Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
SPIRIT Undergraduate Rocket Program
A Space Grant Consortium Success!
Timothy F. WheelerPenn State University
National Council of Space Grant DirectorsFall 2006 Meeting28 October 2006
Outline:
SPIRIT Program featuresESPRIT Rocket reportRole of Space Grant Consortia in SPIRIT
6 assertions (by way of conclusions)
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
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)
Assertion #1: Project-based courses teach students(not subjects) through active learning.
Experience Learning Growth
Assertion #2: Rockets provide excellent pedagogical opportunity
• Highly technical projects• Project length fits a
student career• Professionalism and
rigorous attention to detail required
• Fun and exciting!
Assertion #3: 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
• 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:
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.
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)
ESPRIT PayloadComposite 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)
ESPRIT was a success:
Launched on schedule: from Norway (Andøya rakettskytefeltet) 1 July 2006167 km apogee Excellent science conditionsPreliminary assessment:
-- Most instruments got usable data-- Data set will provide many
opportunities for analysis by students
Assertion #4: International student collaborations work to broaden understanding and build relationships for the future
Student interactions
• 12 Norwegians came to PSU, Feb 2005• 2 students to ARR for HotPay launch (June 2005)• 2 PSU students to ESA Sounding Rocket Programme
(Sandefjord, June 2005)•10 Norwegians to WFF,
(March 2006)•2 Norwegians to WFF,
(May 2006)•14 PSU students supported the launch in Andøya (June/July 2006)
What now?
• ESPRIT Data Analysis class (led by Dr. Philbrick at PSU)
• Presentation of ESPRIT results by students– To delegation from Norway– To Lockheed Martin management– To PSU admininistrators– To PSU CoE Research Symposium– To ESA Sumposium, June 07?
• Establishment of a Student Space Projects Lab at PSU with Space Studies Certificate (Dr. Sven Bilén)
Assertion #5: ESPRIT will meet its educational and scientific goals.
NB: This is not a live booster!
ESPRIT has been a fun and effective international collaboration
Assertion #6: Space Grant Consortia can have a fundamental role in nurturing forward-looking educational agendas
• Role of PA Space Grant Consortium in SPIRIT:– First ’enabler’, funded a promising idea.– Subsequent ’sustainer’ role for operational funds as seed money– Network for collaboration, contacts
• Role of SPIRIT in PA Space Grant Consortium:– Provided an avenue to address the very goals Dr. Winterton
highlighted– Provided a technical ’edge’ to PA SGC programs– Provided concrete successes at regular intervals– Provided ready resource for outreach activities related to rockets
Our success is your success – Thank you!
Summary of Assertions:1. Project-based courses teach students (not subjects) through
active learning.
2. Rockets represent an excellent pedagogical tool !
3. SPIRIT has provided comprehensive professional development for a decade.
4. ESPRIT (SPIRIT III) will meet its educational and scientific goals.
5. International student collaborations work to broaden understanding and build relationships for the future
6. Space Grant Consortia have a fundamental role to play in nurturing forward-looking educational agendas
Collaborating Faculty on ESPRIT
• Penn State University– Dr. Sven Bilén – Dr. Russell Philbrick– Dr. David Spencer – Timothy F. Wheeler([email protected])
• Universitet i Oslo– Dr. Torfinn Lindem
• Universitet i Bergen– Dr. Johan Stansnes– Svein Njastaad
• Høyskolen i Narvik– Dr Arne Bjørk
• PA Space Grant– Dr. Lisa Brown
• Andøya Rakettskyltefelt – Dr. Evind Thrane– Jorgen Ilstad
• NASA/NSROC– Philip Eberspeaker– Bruce Scott, mgr
http://spirit.ee.psu.edu
Sponsors of ESPRIT:• PA Space Grant Consortium
• NASA Wallops Flight Facility• Andøya Rakettskyltefeltet
• Penn State College of Engineering• Corporate Sponsors:
Lockheed MartinBoeingYLA CompositesOlympic Machining
• Thanks also to the U.S. Embassy in Oslo for support of student travel
Visit our web site at: http://spirit.ee.psu.edu