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STEM Outreach Activity: Asteroid Mining

February 17, 2021 By groundsupport Leave a Comment

Hey Student Space Ambassadors! This is an outreach activity that you can use as a Student Space Ambassador to teach kids and others about an Earth & Space Science topic. You can modify this activity to use in a Zoom presentation, in your classroom, with a club, at a STEM/STEAM event or even at a local library. Just be sure that if you’re in a group setting, you follow covid guidances!

Overview

Did you know that scientists and engineers are thinking about going to space to mine asteroids? This activity will have kids traveling to a distant asteroid to mine for minerals and other resources! Follow the steps with your kiddos at home!

Although the concept of asteroid mining seems like it belongs in science fiction, scientists, engineers, and even corporations are thinking about how it might happen one day. However, it is good to remind children that asteroid mining is not something going on in our solar system today. While NASA and various space agencies have visited—and even landed on—asteroids, we are still many years away from any large-scale mining projects. Children might have heard about other objects in the solar system. It would be helpful to discuss the differences between them if questions come up on the nature of these space objects.

Materials Needed

Markers
Printable Asteroid Drawing Worksheets
Printable Asteroid Mining Challenge Cards

Background Information

It’s exciting to imagine what our lives might be like in a future filled with more space exploration—and it’s also important. It’s still too expensive and difficult to mine asteroids today. But in the future, asteroids and dwarf planets in our solar system could become new sources for materials used in manufacturing, energy production, or supporting humans living in space.

When you imagine your asteroid mining machine, you’re doing a little bit of science. Before scientists and engineers can start mining, they need to come up with ideas for how their mining machines might work. Our society will also need to consider how mining asteroids might change our lives, now and into the future.

Robots designed for construction on the Moon, like the one imagined in this artist’s depiction, could also be used on asteroids.

NASA missions are helping researchers learn more about asteroids and the resources they might contain. These science missions are developing important technologies for asteroid exploration that could benefit anyone interested in exploring or mining asteroids, whether it’s NASA or a private company.

There are millions of asteroids orbiting the Sun, ranging in size from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers across. We’ll probably never visit them all, but even a small, house-sized asteroid could contain tons of metal for future technology on Earth, or life-sustaining water ice to support deep space exploration. Spacecraft traveling to nearby asteroids, like NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe, are mapping and analyzing these space objects, which could someday help us better understand how to locate and mine potential resources.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, shown here as a model, will collect and return samples from the asteroid Bennu.

What Is Mining?

On Earth, the mining process takes minerals and other resources out of the ground to make new products. Mining can happen underground or on the surface, it uses many different kinds of machines and technologies, and it involves lots of different steps.

These steps include:

Review: What Is an Asteroid?

Asteroids are space objects that orbit the Sun but are much smaller than planets. They are leftover bits and pieces from the formation of the solar system. Scientists have counted about 800,000 asteroids so far—out of millions in our solar system—and found many different shapes and sizes. While asteroids are mostly made of rock, they can also contain metals and water ice. Most asteroids in the solar system can be found between Mars and Jupiter in a region called the asteroid belt.

Visiting An Asteroid

The millions of asteroids in our solar system are debris from its formation. By studying asteroids’ shapes, sizes, and compositions, scientists gather clues about how planets like Earth formed. The Psyche mission, expected to launch in 2022, will visit an asteroid called Psyche orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is a rare asteroid—it’s made of metals like iron and nickel rather than rock. There are several hypotheses about how Psyche formed, but some scientists think that Psyche may be the core of a planet that had its exterior stripped away due to an enormous collision.

Asteroid Mining Activity

Now it’s time for your kiddos to step into the role of a NASA Scientist or Engineer! Begin this activity by printing out both the Asteroid Drawing Worksheet and the Asteroid Mining Challenge Cards listed above.

Encourage your children to use their imagination to design a mining machine. How does it work? What special instruments or tools does it need? Does their machine need to communicate back to Earth? How would it get power to operate?
Have your children draw a picture of their mining machine on the worksheet. Use the challenge cards if they need inspiration.
Have a conversation. Why would you mine an asteroid? What does the asteroid look like after mining? How do you think life on Earth would be different after asteroid mining?

As your kiddos imagine, talk about, and/or draw, you can engage them in conversation about what they are drawing (or just imagining) and ask them to expand on their ideas. Here are some example prompts, but you’ll also want to follow the lead of your kiddos:

How did your machine travel to the asteroid?
Where do the mined materials go in your machine and how much can it hold?
How does your machine break apart the surface of the asteroid?
Digging material out of an asteroid might just be the first step of a mining operation. What do you think happens next? Would you move it to a space station? Back to Earth? Why?

Children may also need some encouragement to talk about how their creations and asteroid mining in general might be connected with potential future scenarios. Once again, follow the interests of your kiddos. Here are some suggested prompts:

What might we be able to do with the resources mined from asteroids? How might they help us explore further?
Who should have access to asteroids to mine? Who should get to keep and use the resources? Individuals? Corporations? Governments?
How might mining on Earth change after asteroid mining starts? Who might be affected? How might the environment change?
Should we protect or preserve some asteroids and not allow mining there?

This activity is brought to The Mars Generation through Discovery Station via the 2020 Explore Science: Earth and Space program through the National Informal STEM Education Network.

Credits and rights:

Artist’s depiction of potential lunar robots courtesy NASA.

Artist’s depiction of OSIRIS-REx TAGing Bennu courtesy NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Developed and distributed by the National Informal STEM Education Network.

This material is based on work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

10 Black Americans Who Made Extraordinary Contributions to Space Exploration

February 10, 2021 By groundsupport 2 Comments

February is Black History Month and we are celebrating extraordinary Black professionals who have contributed to space exploration and helped us get to where we are today, many of whom have been left out of the history books. These individuals are leaders in their fields and have each made history and broken barriers for future generations to accomplish great things. Much of what we know about outer space would not be possible without them. They reached new heights with their achievements (quite literally!) and are an inspiration for young people around the world. Keep reading to learn about some amazing people.

Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician and the first Black astronomer in the United States. He was largely self-taught, borrowing books and lunar tables from his neighbors. With his knowledge of astronomy, he surveyed land in Washington D.C.. During the day, he would use a regulator clock to determine longitudes, and at night, he would make astronomical observations. In 1789, he forecast his first eclipse.

His Journey

Banneker was an avid writer. He wrote an almanac for farmers to both predict weather patterns and share personal opinions. One of his most well-known writing pieces was Benjamin Banneker’s Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of Our Lord 1792. In this piece, there were writings about the universe, fables, and an excerpt from an abolitionist essay.

His Legacy

During his time, people were too focused on Banneker’s race to celebrate his accomplishments. Banneker grew frustrated by this and worked to show that his skin color did not define his intellect. He spent time working with Thomas Jefferson in a way no Black person had before, breaking barriers for more Black men and women to be involved with academia.

Photo Credit: NASA

Dorothy Vaughan

Dorothy Vaughan was a mathematician and “human computer” for NASA. She was the first Black person to supervise staff at West Area Computers. Vaughan spent 28 years in this position, teaching herself and the other women about machine computers and programming languages.

Her Journey

In 1929, Dorothy Vaughan graduated from Wilberforce University with her bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She attended the university on a full-tuition scholarship from the West Virginia Conference of the A.M.E. Sunday School Convention. After graduating, she went on to work as a high school math teacher to assist her family during the Great Depression.

Vaughan began working for the Langley Research Center, NASA’s oldest flight center, in 1943 as a mathematician and programmer. Most of her work was based on calculating flight paths and computer programming. It was within Langley that Vaughan was assigned to the West Area Computers unit, and she became acting head in 1949. West Computers was composed of entirely female, Black mathematicians. These women worked on space missions for the Space Race and made complex math calculations by hand.

