Preparing the Future Astronauts - Young Students' Participatory Space Activities

Paper number

IAC-07-E1.1.01

Author

Mr. Sayandeep Khan, Inter Planetary Ventures, India

Coauthor

Coauthor

Kevin Myrick, Inter Planetary Ventures, United States

Year

2007

Abstract

Inter Planetary Ventures has developed a project based hands on education program for students age 10 to adult that gets the students directly involved in space related research and development.  Students design and build probes that contain sensors and experiments.  They start with probes built around a ping-pong ball, designing and developing ‘PongSats’.  These probes are taken to remote locations using radio-controlled vehicles, rockets, and high altitude balloons.  Students monitor the progress of their probes location via GPS link with the host vehicle, and recover their probes at the end of the missions to retrieve the data collected or to examine and analyze the results of their experiments.  Phase 2 of their project uses CanSats, probes designed to fit inside a beverage can.  Students design and build CubeSats for the third and final phase of this program.

     This paper is a case study of the projects of three student groups, group one working with PongSats,  group two with a CanSats and group three with CubeSats.  Each group designs and builds three types of probes, test articles for system testing, test articles for environmental testing in the probes intended target environments, and the final mission ready versions.  The probes are used in three environments, underground, underwater, high in the sky via rockets, and in the upper atmosphere via high altitude balloons.  The paper and presentation will document all phases of the project through the final examination and analysis of the results of the probe missions.  The three groups will also demonstrate their project progress at the end of each phase to a peer group with the goal of recruiting more students into the program.

     The paper will conclude by analyzing the projects usefulness as a tool for generating interest in and bringing more people into space exploration and development. 

Abstract document

IAC-07-E1.1.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-E1.1.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.