U.S. Space Program Benefits to Education

U.S. Space Program Benefits to Education PDF

Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Space

Publisher:

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13:

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This hearing was held to review the educational benefits of the U.S. Space Program. Testimony was given by three panels of experts related to this topic. The three panels consisted of: (1) Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Dan Brandenstein, Captain, U.S. Navy, NASA Astronaut; and Damon Butler, Student, Summer High School Apprentice Research Program, Oxon Hill High School, Maryland; (2) Wendell G. Mohling, President, National Science Teachers Association; Relzie M. Payton, President, Tennessee Education Association; and Nancy R. McIntyre, Director, Educational Center for Earth Observation Systems, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania; and (3) Eva Rousseau, Principal, Dunbar Senior High School, Washington, D.C., and two of her students, John Haskins, Jr., and Nadir Al-Salam. These witnesses discussed the benefits of NASA sponsored activities such as the Summer High School Apprentice Research Program, the Teaching from Space program, NASA Field Centers, The NASA Educational Affairs Division, the Tennessee Space Week, a space laboratory called the USS Dunbar Program, and volunteer efforts by the NASA workforce. Copies of prepared statements by the witnesses are included. (MDH)

Achieving Science with CubeSats

Achieving Science with CubeSats PDF

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2016-11-06

Total Pages: 131

ISBN-13: 030944263X

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Space-based observations have transformed our understanding of Earth, its environment, the solar system and the universe at large. During past decades, driven by increasingly advanced science questions, space observatories have become more sophisticated and more complex, with costs often growing to billions of dollars. Although these kinds of ever-more-sophisticated missions will continue into the future, small satellites, ranging in mass between 500 kg to 0.1 kg, are gaining momentum as an additional means to address targeted science questions in a rapid, and possibly more affordable, manner. Within the category of small satellites, CubeSats have emerged as a space-platform defined in terms of (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm)- sized cubic units of approximately 1.3 kg each called "U's." Historically, CubeSats were developed as training projects to expose students to the challenges of real-world engineering practices and system design. Yet, their use has rapidly spread within academia, industry, and government agencies both nationally and internationally. In particular, CubeSats have caught the attention of parts of the U.S. space science community, which sees this platform, despite its inherent constraints, as a way to affordably access space and perform unique measurements of scientific value. The first science results from such CubeSats have only recently become available; however, questions remain regarding the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats in the future. Achieving Science with CubeSats reviews the current state of the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats. This report focuses on the platform's promise to obtain high- priority science data, as defined in recent decadal surveys in astronomy and astrophysics, Earth science and applications from space, planetary science, and solar and space physics (heliophysics); the science priorities identified in the 2014 NASA Science Plan; and the potential for CubeSats to advance biology and microgravity research. It provides a list of sample science goals for CubeSats, many of which address targeted science, often in coordination with other spacecraft, or use "sacrificial," or high-risk, orbits that lead to the demise of the satellite after critical data have been collected. Other goals relate to the use of CubeSats as constellations or swarms deploying tens to hundreds of CubeSats that function as one distributed array of measurements.

Pathways to Exploration

Pathways to Exploration PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2014-09-30

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 0309305101

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The United States has publicly funded its human spaceflight program on a continuous basis for more than a half-century, through three wars and a half-dozen recessions, from the early Mercury and Gemini suborbital and Earth orbital missions, to the lunar landings, and thence to the first reusable winged crewed spaceplane that the United States operated for three decades. Today the United States is the major partner in a massive orbital facility - the International Space Station - that is becoming the focal point for the first tentative steps in commercial cargo and crewed orbital space flights. And yet, the long-term future of human spaceflight beyond this project is unclear. Pronouncements by multiple presidents of bold new ventures by Americans to the Moon, to Mars, and to an asteroid in its native orbit, have not been matched by the same commitment that accompanied President Kennedy\'s now fabled 1961 speech-namely, the substantial increase in NASA funding needed to make it happen. Are we still committed to advancing human spaceflight? What should a long-term goal be, and what does the United States need to do to achieve it? Pathways to Exploration explores the case for advancing this endeavor, drawing on the history of rationales for human spaceflight, examining the attitudes of stakeholders and the public, and carefully assessing the technical and fiscal realities. This report recommends maintaining the long-term focus on Mars as the horizon goal for human space exploration. With this goal in mind, the report considers funding levels necessary to maintain a robust tempo of execution, current research and exploration projects and the time/resources needed to continue them, and international cooperation that could contribute to the achievement of spaceflight to Mars. According to Pathways to Exploration, a successful U.S. program would require sustained national commitment and a budget that increases by more than the rate of inflation. In reviving a U.S. human exploration program capable of answering the enduring questions about humanity's destiny beyond our tiny blue planet, the nation will need to grapple with the attitudinal and fiscal realities of the nation today while staying true to a small but crucial set of fundamental principles for the conduct of exploration of the endless frontier. The recommendations of Pathways to Exploration provide a clear map toward a human spaceflight program that inspires students and citizens by furthering human exploration and discovery, while taking into account the long-term commitment necessary to achieve this goal.

NASA's Elementary and Secondary Education Program

NASA's Elementary and Secondary Education Program PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2008-04-24

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 0309115515

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The federal role in precollege science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is receiving increasing attention in light of the need to support public understanding of science and to develop a strong scientific and technical workforce in a competitive global economy. Federal science agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), are being looked to as a resource for enhancing precollege STEM education and bringing more young people to scientific and technical careers. For NASA and other federal science agencies, concerns about workforce and public understanding of science also have an immediate local dimension. The agency faces an aerospace workforce skewed toward those close to retirement and job recruitment competition for those with science and engineering degrees. In addition, public support for the agency's missions stems in part from public understanding of the importance of the agency's contributions in science, engineering, and space exploration. In the NASA authorization act of 2005 (P.L. 109-555 Subtitle B-Education, Sec. 614) Congress directed the agency to support a review and evaluation of its precollege education program to be carried out by the National Research Council (NRC). NASA's Elementary and Secondary Education Program: Review and Critique includes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the program and addresses these four tasks: 1. an evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall program in meeting its defined goals and objectives; 2. an assessment of the quality and educational effectiveness of the major components of the program, including an evaluation of the adequacy of assessment metrics and data collection requirements available for determining the effectiveness of individual projects; 3. an evaluation of the funding priorities in the program, including a review of the funding level and trend for each major component of the program and an assessment of whether the resources made available are consistent with meeting identified goals and priorities; and 4. a determination of the extent and effectiveness of coordination and collaboration between NASA and other federal agencies that sponsor science, technology, and mathematics education activities.

NASA's Education Program

NASA's Education Program PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13:

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"NASA's education vision is to promote excellence in America's education systems by providing access and engagement in NASA's exciting missions. As a government agency whose basic product is the advancement of human knowledge, NASA hopes that the inspiration and intellectual excitement inherent in the Aeronautics and Space Program will enrich the study of social sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and technology at all levels of education" -- home page.