One notable member of Vaughan’s group was Katherine Johnson. As machine computers advanced and became more popular, Vaughan taught herself, Johnson and the other women how to use them. Through her decades-long career, she dedicated herself to promoting Black women’s involvement in STEM fields and paved the way for more female opportunities at NASA.

Her Legacy

Dorothy Vaughn led the way for Black women to be involved with NASA’s missions. Throughout her career, she worked to promote STEM education – teaching the other women all about computer programming when she could – and empower women to pursue their passion for science and technology. Today, much involvement of Black Americans and women in STEM is thanks to her.

Photo Credit: NASA Langley Research Center

Mary Jackson

Mary Jackson was a mathematician and aerospace engineer for both the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and NASA. She worked under Dorothy Vaughn at West Area Computers before going on to become NASA’s first Black female engineer. Just last year, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine shared that NASA’s headquarters would be named Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters, in her honor.

Her Journey

Jackson first worked as a research mathematician at Langley Research Center. After taking graduate courses in mathematics and physics, she was promoted to the position of aerospace engineer in 1958. As an engineer, Jackson researched airflow, thrust and drag forces, and wind tunnels. She worked in the High-Speed Aerodynamics Division, the Subsonic-Transonic Aerodynamics Division. Compressibility Research Division, and Full-Scale Research Division, and authored or co-authored 12 papers.

After 34 years of work, Jackson earned the most senior engineering title available. Following this accomplishment, she accepted a demotion to be a manager of both NASA’s Federal Women’s Program and Affirmative Action Program. In this position, she worked on hiring women and minorities in STEM fields.

Her Legacy

As NASA’s first female, Black engineer, Mary Jackson showed young Black women everywhere that they too could pursue their dreams. Her work in NASA’s Federal Women’s Program and Affirmative Action Program brought more women and minorities to NASA and other STEM programs, destroying stereotypes in the process.

Photo Credit: NASA

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician and one of the first Black women to work at NASA as a scientist. Her calculations were essential to some of the first human spaceflights. She calculated the trajectory for the space flight of Alan Shepherd – the first American to go to space – and verified electronic calculations of John Glenn’s orbit around Earth. She also worked on the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 missions.

Her Journey

Katherine Johnson broke countless barriers for Black women in STEM. In 1937, she graduated from West Virginia State University with degrees in mathematics and French – at only 18 years old! Professors had to add new math courses for her, as she took every math class offered. Johnson went on to attend graduate school at West Virginia University, the first Black woman to do so.

At the start of her NASA career, Johnson worked as a “human computer,” performing long calculations by hand before electronic computers were available. She and the Black women in her computing group were required to work separate from their white peers in an office labeled “Colored Computers.”

When talking about the adversity she faced, Johnson said, “We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where you were. I had to be.”

Despite racial segregation laws, NASA missions wouldn’t fly without Johnson. In fact, John Glenn refused to fly unless Johnson herself verified the calculations for his orbit. Even today, her work continues to influence spaceflight. Before her death, Johnson worked on plans for future Mars missions.

Her Legacy

Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, but her legacy still lives on. Two NASA facilities have been named after her: the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility in Hampton, Virginia, and the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia. Following her death, a satellite named “Katherine” was launched in her honor, and this month, Northrop Grumman named their spacecraft “SS Katherine Johnson” after her.

Harvey Washington Banks

In 1961, Harvey Washington Banks graduated from George Washington University and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. degree in astronomy. Before earning his doctorate, Banks earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from Howard University. He went on to teach at Delaware State College and Howard University.

His Journey

Banks spent his career researching orbits, celestial mechanics, solar eclipse, and satellites. He focused on spectroscopy, which uses light to study celestial bodies, and geodesy, which is the study of Earth’s shape and orientation. His work in geodesy, in particular, has influenced today’s Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

His Legacy

Much of our understanding of the Earth’s orientation and GPS technology would not be possible without Harvey Washington Banks. He broke barriers for Black people looking to be involved in academia and demonstrated that his intellect was not defined by the color of his skin.

Photo Credit: US Air Force

Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.

Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. was an Air Force Officer and made history as the first Black astronaut in June of 1967. His contributions to space exploration have inspired generations of Black men and women. While his career was brief, Lawrence earned both the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Outstanding Unit Citation.

His Journey

When he was 21 years old, Lawrence became a US Air Force pilot. He went on to earn the position of senior USAF pilot and flew test flights to study the gliding flight of spacecraft returning to Earth from orbit. He logged over 2,500 flight hours during his service. During this time in the Air Force, Lawrence also earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in physical chemistry.

Lawrence was chosen to be an astronaut in 1967 after the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He was selected to be a part of the Air Force’s Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) program, an early concept of crewed space stations. However, Lawrence never got to go to space. He was killed in a plane crash later that year, at only 32 years old.

His Legacy

While Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. never got to go to space himself, he paved the way for other Black people to do so. His selection as an astronaut made history, and he inspired others to follow in his lead and accomplish their dreams. He didn’t let the adversity he faced hold him back. He was determined to reach new heights, and along the way, he inspired generations to come.

Photo Credit: NASA

Guion Bluford

Guion Bluford made history in 1983 as the first Black person to go to space as part of the STS-8 mission. During this mission, he also became the second person of African ancestry to fly in space, the first being cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez.

His Journey

Before his NASA career, Bluford was a member of the United States Air Force and has logged over 5,000 hours of jet flight time. He received his pilot wings in 1966 and trained as a fighter pilot. In the Vietnam War, he flew over 125 combat missions. Bluford went on to graduate from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978 with a doctorate in aerospace engineering.

Bluford was a part of NASA astronaut group 8. He flew as a Mission Specialist on four space missions: STS-8, STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53. The missions STS-8 and STS-61-A each made history, respectively. STS-8 was the first mission to launch and land at night, and STS-61-A was the first mission to carry eight crew members, the largest crew to have flown in space at the time.

In total, Bluford spent 28 days, 16 hours, and 33 minutes in space. During this time, he conducted dozens of tests and experiments, including researching the physiological effects of space flight and collecting data on Earth’s aurora. He also helped deploy the Global Low Orbiting Message Relay Satellite and operate the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System.

His Legacy

Guion Bluford broke down barriers for Black people dreaming of being involved with space exploration. He paved the way for Black men and women to reach for their stars and accomplish their goals. When talking about his history-making mission, he said, “I wanted to set the standard, do the best job possible so that other people would be comfortable with African-Americans flying in space and African-Americans would be proud of being participants in the space program and… encourage others to do the same.” Rest assured, he did just that!

Photo Credit: NASA

Mae C Jemison

In 1992, Mae C. Jemison made history as the first Black woman to fly in space. She was a part of the mission STS-47, where she served as Mission Specialist 4 and Science Mission Specialist. Jemison spent eight days in space, where she conducted numerous experiments, most notably researching bone cells.

Her Journey

Jemison knew she wanted to go to space at a young age. NASA’s Apollo-era fueled her passion. As she watched the Apollo missions unfold from home, she was frustrated by the lack of female astronauts. This irritation drove her to want to make her mark on history and become an astronaut herself.

In 1977, Jemison graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering and African and African-American studies. She then enrolled in Cornell Medical School, where she worked for the Flying Doctors before graduating with her M.D. degree in 1981. She worked as a medical officer for the Peace Corps and conducted research with the Centers for Disease Control before applying to be an astronaut.

Her Legacy

While Jemison only flew on one space mission, her advocacy to promote STEM education has never ended. She founded The Jemison Group, Inc., which investigates the socio-cultural impact of technological advancements, and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, which creates educational programs. One program is The Earth We Share, a science camp for students to improve science education and problem-solving skills.

Today, Jemison is a member of the Association of Space Explorers, the American Medical Association, and the American Chemical Society. She continues to be an active public speaker, sharing her story and inspiring others to reach for their stars.

