2008 ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project

2008 ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project

Faculty Assignments Dr. James Conrad, Univ. of North Carolina - Charlotte (JSC) Dr. Jiang Guo, California State University Los Angeles (ARC) Dr. Ellen Lackey, University of Mississippi (KSC) Dr. Jonathan Lambright, Savannah State University (SSC) Dr. Prabhakar Misra, Howard University (GSFC) Dr. Nadipuram Prasad, New Mexico State University (JPL) Dr. Roger Radcliff, Ohio University (GRC) Dr. Gregory Selby, Old Dominion University (LaRC) Dr. Jean-Marie Wersinger, Auburn University (MSFC) Dr. Stephen Whitmore, Utah State University (DFRC) Project Implementation Gloria Murphy, ESMD SG Faculty Project Manager (KSC)

Objectives Gather senior design project ideas and internship opportunities: Relative to space exploration In support of the ESMD Space Grant Student Project Support NASA’s Educational Framework Outcome 1: Contribute to the development of the STEM workforce

Space Mercury Gemini Mercury Apollo ApolloShuttle Ares I, Atlas Titan Saturn Saturn 1-B V Redstone Ares V

ESMD Centers

. About NASA Dryden Flight Research Center ".to separate the real from the imagined and to make known the overlooked and the unexpected problems." Hugh L. Dryden Last Administrator of the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics (NACA) First deputy administrator of NASA until his death in 1965. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is a tenant of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards Air Force Base and is located on the western edge of the Mojave Desert, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles.

DFRC Role Within ESMD (1) DFRC leads CEV Abort Flight Test integration and operations including Abort Test Booster procurement and integration with the Flight Test Article. Shuttle Advanced Crew Escape System (ACES) Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) -- Modeled after Project Mercury, Apollo Designs

. About Kennedy Space Center In July 1962, NASA established its Launch Operations Center on Florida's east coast, and renamed it in late 1963 to honor the president who put America on the path to the moon. KSC manages all activities related to ground operations for the launch and landing sites, including ground processing, launch, and recovery systems. KSC has served as the launch center for all of NASA’s manned mission and for hundreds of unmanned expendable launch vehicles.

KSC Role Within ESMD (1) KSC hosts the Ground Operations Project that manages all activities related to ground operations for the launch and landing sites, including ground processing, launch, and recovery systems. Lightning Protection System at 39B Emergency Egress System - Rail An artist's rendition of a new lightning protection system being built at KSC Launch Pad 39B to support future launches of Ares and Orion spacecraft. Image credit: NASA

ESMD Project Areas Spacecraft Guidance, navigation, and control; Thermal; Electrical; Avionics; Power systems; High-speed reentry; Interoperability/Commonality; Advanced spacecraft materials; Crew/Vehicle health monitoring; Life-support systems; Command/Communication software; Modeling and simulation Ground Operations Pre-launch; Launch; Mission operations; Command, control, and communications; Landing and recovery operations Propulsion Methods that utilize materials found on the Moon and Mars; On-orbit propellant storage; Methods for softlanding Lunar & Planetary Surface Systems Precision landing software; In-situ resource utilization; Navigation systems; Extended surface operations; Robotics; Environmental sensors and analysis; Radiation protection; Life-support systems; Electrical power and efficient power management systems

Senior Design Projects for ESMD Allow students the practical design experience of developing technologies and systems for space exploration under the advice, guidance, and mentorship of university faculty, and NASA engineers and scientists. The projects are aligned with a clear vision for exploration and serve to stretch one’s imagination for developing revolutionary technologies needed to explore our solar system and beyond.

Example of a Senior Design Project One problem with enclosed living spaces is that sometimes surfaces will collect condensation due to a cold surface behind the wall. This water could promote the growth of plant or animal life (mold and bugs!). Investigate how you can design a “wall system” that will trap any condensation that forms, then evaporate it periodically (e.g. every six hours) actively using very little energy or passively when the adjacent air warms above dewpoint.

ESMD Senior Design Project Example Students insulating their senior design prototype of a loop heat pipe. Students preparing sounding rockets for launch at competition.

Internships Space Grant Consortia fund the interns to work with their mentors for ten weeks. Highly qualified students are placed in the mentors’ preferred areas. Mentors gain a sense of pride that they have contributed to the next generation workforce of NASA and the space industry. Students receive unique and invaluable experiences.

Intern Enrichment Activities NASA speakers Tours and demonstrations Picnic with mentors Interns receiving a motivational welcome from Joe Dowdy, Special Operations Manager in the Office of the Director at KSC Group activities included viewing the STS-124 landing

Internship Project Examples Project Description - Building test bed for lunar simulant and developing a percussive lunar excavator bucket Samuel – “My mentor emphasizes that what we are working on this summer is useful in a variety of areas in NASA.” David – “This project has been perfect people should apply.”

Internship Project Examples One project goal was to improve existing composite materials mechanically and electrically by adding carbon nanotubes to them. One student is designing and producing a MATLAB program that seamlessly meshes three different static aerodynamic databases for the Ares I.

Senior Design Project and Internship Opportunities ESMD Internship and Senior Design Project Counts by NASA Center as of 8/26/08 50 45 40 35 30 43 40 25 25 20 15 10 20 18 14 8 5 0 ARC 10 6 4 DFRC 10 9 2 GRC GSFC Internships 2 14 12 9 7 5 0 JPL JSC KSC LRC Senior Design Projects MSFC SSC

Conclusions The ESMD Space Grant Faculty Project Bridges the gap between academia and the NASA vision and mission. Students connect to real world space-related work. Exposes students to new and novel approaches to space exploration that better prepare them for future space-related careers. Creates greater awareness of current NASA research to new faculty who have never been previously associated with or exposed to the NASA vision and mission. Motivates incorporation of space-related curriculum into higher education institutions to increase the education and knowledge base of graduating students.