SPIRIT Undergraduate Rocket Program A Space Grant Consortium

SPIRIT Undergraduate Rocket Program A Space Grant Consortium Success! Timothy F. Wheeler Penn State University National Council of Space Grant Directors Fall 2006 Meeting 28 October 2006 Universitet i Oslo 19 September 2006

Outline: Ø SPIRIT Program features Ø ESPRIT Rocket report Ø Role of Space Grant Consortia in SPIRIT Ø 6 assertions (by way of conclusions)

SPIRIT Undergraduate Sounding Rocket Program …Putting rockets to work for education

Characteristics of a SPIRIT Payload: v Long-duration, vertically integrated, collaborative small group learning environment v Scientific research in service of undergraduate education v Hands-on experiences related to professional development v Comprehensive program of activities for students of many majors. v 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

ESPRIT: The 3 rd SPIRIT project … an international collaboration

Educational Goals: • Prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers for spacerelated 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

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 Hi. N, Ui. O, Ui. B 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 Payload Composite nosecone & decks (PSU) Langmuir probes (PSU) 1. 5 m boom system (Ui. O/PSU) Plasma Frequency Probe (PSU) Aerosol detector (Hi. N) Accelerometer/Gyro exp (Ui. O) X-Ray det/SSD/Hor sensors (Ui. B) 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: ü Launched on schedule: from Norway (Andøya rakettskytefeltet) 1 July 2006 ü 167 km apogee ü Excellent science conditions ü Preliminary 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 Hot. Pay 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 Co. E 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. ESPRIT has been a fun and effective international collaboration NB: This is not a live booster!

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 (tfw 1@psu. edu) • Universitet i Oslo – Dr. Torfinn Lindem • Universitet i Bergen – Dr. Johan Stansnes – Svein Njastaad • PA Space Grant – Dr. Lisa Brown • Andøya Rakettskyltefelt – Dr. Evind Thrane – Jorgen Ilstad • NASA/NSROC – Philip Eberspeaker – Bruce Scott, mgr • Høyskolen i Narvik – Dr Arne Bjørk 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 Martin Boeing YLA Composites Olympic 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