Photo Credit: NASA

Bernard A. Harris

Bernard A. Harris is a former NASA astronaut who made history as the first Black person to perform a spacewalk. His dream of becoming an astronaut began in 1969 when he watched the Apollo 11 astronauts land on the Moon for the first time. Over twenty years later, in 1990, that dream came true when NASA selected him to become an astronaut.

His Journey

Harris first flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-55 in August of 1991. For ten days, he conducted experiments aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Four years later, in 1995, Harris was a part of STS-63 as a Payload Commander. STS-63 was the first flight of the joint Russian-American space program. It was during this mission that Harris became the first Black person to perform a spacewalk. He did so alongside Michael Foale, the first British-born spacewalker.

Harris also worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. He graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in 1982 with his M.D. degree. During this time, he studied how the human body adapts to outer space.

His Legacy

In 1998, Harris founded The Harris Foundation, which offers support to programs dedicated to supporting the health and education of minority groups and empowering young people to follow their dream. Harris is currently the CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative, a nonprofit organization that promotes accessible STEM education.

Photo Credit: NASA

Stephanie Wilson

Stephanie Wilson is an aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut. She was the second Black woman to go to space and has spent the longest in space of any Black female astronaut, logging over 42 days in space. She has flown on three missions: STS-121, STS-120, STS-131.

Her Journey

Before going to space, Wilson worked in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch and as a communicator for on-orbit crews in Mission Control. In the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch, she worked on Space Station displays and procedures and Space Shuttle engines, tanks, and boosters.

On her first mission, STS-121, Wilson helped transfer over 20,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. She also developed increased safety procedures for space shuttle operations, produced high-resolution images of the Shuttle, and assisted in robotic arm operations.

A year later, Wilson helped deliver Harmony, a utility hub, to the International Space Station as part of STS-120. This mission also brought a new crew member to the ISS for Expedition 16 and brought a member of Expedition 15 and a member of Expedition 16 home.

On her final mission, Wilson was responsible for space station robotics. She operated the space station’s robotic arm to both remove and reinstall the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. STS-131 was also the first time four women were in space at the same time.

In 2020, it was announced that Stephanie Wilson was a part of NASA’s new Artemis Team. This group is composed of 18 individuals headed back to the Moon. Wilson is one of nine women on the team, one of which will be the first woman to step foot on the Moon. Also a part of this group are Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, who completed the first all-female spacewalk together in 2019. Wilson was a ground controller for this spacewalk.

Her Legacy

Stephanie Wilson continues to break barriers. As the second Black woman to go to space, she has led the way for other Black women to follow in her footsteps and reach new heights. On the Artemis Team, she will continue to do so, and we look forward to seeing what she will accomplish!

Photo Credit: Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Charles Bolden

Charles Bolden made history in 2009 as the first Black person to serve as NASA administrator on a permanent basis. Before becoming an administrator, Bolden was a NASA astronaut and member of the United States Marine Corps.

His Journey

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, Bolden earned the position of Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1970. He flew in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Thunder and throughout his service, accumulated over 6,000 hours of flight time.

Bolden was selected to become an astronaut in 1981 as part of NASA Astronaut Group 9. He flew on four space missions: STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, and STS-60. On STS-61-C and STS-31, he served as the mission pilot, and on STS-45 and STS-60, he was the mission commander. While completing these missions, Bolden became the first person to ride the Launch Complex 39 slide wire baskets, which were used as an escape from the Space Shuttle. Also on these missions, Bolden and his other crew members helped deploy the SATCOM Ku band satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as conduct various tests and experiments.

Bolden was appointed to be the administrator of NASA in 2009 by then-President Barack Obama. His goals were to promote STEM education, empower young people to get involved with space exploration, and expand international relationships, specifically with the Muslim world. He also focused on developing missions to Mars, and in 2012, he became the first human to have his voice broadcast on the Red Planet.

His Legacy

Charles Bolden’s time as NASA administrator left a lasting impact on NASA. Today, we are still going after Mars. This month, NASA’s Perseverance rover will touch down on the Red Planet and hopefully one day soon, humans will touch down as well. His service as administrator also was historic for Black people looking to be involved in space exploration, and he opened new doors for anyone dreaming of doing so.

Photo Credit: NASA

Victor J Glover

Last year, Victor J Glover made history when he became the first Black crew member of an ISS Expedition to live on the International Space Station long term. On November 15, 2020, Glover flew onboard the first operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This was his first mission, and he is currently living on the ISS as a station systems flight engineer for Expeditions 64 and 65. He is one of only 14 Black Americans who have gone to space.

His Journey

Before becoming an astronaut, Glover served time in the United States Navy., earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined in 2001, and, in 2007, he was designated as a test pilot. As a Naval Aviator, he has been deployed throughout the United States and Japan. He has logged over 3,000 hours of flight time and served in 24 combat missions.

Glover holds three Master of Science degrees: Masters of Flight Test Engineering from Air University, Masters of Systems Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School, and Masters of Military Operational Art and Sciences from Air University. He also earned certificates in Space Systems and Legislative studies.

His Legacy

Victor J Glover’s legacy has only just begun. As private and commercial spaceflight become more popular, we will look back to the first operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and celebrate Glover and the other astronauts’ historical accomplishments. He is also breaking limits each day he spends onboard the ISS. Glover is an inspiration for the new wave of aspiring astronauts, and he’ll continue to accomplish great things on future missions.

Everlasting Legacy

The accomplishments of these Black engineers, scientists, astronauts, and mathematicians have broken barriers so that new generations of Black men and women can too follow their dreams. They are leaders in their fields and are role models for young people wanting to get involved in STEM. Their stories of perseverance and success are inspiring, and their legacy should never be forgotten.

If you want to learn more about space and STEM pioneers, follow The Mars Generation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and sign up for our email list.

Microsoft and NASA Invite The Mars Generation Founder, Abigail Harrison, to Attend Downlink Event

February 29, 2020 By groundsupport 1 Comment

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, February 29, 2020 / The Mars Generation (TMG) today announced that its co-founder, Abigail Harrison, will join Microsoft and NASA at an event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on March 2, focused on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities accessible to all. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station, including Jessica Meir, will join via a live In-Flight Education Downlink to share their experiences of working and living in space, and to answer questions from attendees. The downlink for the event will be live streamed online for public viewing. Microsoft and NASA are hosting this event in response to the anticipated 9 million STEM jobs that will be created by 2022, and the desire to see women and minorities accessing those jobs.

The event will kick off Microsoft’s In Culture campaign to honor International Women’s Day on March 8th, and throughout Women’s History Month by recognizing women who are overcoming obstacles and breaking boundaries—with the goal of encouraging young women and girls to pursue their goals without giving up. Harrison, known online as Astronaut Abby, is a leader in STEM who inspires the future by encouraging people of all backgrounds to pursue big dreams.

“Women and people of color are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers and in the pathways that lead to those careers,” said Harrison. “I fiercely believe that we will close that gap, and I am thrilled to be a part of the movement that will do it. Giving young people access to people like astronaut Jessica Meir and the information that she’ll share during this event, can help keep their minds open to the possibilities of what they can do themselves.”

Microsoft is sponsoring Harrison’s attendance at the event as she is known for using her leadership and widespread global influence to increase focus on space exploration as vital to the future of humankind. She has also been vocal about the need for people of all backgrounds to have a seat at the table, and advocates tirelessly for the importance of diverse perspectives being represented in STEM and beyond.

About The Mars Generation

The Mars Generation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an advisory board that includes astronauts, engineers, scientists, and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. Reaching millions of people since 2015, the organization has served students and adults from around the world through programs including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program, and Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is supported by private donors, members, influencer work, and major corporate sponsors. The Mars Generation aims to excite, educate and inspire all people about the future of human space exploration.

