promoting space education through the organisation of a competition

Paper number

IAC-08.E1.3.4

Author

Prof. Yean Joo Chong, National University of Singapore, Rep. Of Singapore

Coauthor

Mr. Yang Junhua, Chinese Society of Astronautics, China

Coauthor

Prof. Li Furong, Chinese Society of Astronautics, China

Coauthor

Mr. JunHua Yang, Chinese Society of Astronautics, China

Coauthor

Dr. Art Dula, Excalibur Aerospace, Inc., United States

Year

2008

Abstract

One method of promoting space and space education activities would be the organisation of a competition for the young.

Such a competiton would generate keen interest in space among the enthusiastic young students who have a keen interest in space.
 
The active participation of the students, spending time in the preparations for the competition, would also stimulate interests among other students as well as the parents of the students. 

The mass media could then be persuaded to use such an event to widen interest in space among the general public.
 
An example of such an event is the 
Singapore Space Challenge (SSC) organised 
as part of the Singapore Airshow
19-24 February 2008.

This competition was aimed at inspiring space interests among the tertiary-education students.
 
This year's focus was on conceptualising a design for a Martian Transport, capable of ferrying payload around Mars.

There was no limit to the mode and scope of transportation, so as to encourage creativity,
though it would involve some form of technical and industrial research
 
Emphasis was on practicality and simplicity of concept and design. 
The competition ran from 1 July 2007 to 15 January 2008, and was open to all tertiary-education students. 

A critical evaluation will be made of the success of the SSC, particularly in the light of the highly successful 
Space Exploration Innovation Contest
2006-2007 for Asia which was concluded in Beijing on 7 July 2007.

Abstract document

IAC-08.E1.3.4.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.E1.3.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.