AST111: Spacecraft Research

Reference sources such as encyclopedia articles and overview articles provide us with background information on a topic. This helps us to create a research strategy to find in-depth information about a particular aspect of a larger topic. Use the library's reference databases and the official NASA website to find background information about your topic.

Search for the name of the mission using the Credo Reference database.

• Use quotation marks around the name of the mission. For example, "Venus express" 
• If necessary add the keyword spacecraft. For example, Messenger AND spacecraft
• Find at least one article that describes the mission. 
• Email the article to yourself and copy the citation.

Use the NASA website to locate the official page for the mission.  Enter the mission name using quotation marks in the search box in the upper left corner of the page. Select Mission from the filter options on the results page. Find at least one page about the mission. 

NASA.gov

Search statements tell the database what to find. Combine your keywords strategically to find specific information. You may need to create a few different search statements to find all the information you need. 

Example search statements:

1. "Name of mission" AND instrument 
   • "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter" AND "context camera"
2. "Name of mission" AND important keyword
   • "venus express" AND "solar winds"

You may need to add qualifying keywords such as the name of the planet or spacecraft or mission to your search statement. 

Tips:

• Keywords should be single words or specific phrases.
• Join each keyword or phrase together using AND
• Use quotation marks around specific phrases 
• Try different combinations of keywords if needed
• Read the search statement. Does it include the relevant terms for what you are looking for? 

• Read through the background articles and identify the instruments.
• Identify important keywords for finding additional information. Specific words that describe the purpose of the mission or an instrument can be helpful for finding information about discoveries or results of the mission. 
• Take note of the mission date

Example: Identify keywords from background articles

"Venus Express, on the other hand, was a Venus orbital spacecraft designed to measure the atmosphere below, within and above the clouds virtually continuously over two sidereal Venus days of 243 days each. As Venus had no significant magnetic field, the top of its atmosphere interacted directly with the solar wind. Venus Express was designed to observe this interaction which was expected to result in the solar wind depleting the top of Venus’ atmosphere."

Except from: Venus express. (2013). In D. Leverington, Encyclopedia of the History of Astronomy and Astrophysics (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Use the library databases to search for specific information about the instruments and the scientific discoveries.

• OneSearch

Use the filter options on the results page.

• Available Online
• Resource Type
• Publication Date  

Use the citation and email tools in the databases.

Find Images

The NASA.gov website is a good place to find images of your spacecraft and instruments.  Keep track of the specific page where you find each image so you can properly cite it.

• View the Citation Guide to assist with your references.
• Use citations from the database, but be sure to check them as they may contain formatting errors.
• Use NoodleTools to assist with your citations.