Students for Exploration and Development of Space, an international student framework

Paper number

IAC-06-E1.5.09

Author

Mr. Adolfo Vazquez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Kirk Kittell, Orbital Sciences Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Ms. Maryam Aljoaan, Student, Kuwait

Coauthor

Mr. Pradeep Mohandas, India

Year

2006

Abstract

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is an organization that promotes space exploration by supporting a network of interested students at more than 50 high schools and universities in various countries.  In 2004, an international chapter of SEDS called SEDS-Earth was instituted as a forum for students interested in international projects.  The concept of SEDS-Earth is to allow students a trial and error approach to international relations in a relaxed setting to prepare them for future international relations in the professional world.

The projects approached by SEDS-Earth are technical or educational in nature.  However, many of the lessons learned have been in the organizational structure of a group with its key members in multiple countries.  Learning to communicate across languages and cultures became an important feature of the organization.

SEDS-Earth provides a framework to inspire future space exploration professionals through education. Among the objectives of that framework is to provide a permanent experience flow and contact among professionals and students, allowing these last to participate on real world projects gaining hands-on experience, from flying members projects on a zero gravity flight to build a satellite from stracht and put it in orbit, through partnership with members of the global space community.

Education is key to open space to general public, so SEDS-Earth maintains a workforce on space education, developing general public oriented space resources, from multimedia web projects to publications on different languages (arabic, english, arabic) to approach the broader audience possible.

Abstract document

IAC-06-E1.5.09.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-E1.5.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.