For more information, visit TheMarsGeneration.org.

About Astronaut Abby

At age 13, Abigail Harrison, now commonly known as Astronaut Abby, publicly shared her dream of becoming the first astronaut to land on Mars. Since then, Harrison has worked diligently to stay on course and pursue this dream. Now 22 years old, she is a respected thought leader who is passionate and vocal about space exploration and uses her widespread influence, leadership, and The Mars Generation to foster support and enthusiasm for human space exploration. Harrison has been hailed as one of the most influential people in STEM and has earned accolades for her leadership including Forbes 30 Under 30, Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, and TIAA Difference Maker 100.

For more information, visit AstronautAbby.com.

The Martian Garden Project

February 15, 2018 By groundcontrol Leave a Comment

We are excited to have Amanda Green and Julie Arsenault join us as guest writers. Please scroll to the bottom of this post to learn more about Amanda and Julie.

I love science, and the only thing I love more than teaching science is teaching and learning about space. My name is Amanda Green, and I am a middle school science teacher in Beaumont, Alberta, Canada. I work alongside my colleague and friend, Julie Arsenault, from Edmonton. We enthusiastically share our love of science and space and often collaborate and share ideas for lessons, activities, and just getting nerdy.

Over the past few years we have both participated in the Canadian Space Agency/ Let’s Talk Science Tomatosphere project several times. It is a fantastic experiment where kids from across Canada and the United States compare germination rates of two groups of tomato seeds: one control and one that has been either onboard the International Space Station or exposed to a simulated space environment. We have used this project to kick off the school year with the scientific method and to have plants thriving in our classrooms all year long.

THE PILOT

In 2016/2017 I started with my class by using notable Twitter accounts – SpaceX, NASA, The Mars Generation, and Astronaut Abby, for example – these accounts helped us to keep up with all of the exciting innovations in science and technology. Throughout this process, the name Wieger Wamelink kept coming up as someone who had been growing plants in impressive simulated Martian conditions in the Netherlands. These experiments made me think about the connection between our Tomatosphere experiment, my favorite movie/book The Martian, and the educational value of doing a similar project with our students. I was curious to figure out how we could marry science and science-fiction in an authentic and meaningful way.

The Martian Garden produces Mars simulant soil from ground up, sterilized lava rock that closely resembles Martian soil based on its texture and chemical composition. One major problem is that the soil is quite expensive, especially to ship all the way up to Edmonton. However, I was able to convince my school administration to fund a small pilot project. This sparked some discussion with my students and, after researching various possibilities, we planted some of our Tomatosphere space seedlings in Earth soil, Mars simulant soil, and Mars simulant soil with a variety of fertilizers.

By watching our plants grow throughout the school year, we were able to observe many changes that fueled many ‘teachable moments’ and discussions in our classroom. As our hypothesis predicted, the plants grown in plain Martian soil control was not as visibly healthy as the plants grown in other soil variants. They were thin, pale, and less lush than the other plants, and they died before they could produce any flowers. While this was a great initial experiment, we knew that what we needed to gather more significant data as replication for each variable tested. In order to have more replicates, we needed more soil.

COLLABORATION AND FUNDING

One of the fantastic things about this age of social media is that it makes reaching out and finding like-minded people much easier than in the past. Julie and I met at a Science Teaching Conference and kept track of each other’s classes via Twitter. We have forged a very productive working relationship, in addition to our friendship, and we often brainstorm and troubleshoot projects we are doing in our classes. Julie was intrigued by our initial experiments and was eager to get on board with future work. We researched possibilities and collaborated to find a solution to our financial concerns for expanding the initial project. Together we applied for and received a Devon Science Giants Grant, allowing us to purchase more soil and any additional supplies needed to take our project to the next level and to ensure we could produce valid and reliable results.

THE MARTIAN GARDEN PROJECT

As the 2017/2018 school year began, Julie and I prepared to make our Martian Garden the centerpiece for instruction throughout our year. Although we teach different grade levels, we have both found ways to weave a Martian survival theme into most topics covered in our respective science curricula, valuing the real-world application it brings. We have brought in experts, and have had students brainstorm questions and continue to research all that is required to prepare a human mission to Mars. Our students have been excited to discover more about what it would take to survive this journey!

Our classes have now completed the transplanting phase of our experiments. Our Tomatosphere seedlings have been transplanted into either Earth or Mars simulant soil, and, in addition to control groups for each type, we’ve included some test groups with various fertilizers added to the soils. Inspired by The Martian, one student brought in manure for us to mix in with our soil (I think our room smelled for a few days after that), and Julie’s class wanted to try mixing some Earth soil with Mars simulant soil to “infect” it with plant-friendly soil bacteria. Our students feel like they’re a part of something bigger than just our classroom; they feel like they’re a junior high version of Mark Watney, trying to find ways to grow plants on a planet where nothing grows.

In addition to the variations in soil, we are testing another variable across our two classrooms – the source of light. My classroom has only one window so we will be using shelving with grow lights as our primary source of light, whereas Julie’s classroom has a large bay window so her class’s plants will have natural light as their primary source.

At this point our observations are largely qualitative, but we have noticed that tomatoes grown in Mars simulant soil have a red/purple hue to their stems. Julie’s class has also noticed that the plants in Earth soil are growing taller and are healthier overall (her class has not added fertilizers yet, as they are trying to see if there is a marked difference in plain soil first). As we continue to gather quantitative data, we are looking forward to seeing what explanations our students come up with to explain their observations.

In addition to our Science curriculum, we will be using this project to fuel discussions and examples in other subject disciplines as well. We will be graphing and analyzing results, designing 3-D models of Mars habitats, developing charters and laws needed for settling a new planet, and more. We will be meeting with experts and innovators in various relevant fields throughout the school year so students can get feedback and input from those “in the know.”

THE MARS GENERATION

Julie and I have both been following Astronaut Abby and her work with The Mars Generation for some time now, and we are proud to support such a positive and important initiative. Students learn better and work harder when they can see how their work can impact their world, and with all of the exciting research and technology pointing humanity towards space travel and colonizing Mars, we are hoping to inspire our own “Mars Generation.” Whether it be as an astronaut, engineer, computer scientist, or botanist, the possibilities for our students to one day contribute to humankind’s journey further into space are endless and we are so excited to be a small part of this journey.

About #2MartianTeachers

Amanda Green

Inspired by her nature-loving family and enthusiastic science teachers, Amanda graduated from the University of Alberta in 2001 with a BEd. in Biological Sciences and Social Studies. She is a passionate educator who has been teaching middle school Science, Mathematics and Robotics/Technology in both English and French for the majority of her career. She is currently the Science Department Head at Ecole Coloniale Estates School in

Beaumont, Alberta, Canada and is dedicated to bringing science to life with authentic lessons that weave STEM concepts and her interests in space and biology into almost everything. https://sites.google.com/gshare.blackgold.ca/green/home

Julie Arsenault

After earning her BSc. and MSc. in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Alberta, Julie developed a passion for teaching and entered the Secondary Education After Degree program. Julie has been teaching science with Edmonton Public Schools since 2002 and enjoys bringing vast and varied experiences into the classroom (and beyond) to help students make authentic connections to their world. Project Based Learning, STEM, and Place-Based Learning are large components of her junior high (grades 7-9) science classes. A strong believer in the power of collaboration, Julie has presented her work at conferences for ATA Science Council, Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium and Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention, and has consulted with Nelson Publishing. https://sites.google.com/a/epsb.ca/mrs-arsenault-s-nerdy-world-of-science/

2018 #24Under24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space

January 31, 2018 By groundcontrol 6 Comments

The next generation of leaders and innovators in STEAM will help to change the world. And, while with age often comes wisdom, The Mars Generation, through our annual 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Awards , will honor some of the brightest students and young people who are positioned to shape our future for the better.

