Allen T. Kummer Sven G. Bilén Student Space Programs Laboratory sspl.psu

1. The Role of Suborbital Flights for Education and Technology Development within Penn State’s Student Space Programs Laboratory Allen T. Kummer Sven G. Bilén Student Space Programs Laboratory http://sspl.psu.edu The Pennsylvania State University

2. Aerospace Workforce Needs • Looming workforce issues exist within aerospace industry as “Apollo generation” reaches retirement • Opportunities for students to obtain hands-on experience with spaceflight hardware have been steadily declining • “At present, there are insufficient methods for students to acquire hands-on experience in the scientific and technical disciplines necessary for space commerce and exploration.” — Aldridge Report • Universities have been searching for their role • USRA Annual Symposia have addressed aerospace workforce issues with its members

3. Student Space Programs Laboratory • SSPL Provides • Hands-on projects to apply classroom knowledge in real world, interdisciplinary settings • Experience working through a complete design cycle • Development of systems engineering mindset • SSPL Resources • Clean room • Thermal–Vac • Cryo Oven • Anechoic Chamber • Machine Shop • Vibration Test Selected Student Space Projects CubeSats Nanosats Sounding Rockets High Altitude Balloons Microgravity Flights http://sspl.psu.edu

4. University Student Experiment Ride Share Sounding Rocket Program High Energy Monitoring Instrument Precursor Balloon OSIRIS CubeSat

5. 1: 2: Functional Groups 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 3: Project Project Management EPO Systems Structures Power Thermal C&DH Navigation Communications Ground Data Sys Science JANUS OLite OLite 2

6. SSPL Integration with Curriculum • First-Year Seminar • Honors options • Undergrad and grad thesis topics • Independent Studies • Senior Design Projects • Space Systems Engineering Seminar • Space Systems Engineering Certificate • 12 credits of space systems and related course work • Space systems project work and documentation

7. OSIRIS Mission ConceptOrbital System for Investigating the Response of the Ionosphere to Stimulation and space weather

8. Build a Little, Test a Little, Fly a Little OLite OLite 2 OSIRIS Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012

10. The ESPRIT Mission Three-year undergraduate project Design, fabrication, verification, integration, and analysis of a scientific sounding rocket payload Students produced: 7 scientific instruments 3 attitude instruments 4 engineering demonstrations Electrical and mechanical subsystems Instruments demonstrated for future missions Collaboration between PSU and three Norwegian Universities Launched in June 2006 in Norway

11. Sounding Rocket Booms

12. Requirements for Suborbital Flights • Reusable Vehicles • Access to the local environment for more than just optical experiments • Access to the undisturbed environment around the spacecraft e.g. booms • Balloons • Access to ground stations and ~24 loft times to characterize diurnal variation

13. Industry/Professional Mentoring Program • Tap into the experience of industry professionals for reviews (reduces project risk) • Assists students with networking with potential future employers • Additional source of funding ARL Penn State

14. Research Topics Research Formalization • Graduate Theses • Senior Thesis • Independent Study • Space Systems Engineering Certificate • Evolution of the Universe • Space Weather • Plasma Science Research Funding