various visual examples that were given to show the effects of space travel on an
astronaut’s health. Ethos was used, and credibility was established, by referencing other articles
and people that are very experienced in this particular field. A total of fifty four references were
used throughout this article. The target audience for this article would be those interested in
space travel, its possibilities, and its potential dangers. This article is very successful in
establishing its credibility for its audience. The source provided a lot of valuable information and
sent its message clearly. I was on board with the article right up until the very end.
Kamsali, N., Chakravarty, S. C., & Basuvaraj, P. K. (2019). Space Radiation Hazards and
Future Mars Missions. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsarx&AN=eds
arx.1908.08362&site=eds-live
Nagaraja Kamsali’s article talks about necessary steps that need to be taken to ensure a
safe voyage to Mars in the near future. The article gives details on what other obstacles stand in
the way of humanity and Mars. Such obstacles are the solar activity of the sun and Galactic
Cosmic Radiation(GCR). Kamsali goes on to explain the need for new technological innovations
that will counteract these dangers and pave the way for safe travels to Mars. The article
explains how electrical components of spacecraft can be damaged by highly charged ions in
space.
This article displays strong usage of logos and ethos and once again, little pathos. Given
the nature of these articles, pathos is rarely needed. The main purpose of this article is to give
information on the obstacles that will be faced on the road to Mars. Kamsali establishes a sense
of credibility with the audience through the use of logos, ethos, and various inclusions of facts
and statistics related to the sun’s solar activity and tendencies. This extra information will be
helpful to me in coming up with a solution to the dangers of cosmic radiation.
Perez, J. (2017, April 13). Why Space Radiation Matters. Retrieved November 5, 2019, from
https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/nsrl/why-space-radiation-matters.
Perez’s article offers detailed information on the types of radiation that astronauts come
in contact with during their time in space. He provides background information on mutliple types
of radiation, where they come from, their nature, and their effect on biological and mechanical
systems. This article’s primary focus is on the nature of the radiation rather than protection from
it.
This source does not have an explicit viewpoint on whether or not space travel is worth
it. It only provides information on the radiation that astronauts will experience in space. Give that
the article does not elaborate on any sort of protection from this radiation, it can be used as
support for the opposition. The provided information on the radiation can support the idea that
space travel is extremely dangerous and shouldn’t be pursued.
Effective usage of logos and ethos can be seen, but pathos is rarely used. This article
relies on its credibility and logic to deliver its message. Ethos and logos used by providing
thourough explanations on various types of radiation that are present in outer space. The target
audience for this article would be people that are interested in space travel and that are
concerned with the potential dangers that await. This article establishes its credibility for its
target audience just fine. I’ve seen that radiation has been identified as one of the most
dangerous aspects of space travel. The first article listed multiple potential dangers and this
article goes into detail on the reality of radiation.
So far I have been able to successfully identify, and learn more about, the many potential
dangers of space travel. This has provided me with a broad spectrum of possibilities that I could
consider as potential solutions. I feel that I have a sufficient understanding on the dangers
themselves. Artificial gravity using centrifugal force is one solution that I’ve had in mind while
reading these articles. This solution, of course, addresses the danger of a zero gravity
environemnt. As far as cosmic radiation goes, the solution I have chosen for this is a radiation
protective layer around spacecraft. On top of that, medical remedies, diets, and vitamins that
astronauts can take can also counteract the effects of radiation as well.

Ananthaswamy, A. (2012). Spaced out. New Scientist, 213(2849), 46. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=709387
45&site=eds-live

Jandial, R., Hoshide, R., Waters, J. D., & Limoli, C. L. (2018). Space-brain: The negative effects
of space exposure on the central nervous system. Surgical Neurology International, 9(1),
173–195. https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.4103/sni.sni_250_17

Kamsali, N., Chakravarty, S. C., & Basuvaraj, P. K. (2019). Space Radiation Hazards and
Future Mars Missions. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsarx&AN=eds
arx.1908.08362&site=eds-live

Perez, J. (2017, April 13). Why Space Radiation Matters. Retrieved November 5, 2019, from
https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/nsrl/why-space-radiation-matters.