We were impressed by the sheer volume of nominations for our first year of 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators award. Young people with backgrounds and resumes from artists to scientists, and entrepreneurs to engineers were featured in the submissions. With so many talented students from around the world nominated, our judges were challenged to narrow the list to just 24. The 24 Under 24 will certainly inspire their young peers and encourage students in their communities to reach for their own ‘Mars.’

A huge thank you to our sponsors – Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance (ULA) – for their support in presenting the 2018 awards. The Mars Generation is fortunate to have two leaders in the industry play an important role in honoring these young innovators.

Below, you will find the names and brief bios of those receiving the 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award. We look forward to their continued hard work to Dream Big! Act Big! And Inspire Others!

2018 #24Under24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Awards:

1. Canda Atalay, Age 17, Turkey

Public Outreach & Founder of Toku Space Micronation

In her spare time, Atalay works on a competitive Martian rover design team, and as she launches into adulthood, her goal is to study aerospace engineering and found a space agency in Turkey. And that’s just in her spare time! At 18, Atalay is already accomplished: she’s is the founder of a unique social media platform in Turkey called Toku Space Micronation, where students are invited to share memes and stories about STEAM and space. Her leadership shows also in her in public outreach, including speaking for school groups and volunteering at TEDx Talks. Atalay has spent a significant amount of her young life studying CubeSats, a possible solution to space debris and orbital crowding concerns. It will be exciting to see where Atalay’s science public outreach takes her.

Affiliations: FIRST Lego League, New Horizons in Entrepreneurship in STEAM, Istanbul Technical University & The Mars Society
Field(s) of Interest: Engineering, Space & Entrepreneurship

2. Deepak Atyam, Age 24, United States

Co-Founder and CEO of Tri-D Dynamics

Through a startup company he co-founded called Tri-D Dynamics, Atyam works to produce low-cost liquid rocket engines. He’s had internships at multiple NASA centers, Moon Express’ Google Lunar X-prize team and SpaceX. In his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego, he researched the feasibility of using 3D printing to innovate a new type class of NanoSat launcher rocket engines, and he founded a Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Chapter. At only 24, Atyam has already been recognized in multiple publications for his engineering, entrepreneurship and scholarship. He currently has six 5 patents pending with 1 patent granted.

Affiliations: UCSD Moxie Center for Entrepreneurship, Gordon Engineering Leadership Center, NASA, Moon Express, SpaceX, FIRST Lego League, University of California, at San Diego & Purdue University, Purdue Foundry
Field(s) of Interest: Technology, Engineering & Entrepreneurship, 3D Printing

3. Rebecca Baron, Age 17, Canada

Activist, Scientist & Founder of Because of Her

Not many 17-year-olds can say they’ve crowdfunded more than $1 million to help promote literacy and girls’ education in developing countries. But Baron can, and that’s just one of her accomplishments so far in her young life. Baron delivers a popular TEDx Talk called “Conquering the Gender Gap in STEM,” and she has founded Because of Her, a nonprofit organization building a community to encourage and inspire female students to pursue STEAM-related fields. Baron’s an accomplished research scientist herself–you can find her part of a team at the University of British Columbia’s Life Sciences Institute. Before she’s reached adulthood, Baron has already been awarded a gold medal for her microbiome research focused on solutions to improve indoor air quality and toxin reductions.

Affiliations: Kitsilano Community Centre, Room to Read, Prince of Wales Mini School, University of British Columbia, & TEDx
Field(s) of Interest: Science, Global Activism & Gender Equality

4. Darren Charrier, Age 21, United States

Inventor, Engineer & Founder of Voyager Space Technologies, Inc.

Charrier, 21, is building robotic spacecraft that will extend the life of satellites on-orbit through Voyager Space Technologies Inc., the company he founded. Before this most recent venture, Canadian entrepreneur Charrier served as president of his Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Chapter, growing a team of 20 students to more than 100. His SEDS Chapter secured NASA grant money to develop an open-source rocket engine test stand, and Charrier helped lead his Chapter to launch the Vulcan-1, the first collegiate rocket using liquid fuel from a 3D-printed engine. An inventor and brilliant engineer, this won’t be the last you’ll hear from Charrier.

Affiliations: University of California at San Diego, SpaceX, & Moon Express
Field(s) of Interest: Field(s) Space, Inventor, Engineer & Entrepreneurship

5. Joaquin Cortacans, 17, Uruguay

Public Outreach & Founder of Jóvenes Bajo la Lupa

When 15-year-old Cortacans became the first Uruguayan to attend Space Camp through a scholarship, he couldn’t keep the knowledge to himself, and quickly became known as a STEAM and space advocate. Cortacans began giving talks on TV and radio, and he spoke to the Uruguayan Congress about increasing STEAM opportunities in his home country. Now 17, Cortacans has since started a nonprofit organization called Jóvenes Bajo la Lupa, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of science and to create a place for those who wanted to share their passion for STEAM.

Affiliations: ESO Astronomy Camp, Space Camp, Universidad Tecnológica del Uruguay (UTEC) & Interact
Field of Interest: Science

6. Bethany Downer, Age 23, Canada

Science Communicator, Public Outreach & Founder of Reaching Space Science

Downer impressively marries her passions for space, wildlife and helping others into everything she does. For example, she helped reintroduce wood bison in Alaska for a wildlife conservation project, and she founded an international nonprofit called One Step Shoe Recycling, which keeps unwanted shoes to redistribute to people in need worldwide. Additionally, Downer has taken her education and done something important for the public: she founded ReachingSpaceScience.org, which explains workings of the space industry in a way that it can be understood and valued by all. Today, you can find Downer giving video and in-person talks to classrooms and adult lectures to educate about a variety of space-related topics, including solar evolution, planetary geology, black holes and dark matter.

Affiliations: European Space Agency, International Space University, Memorial University, Space Generation Advisory Council
Field(s) of Interest: Science Communication, Conservation & Philanthropy

7. Paola Figueroa-Delgado, 22, Puerto Rico

Public Outreach & Founder of National Neuroscience Student Association

Growing up in a small rural Puerto Rico town has motivated Figueroa-Delgado to provide experiences and public outreach in STEAM fields to diverse students from underrepresented communities. Her outreach work began with a fellowship position at the Arecibo Observatory, where she served as a mentor to underrepresented pre-college students interested in pursuing a career in STEAM. During her undergraduate studies, Figueroa-Delgado founded the National Neuroscience Student Association, and she coordinated TEDxUPR, which shared scientific discoveries, insights and solutions with students all over Puerto Rico. Figueroa-Delgado is an NIH BP-ENDURE Research Fellow and was awarded an internship at Princeton University’s Department of Molecular Biology. Figueroa-Delgado volunteers in her community at animal shelters, refugee centers and at the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Health Care System.

Affiliations: Arecibo Observatory, Princeton, TEDx, NIH
Field(s) of Interest: Neuroscience, Molecular Biology & Health Care

8. Jacqueline Grundfast, Age 17, United States

Public Outreach & Founder Warwick Valley Central School District Astronomy Club

Grundfast is taking her love of space and works hard to inspire her community to do the same. She established the Warwick Valley Central School District Astronomy Club, and she can be found judging STEAM Fairs in her district as well as teaching and mentoring young students in their research and science studies. This work inspired her to secure funding from her school district to build a robotic telescope for her community, promoting night sky exploration. In addition to doing a tremendous amount of outreach for her community, Grundfast still somehow finds time to be a high school student and a member of numerous national scholar societies. We’ll be hearing more about Grundfast!

