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Students in space …

Students in space …. USERS. Undergraduate Student Experimenter Ride Share. Timothy F. Wheeler Penn State University. 26 June 2008. 1960s to 1980s Sounding rockets for science exploration 1980s Desire to open space to wider participation

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Students in space …

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  1. Students in space … USERS Undergraduate Student Experimenter Ride Share Timothy F. Wheeler Penn State University 26 June 2008

  2. 1960s to 1980s Sounding rockets for science exploration • 1980s Desire to open space to wider participation • 2000s Recognition of strategic importance of workforce development • Now Recognition of value of rockets as teaching tool

  3. Rockets provide excellent pedagogical opportunity • Highly technical projects • Project length fits a student career • Professionalism and rigorous attention to detail required • Fun and exciting!

  4. Experience Learning Growth Project-based courses teach students (not subjects) through active learning.

  5. SPIRIT Undergraduate Sounding Rocket Program …Putting rockets to work for education

  6. SPIRIT has provided comprehensive professional development for a decade. • SPIRIT I: 17 May 2000 • SPIRIT II: 3 Oct 2004 • SPIRIT III (ESPRIT): 1 July 2006

  7. Besides the payload... • Companion Course (1 cr) • Evolves from lectures => working group • Team building activities (field trips to industry sites) • UN-focus on the big picture • Science tie-in • Our chance to recruit highly motivated students to space and atm science • Levering projects beyond SPIRIT • Indep. Stdy, Capstone and Honors Projects • Core curriculum ‘real-world’ problems • Publicity Campaign (w/School of Communications) • K-12 Outreach (w/School of Education)

  8. Characteristics of a SPIRIT Payload: • Long-duration, vertically integrated, collaborative small group learning environment • Scientific research in service of undergraduate education • Hands-on experiences related to professional development • Comprehensive program of activities for students of many majors. • Complex, open-ended technical challenges

  9. Some numbers: ESPRIT: • 98 PSU undergraduates over 3 years • ~40 students in any one semester • 11 Norwegian graduate students from HiN, UiO, UiB SPIRIT: • 250 PSU participants • ~10 % women • 6 Permanent employees at WFF (1 at • Goddard) (Study of long-term effect on student careers remains to be done)

  10. ESPRIT: The 3rd SPIRIT project … an international collaboration

  11. Prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers for space-related careers Develop the teamwork and professional skills of these particular students through complex projects Foster a global view of man’s quest to understand the world Educational Goals:

  12. Science Goals: • Investigate the high latitude ionosphere during a geophysically interesting period (NLC, PMSE, X-ray or particle event) • Investigate the physical characteristics of mesospheric aerosols (NLC) particles and/or PMSE conditions.

  13. International student collaborations work to broaden understanding and build relationships for the future

  14. ESPRIT Payload Composite nosecone & decks (PSU) Langmuir probes (PSU) 1.5m boom system (UiO/PSU) Plasma Frequency Probe (PSU) Aerosol detector (HiN) Accelerometer/Gyro exp (UiO) X-Ray det/SSD/Hor sensors (UiB) NLC detect photometer array (PSU) NLC imager/sun sensor (PSU) Pyroless door actuator (PSU) Rocket power/wiring systems (PSU) 3-axis magnetometer (PSU) TM and PCM support (PSU/ARR/FFI)

  15. ESPRIT was a success: • Launched on schedule: from Norway (Andøya rakettskytefeltet) 1 July 2006 • 167 km apogee • Excellent science conditions • Preliminary assessment: -- Most instruments got usable data -- Data set will provide many opportunities for analysis by students

  16. USERS … the next step in student rockets! Purpose: To provide routine opportunities for student access to rockets Vision: Yearly flight opportunities for approximately 4 student teams using a standard flight platform NB: This is not a live booster!

  17. USERS Design Parameters • 10 lb • 10” diameter deck • 10” high • Cost to participants: $15 K Featuring: TM Payload recovery Chance to work side-by-side with NSROC engineers 1 or 2-yr design cycle

  18. Selection criteria • Can the student group pull it off? • How many student opportunities will result at the home institution? • What sort of mentoring will be available to the students? No previous rocket experience necessary!

  19. Stdt Team Stdt Team Stdt Team Stdt Team Payload Integrator NASA P/L Integrator NSROC Rocket Flight !!!!

  20. Typical Development Cycle • AO • Proposal • MIC • Design Review • Internal Integration • WFF Integration • Flight Prep • Flight • Data Analysis Integrator-led (9 months) NSROC-led (1 month) Integrator/Home institution

  21. Status of program development: • Pilot program under way (launch Nov 2008) • Integrator selected (2009 ??) • First USERS flight (2010 ???)

  22. USERS Timothy F. Wheeler 318 Electrical Eng East University Park, PA 16802 814.863.5403 tfw1@psu.edu Expressing your interest will help: philip.j.eberspeaker@nasa.gov Universitet i Oslo

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