Abstract: This lab report memo addresses the writing of two scholarly reviewed lab reports. The report “High-Precision Adaptive Predictive Entry Guidance for VerticalRocket Landing” written by Zhang Bojun and “High powered rocketry: design, construction, and launching experience and analysis” written by Pryce Paulson are representing a mechanical engineering genre. this memo analyses the writing in account of the audience expectation, organization and the author’s writing approach. It also compares both lab report and provides a stance on which lab report is superior than the other.
To: Michael Coppola, Professor in City College of New York
From: Abdullah Samit, Undergraduate student in City College of New York
Date: March 9, 2020
Subject: Comparative analysis of two rocketry lab reports
This memo is an analysis of two lab reports. “High-Precision Adaptive Predictive Entry Guidance for VerticalRocket Landing” which goes through the calculations required for precise vertical rocket landing and “High powered rocketry: design, construction, and launching experience and analysis” which provides a detailed procedure to the basic construction of a high powered rocket. This memo will provide an understanding of the writing and structural properties of both lab reports.
Both lab reports provide introductions to help the readers to understand the background. Zhang Bojun’s report on the vertical rocket landing provides background and importance of it; whereas Pryce Paulson’s report on the high powered rocketry provides the basic rundown of the physics acting on a rocket. Bojun’s report provides the current involvement of the reusable rockets. It even provides alternatives to execute such maneuvers. This is helpful for the reader to understand the purpose of this report and it assists those who need a background check on rocket landing. On the other hand, Paulson’s report introduces with a thorough explanation of how each rocket stages encounter forces when launched. This can be beneficial for those attempting to build a high powered rocket as the lab report is set up to help replicate the lab. The report does mention the purpose of the construction but does not go in-depth to explain the institution of First Nations Launch (rocket competition).
Both report’s control of ideas and evidence has some flaws. Bojun’s report provides a visual representation of all the calculations for the predictive guidance of onboard guidance but almost no statistical measurements (numbers) at all. The data graphs can provide some assumptions of the results from each procedure but are not specific enough. Paulson’s report shows plenty of statistical results in an organized manner such as stimulation data reports of altitude, time acceleration, etc. But the report lacks the information on how these results come across. This is not suitable if desired to be replicated. Although Bojun’s report does not have enough specifications to support the simulation results, it does provide how to replicate the calculations for such results. This keeps the reader uncertain about the results if they were ever to replicate it. Paulson’s report has specific results but not enough information on how to get these results. This prevents the reader from replicating this construction.
Paulson’s structure is very traditional to how a lab report goes. It should implement more organization to the “method” section to help the reader from getting lost to each step. But the data results before the conclusion provides convenience for the reader to go straight to the data. Bojun’s report consists of a detailed and organized approach to the structure. The “Nomenclature” after the abstract is convenient for the reader to be more comfortable with the equations. The progressive structure of this report is very logical to follow and it clearly provides the details to the effectiveness of onboard predictive algorithms.
From an ethical standpoint, both reports have a logical approach to how they implement their information. They provide all acknowledgments and references. Paulson’s report provides thorough instructions on how to build a high powered rocket but not the propulsion aspect of it. This is ethical because rocket construction can be dangerous. Bojun’s report is depriving the readers of the measurements and numbers derived from each equation as there is competition in this topic and high media attention.
Paulson’s report has the purpose to introduce the concept of rocket building only. It also implements the use of computer simulation of the trajectory of a rocket but fails to explain the process of using such simulation. Bojun’s report is educating to implement calculations required for vertical rocket landing. Bojun’s report being the complicated one, manages to provide enough details to help replicate all the procedures.
I hope this gives an understanding of the writing approach to each lab report. I have attached a printed copy of each. If you have any questions regarding the code of ethics please let me know.
Thank you,
Abdullah Samit
Work Cite
Bojun, Zhang, “High-Precision Adaptive Predictive Entry Guidance for Vertical Rocket Landing”, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Beihang University, Volume 56, Number 6, November–December 2019, https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/1.A34450
Paulson, Pryce, “High powered rocketry: design, construction, and launching experience and analysis”, Physics Education, IOP Publishing Ltd, Volume 53, Number 1, November 21, 2017, https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6552/aa90fc