Field(s) of Interest: Astronomy, Robotics

9. Pranvera Hyseni, Age 22, Kosovo

Public Outreach & Founder of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo

Hyseni, 22, is the Founder and Director of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo. In this role, she provides invaluable telescope training to educators, STEAM resources to local schools and more. In fact, she was specially asked to develop an astronomical education program for the Ministry of Education of Kosovo, and is routinely asked to represent Kosovo at countless science conferences. With many exciting ventures in her future, Hyseni also recently had an asteroid named after her by the International Astronomical Union.

Affiliations: International Astronomical Union, Ministry of Education of Kosovo
Field(s) of Interest: Astronomy & Public Outreach

10. Roger Lascorz, Age 24, Catalonia

Public Outreach & Founder of Physics & Aerospace Are Awesome

In pursuit of a space research program, Lascorz immigrated to the United States at a young age. Still only 24 years old, Lascorz already has an impressive academic resume, has published a paper with groundbreaking research on how to more efficiently extract hydrogen from water, has presented at many scientific conferences and has won numerous awards for his research. While a graduate student, he was a critical part of a major campaign promoting mental health on his campus. Today, Lascorz continues his public outreach through his organization called “Physics and Aerospace Are Awesome,” where people all over the world can discuss space and science. This resource has half a million followers worldwide!

Affiliations: Georgia Institute of Technology, University of West Georgia, Gamma Betta Phi, Aerospace Systems Design Lab, Experimental Aerodynamics Group
Field(s) of Interest: Aerospace Engineering & Physics

11. Kaitlyn Ludlam, Age 15, United States

Public Outreach & Founder of SWE Next at Fleming Island HS

Ludlam is an aspiring biomedical engineer who dreams of working for NASA as an astronaut. Not even old enough to drive, 15-year-old Ludlam is still highly active in her local community, spreading STEAM opportunities to students and doing public outreach to encourage women and girls to pursue STEAM careers. She is on three FIRST robotics teams, promotes the #FIRSTLikeAGirl movement through Renaissance Jax and much more. Ludlam makes time for her other interests in life aside from science by serving as a mentor for younger girls and volunteers in the American Sign Language community.

Affiliations: FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge & Society of Women Engineers
Field(s) of Interest: Engineering & Medicine

12. Tessa McEvoy, Age 17, United States

Science Communicator & Artist & Founder of Space Cadet Wannabe

Some say creativity and STEAM are opposite worlds. That couldn’t be further from the truth for McEvoy, who uses her artistic talents and passion for science with the same pen stroke. By the time McEvoy was 11, she’d already launched her award-winning origami business, Outside the Box Origami and Gifts. For the past two years, McEvoy has worked hard to promote The Mars Generation, going out of her way to help generate excitement around space exploration through her illustrations, including a 23-page coloring book, “Color Me Mars Generation,” that she gifted to The Mars Generation. She’s also published an ongoing series about a “Space Cadet Wannabe,” creatively telling stories and adventures of a young girl with dreams to be an astronaut. Now 17, McEvoy continues to do what she loves, helping make science even more colorful.

Field(s) of Interest: Science Communications, Illustration & Animation

13. Katherine McKinney, Age 17, United States

Scientist & Founder of Kentucky STAR Center

McKinney, only a junior in high school, is in the process of publishing her first scientific paper, and in the future, she plans to study the effects of space on the human body. For now, she is an advisor for her home state of Kentucky’s STEAM collaborative and often speaks to groups and the media about the importance of student involvement in science. Noticing a lack of neuroscience research resources when she was 16, McKinney founded Kentucky STAR Center as a laboratory makerspace just for students. She is working as an intern for SpaceTango, and has been involved with more than 15 investigations that have been sent to the International Space Station.

Affiliations: NASA International Space Station, SpaceTango
Field(s) of Interest: Neuroscience & Medicine

14. Maanasa Mendu, Age 13, United States

Patent Pending Inventor & Scientist

Mendu, 13, found herself curious and concerned about the problem of energy scarcity in developing countries, and she took this inspiration to the lab. She’s developed HARVEST (patent pending), an energy harvesting device that employs the Piezoelectric effect. The device takes advantage of unused ambient wind, sunlight and precipitation. Mendu is working on larger and more efficient iterations of this technology, and she just might dramatically shift how developing nations use energy all around the world.

Affiliations: Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, Forbes 30 Under 30, Tedx
Field(s) of Interest: Science, Engineering & Entrepreneurship

15. Collin Mitchell, Age 18, United States

Robotics Mentor & Founding Member of FTC team #7187, Team Axis ITR

Mitchell started mentoring and established his first robotics club at the age of 12. In high school, Mitchell continued, founding a FIRST Tech Challenge Team, #7187 Team Axis, which directly benefited 35 students. Although it was an admirable achievement, he didn’t stop there. He lobbied his school district to expand school-based robotics programs. Through his own robotics team, Mitchell was involved with community service initiatives with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the American Cancer Society, and Helping Hands (building prosthetic hands for landmine amputees). Mitchell has done a lot of work recently mentoring other mentors, donating thousands of dollars with of new books and school supplies and packing more than six tons of food for the Oregon Food Bank. His team has built 11 prosthetic hands, and they’ve planned and conducted about 100 STEAM outreach events. Mitchell is busy making the world a better place through his passion for science!

Affiliations: FIRST Tech Challenge, University of California Santa Cruz & Helping Hands
Field(s) of Interest: Engineering & Robotics

16. Temidayo Oniosun, Age 22, Nigeria

Youth Mentor, Inventor & Founder of University Space Club

Oniosun, a 22-year-old inventor from Nigeria, serves as the Regional Coordinator in Africa for the Space Generation Advisory Council. In his leadership role, he works to engage students and young professionals in the national and international levels of space policy creation. He’s made it his goal to involve himself in the space industry and create innovative applications for data collection to promote socio-economic development. Oniosun founded the University Space Club aimed at raising the next generation of Space Leaders – it is currently the largest space club in Africa. As a YouthMappers fellow, he works to create and use open-source software for geographic information, an invaluable tool for the US Agency for International Development.

Affiliations: SGAC, YouthMappers, FUTA, ISpatial Technologies
Field(s) of Interest: Science and Technology

17. Mylena Peixoto, Age 17, Brazil

Public Outreach & Founder of Mylena na NASA

When Peixoto was 15, she discovered five new asteroids during an astronomy project she worked on with her physics teacher. Peixoto was always a hardworking person, but this impressive set of discoveries fully ignited her passion for science, exploration and pursuing her dreams. In 2016, Peixoto was invited to the United States to visit NASA and take a course at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Last year, she won the first scholarship offered by the International Journal of Science & Technology (IJST), where she studied at the Kennedy Space Center and was named an IJST ambassador. She is now studying engineering and will be pursuing her dream of becoming an astronaut. Peixoto has overcome immense adversity in her journey so far, and she continually proves to us that she has what it takes.

Affiliations: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, International Journal of Science & Technology
Field(s) of Interest: Engineering & Astronomy

18. Olivia Scharfman, Age 20, United States

Public Outreach & Founder of thinkTANC

24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space winner Scharfman, 20, serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. As part of the largest and oldest student-run space advocacy organization, Scharfman is a role model for the next generation of scientists and spacefarers. She’s also a professional actor, starring in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions! Scharfman is now studying astrophysics and theater at Yale, and she founded thinkTANC, creating a way for her to continue her neurobiology research (on top of everything else!). Scharfman’s next goal is to obtain her pilot’s license to increase her eligibility to become an astronaut.

Affiliations: Students for the Exploration & Development of Space, Yale University, Actor’s Equity & Caltech Flying Club
Field(s) of Interest: Astrophysics & Theater

19. Julie Sage, Age 13, United States

Public Outreach, Mentor & Founder of Supernova Style Science News

Sage knew when she was six years old that she wanted to be an astrophysicist, inspired by Stephen Hawking, and she has wasted no time beginning to work for that goal. She’s participated in amateur telescope-making, has learned to code, shown coding demonstrations at her middle school and is doing public outreach through her YouTube channel, “Supernova Style Science News.” Sage is a member of the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, which send two experiments on a NASA sounding rocket and four experiments on a high-altitude balloon funded by idoodleLearning. Her dream job is to study black holes, and if she’s already working this hard when she’s 13, there’s no limit to what she will do!

Affiliations: Girls Who Code, Cubes in Space, Clay Center Amateur Radio Club
Field(s) of Interest: Science, Mathematics & Coding

20. Krittanon Pond Sirorattanakul, Age 22, Thailand

Sirorattanakul is one of the specially selected recipients of the Royal Thai Scholarship to study at United States universities. That level of honor is not surprising with a young person’s caliber as that of Sirorattanakul. The 22-year-old has quite the resume. One research project of his resulted in a discovery of a significant change in a Cepheid variable stars pulsation period, published in The Astronomical Journal. He received a Lee Teng Fellowship in Accelerator Science and Engineering to intern at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and attend the U.S. Particle School. Among many other achievements, with a NASA-funded grant, Sirorattanakul developed “Science on a Sphere,” an educational program for middle school students to excite kids about the interconnectedness of earth systems. Sirorattanakul is continuing to work toward his goal of returning to Thailand as a research professor to educate the public about earthquakes, their risks and associated hazard mitigation.

Affiliations: Lehigh University, The Astronomical Journal, Nurture Nature Center
Field(s) of Interest: Physics, Earth Science & Seismology Studies

21. Lisa Stojanovski, Age 24, Australia

Science Communicator

Stojanovski works in New Zealand for Rocket Lab, a small-sat launch provider, and she’s a host on TMRO, a live web show about humanity’s exploration of the cosmos. Her thesis in graduate school at International Space University focused on “Atmospheric Requirements for a Martian Greenhouse,” which was presented as part of the 2016 International Astronautical Congress. If that doesn’t speak well enough to her leadership in space research and communication, Stojanovski has also served as the Regional Point of Contact for the Space Generation Advisory Council. Stojanovski was invited to share her skills as a scientist and communicator in order to help develop the Australian Space Agency.

Affiliations: International Space University, TMRO, Shell Questacon Science Circus, Rocket Lab, Space Generation Advisory Council
Field(s) of Interest: Science Communications, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

22. Shi Tuck, Age 19, United States

Inventor & Founder, Ben Davis HS Astronomy Club

Tuck, 19, has made it her mission to share her love for STEAM and space with women and minority communities. Starting in high school, she founded and Astronomy Club and hosted a two-day “Space Day” event for more than 1,000 elementary students and raised enough funds to purchase and donate 300 science textbooks for elementary schools in her district. Her work today includes CubeSat design, Martian rovers and research with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. Upon graduation from Stanford University, Tuck plans to work as an Electrical Engineer in the aerospace industry and continue her volunteer work in disenfranchised communities, serving as a mentor to future STEAM students.

Affiliations: Wright Patterson AFRL, Stanford University
Field(s) of Interest: Engineering & Astronomy

23. Allie Weber, Age 12, United States

Patent Pending Inventor & Science Communicator

With a passion for learning and a knack for inventing, 12-year-old Weber contributes to STEAM education through a robust social media presence and her YouTube channel, “Tech-nic-Allie Speaking.” She uses these channels to share about science projects and to promote ways for other students to get involved themselves. Beginning her inventing career early, Weber developed an internal glove system called “Frost Stopper” (patent pending) that monitors cold temperatures and alerts wearers to avoid frostbite. Weber has goals for earning a doctorate degree in engineering or business to pursue her entrepreneurial passion for starting a company around her own innovations.

Affiliations: Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, FIRST Lego League, Makers Faire
Field(s) of Interest: Technology, Engineering & Science Communications

24. Melissa Vazquez-Hornik, 24, United States

Scientist

Imagine being assigned to a team to get to Mars, and then being told to live and work with this small group of people constantly for three years or more. Vazquez-Hornik’s research is devoted to studying psychological factors associated with teams and long-duration missions and how we can help teams stay functional under such intense pressures. Her current research involves an international effort between U.S. and Russian space agencies with the Institute of Biomedical Problems to examine interpersonal perceptions and traits when it comes to managing space crews in isolated and confined environments. Vazquez-Hornik is making enormous advances to an understated part of space exploration. In addition to her research, Vazquez-Hornik volunteers with the Jewish United Fund, Chicago Lights Tutoring and serves as a director for the Hornik Family Foundation to support communities in need.

Affiliations: University of Central Florida, DePaul University, Illinois Space Grant Consortium
Field of Interest: Science & Psychology

Astronaut Requirements: What languages do astronauts need to know? | #AskAbby Space and Science Show

January 23, 2018 By socialnicole Leave a Comment

We are excited to announce the release of our new weekly series called the #AskAbby Space and Science Show! Our founder and president Astronaut Abby will be appearing each Tuesday, answering questions submitted by you, our community!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here so you don’t miss an episode!

In this second episode please join Astronaut Abby as she answers the question: Do astronauts need to know Klingon? Find out everything you wanted to know about what languages astronauts need to know and more!

Included in this episode: Find out of the many skills that are required of astronauts…if knowing other languages is required. If so, what languages do you need to master to become an astronaut and go to space? Klingon, perhaps? Includes some Shakespeare and Star Trek trivia included in this special #AskAbby episode about space languages!

Tune in weekly on Tuesdays for new releases of The Space and Science Show #AskAbby series and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here so you don’t miss an episode!

The Mars Generation’s Post-Mission Interview with HI-SEAS Crew Members 2017 [VIDEO]

January 16, 2018 By groundcontrol Leave a Comment

The crew of the HI-SEAS Mars Analogue Mission

The Mars Generation had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with crew members from the HI-SEAS Mars Analog Mission during their mission that ran from January 19th to September 17th, 2017. Our blog editor and writer, Becca Browder, conducted an interview with the crew that included questions submitted by The Mars Generation members, a perk offered to members only.

The Hawai’i Space Exploration and Analog Simulation (HI-SEAS) project is a NASA-funded research program operated by the University of Hawai’i. During the simulation, crew members lived in isolation for a long-duration mission with conditions simulating those of an actual mission to Mars. The crew experienced a simulated 20-minute communications delay, lived in the 1,200-square-foot habitat, and went outside only while wearing mock spacesuits. Led by UH Mānoa professor Kim Binsted, the mission’s purpose was to study crew selection and the effects of long-term isolation on teams.

Four crews have previously completed missions at the site on Mauna Loa in Hawai’i, and now the six crew members of Mission V have finished their eight-month mission. During their mission we solicited questions from our members and selected the best questions to include in the interview. The crew gathered together to answer the questions as a group during their mission.

Watch all 4 segments of the interview below to see what it’s like to live on “Mars”!

HI-SEAS Mars Simulation 2017 | Interview Part 1 | The Space & Science Show by The Mars Generation

HI-SEAS Mars Simulation 2017 | Interview Part 2 | The Space & Science Show by The Mars Generation

HI-SEAS Mars Simulation 2017 | Interview Part 3 | The Space & Science Show by The Mars Generation

HI-SEAS Mars Simulation 2017 | Interview Part 4 | The Space & Science Show by The Mars Generation

Don’t forget to follow The Mars Generation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and sign up for our email updates today!

Press Release: Aerojet Rocketdyne Executive Joins the Advisory Board for The Mars Generation Nonprofit

November 7, 2017 By groundcontrol Leave a Comment

Julie Van Kleeck

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, November 7, 2017 / — Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Vice President of the Advanced Space and Launch Business Unit, will be joining The Mars Generation (TMG) as a member of the advisory board. In support of a common mission to promote the next generation’s progress in space exploration, Van Kleeck will apply her background in leadership and space development to guide board objectives and advocate for the non-profit organization as an advisory board member.

Van Kleeck has been instrumental in the development of leading-edge rocket propulsion technology and products – many of which are in production today at Aerojet Rocketdyne. She has received numerous technical awards from Aerojet Rocketdyne and other outside organizations. In addition to being active in Aerojet Rocketdyne’s outreach and advocacy efforts for STEM and Women in Aerospace programs, she’s responsible for the company’s Advanced Space Products strategy, technology development and product development efforts.

“I am excited to work with an organization that creates and promotes opportunities for young people all around the world to explore their interests in space and beyond.” – Julie Van Kleeck

“I look forward to serving on The Mars Generation’s advisory board,” said Van Kleeck of her new position. “In addition to developing products that enhance our understanding of space, it’s just as important to inspire the upcoming generation to go even further. I am excited to work with an organization that creates and promotes opportunities for young people all around the world to explore their interests in space and beyond.”

The Mars Generation operates several core programs including the Future of Space Outreach Program, the Space Camp Scholarship Program and the Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program (SSA). All programs focus on reaching the mission of The Mars Generation which is to excite young people and adults about human space exploration and STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) education and foster an understanding of the importance of these two elements to the future of humankind on Earth.

“Our advisory board members are coming from increasingly diverse backgrounds. Such variance helps maximize The Mars Generation’s positive impact in space and STEAM fields around the world,” said Abigail Harrison, TMG founder and board chair. “We are confident that with the support of our advisory board members, we can expand our programs and increase our impact around the world.”

About The Mars Generation
The Mars Generation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States. The organization is volunteer-driven with a board of directors that includes astronauts, engineers, scientists and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. With a reach of more than 25 million people since 2015 and a social media following of more than one million people the organization has served more than 10,200 students and adults from around the world through multiple programs including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program and Space Camp Scholarship Program. TMG is supported by over 450 donors, 1,000 members, and leading space industry sponsors. Through an innovative approach of leveraging new media technology and providing engaging content and programs the organization aims to excite and educate students and adults about the importance of human space exploration and STEM education.

About Aerojet Rocketdyne
Aerojet Rocketdyne is an innovative company delivering solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.

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Yvonne Hundshamer
The Mars Generation
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NASA’s Chief Engineer Julie Kramer-White on the Orion Spacecraft Mission

October 6, 2017 By groundcontrol Leave a Comment

We are so lucky to have Caroline Geraghty join us as a guest writer. Please scroll to the bottom of this post to learn more about Caroline.

Please visit our “Get Involved” page to learn more about how you can volunteer and/or join The Mars Generation. Let’s go to Mars!

*** Please note guest submissions are options of the author and do not necessarily reflect the mission or beliefs or The Mars Generation.

Introduction

The fields of aerospace engineering and technology are constantly evolving. It’s been almost half a century since humans first stepped foot on the Moon, a feat many thought impossible. Now, humanity is pushing the boundaries of space exploration even further: we are pursuing Mars.

In 2003, NASA launched the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity which landed on its target destination in 2004. Since then, NASA has been collecting data from Mars about water activity, soil, and temperature. This is just one step of many in the quest to send humans to Mars.

More recently, NASA is building the Orion, a spacecraft designed to take humans to the moon and beyond. NASA is currently constructing Space Launch System (SLS) which is the rocket that will launch Orion to deep space.

I, Caroline Geraghty, had the opportunity to speak with NASA’s Chief Engineer Julie Kramer-White about her rewarding career at NASA and the origin of Orion.

Interview

1. What inspired you to go into space engineering?

There was a big push in the U.S. in the 1970’s to encourage girls in math and science. I had an aptitude in both, so was encouraged to consider either medicine or engineering by several of my teachers. I didn’t know any aerospace engineers growing up in Indiana. The only aerospace engineer I knew was Scotty on Star Trek! But I definitely knew I wasn’t just interested in engineering.

I wanted to work at NASA on human spaceflight programs. That was the early Space Shuttle Program, before the Challenger accident. In fact, the biography accompanying my senior picture in my high school yearbook says I intend to work at NASA. Luckily, NASA and Purdue, the university I attended, had a long history together…I was recruited into Purdue’s co-operative education (student intern) program with NASA in 1986, and I’ve been at NASA ever since.

2. How did NASA’s Orion come about? When and where did the project get started?

Orion became an official program around 2006 with the selection of Lockheed Martin as the program’s prime contractor. There was work (requirements, design-concept work, etc.) that predates that, but let’s call that the official beginning of the program. Orion, or CEV (Crew Exploration Vehicle) as it was called at the time, was intended to fill the void in U.S. human spaceflight capability that would come when the Space Shuttle program ended (it would have been over 20 years old at that point). Furthermore, Orion was designed to allow for exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

Shuttle was a magnificent piece of engineering, but was intended specifically for low Earth orbit. Its wings and payload bay, which gave it the capabilities to land on a runway and haul heavy, large payloads to orbit, were not practical from a mass or reentry perspective for going beyond low Earth orbit.

Getting beyond LEO, as we call low Earth orbit, is all about mass. If your spacecraft is too heavy, you won’t get out of the earth’s gravitational influence, let alone have the performance to get to the Moon or beyond. For every pound of spacecraft that you take to the Moon or Mars, you need many pounds of propellant, so the problem compounds pretty quickly.

Also, one of the things we learned over time was that a side-mounted spacecraft, like the Shuttle, was less desirable from a crew safety perspective. It would always be vulnerable to debris or ice shed from the stack. So, all the new spacecraft designs are top mounted. This allows the use of crew escape systems which can push or pull the capsule to safety in the event of a problem with the launch vehicle.

3. December 5th, 2014, saw the first trial flight [of Orion] which ended with a splashdown in the Pacific ocean. This must’ve been an amazing event to see happen successfully.

Of course a lot of us had invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into the program at that point, and the Space Shuttle had been retired for about 2.5 years. So, we were very excited to get to launch. We had a lot of confidence in the engineering and checkout that had been put in the vehicle, so we expected it to be successful. However, this test flight was so successful that I would have to say: even we were a little surprised at exactly how successful it was. We flew a test flight to stress the vehicle and its systems, so we could learn as much as possible before we fly astronauts on Orion. And it performed exceptionally well under those conditions.

4. With vigorous tests being carried out on the craft, and most recently, the successful live testing of the Abort module, what testing plans should we expect to see next?

We have several different tests at the component and subsystem levels ongoing. For example, our final qualification drop tests of our parachute system and our integrated avionics and software lab are going on right now…The EM-1 (Exploration Mission 1) spacecraft is being built right now, and will soon power on for the first time. We will add the European Service module in the spring, test the two together and then send the stack to Plum Brook Station near Cleveland Ohio in the U.S. for testing in their big thermal vacuum chambers. This will simulate the harsh environment in space and ensure that the spacecraft thermal conditioning systems are working before we send it out into deep space.

At the same time we have the spacecraft in testing at Plum Brook, we will be conducting our second and final integrated ascent abort test, Ascent Abort-2. We conducted an “off the pad” abort test in 2010, and this companion test will demonstrate abort system capability in the transonic region. This high altitude test represents the design condition for controlling the abort vehicle. So, we need to demonstrate that our guidance systems and motors are effective for aborting off the launch vehicle if there were ever to be a problem during ascent. So, it will be a very exciting year for us on the Orion program.

5. The plans for the first mission to carry astronauts into orbit or deep space are not expected until 2023. Can we see this happen before this as initial aim for 2021?

Our current manifest, or flight plan, has us flying EM-1 in 2019 and EM-2 in 2023. The pace of these flights is really driven by our ability to develop and build the systems, or what we call DDT&E (Design, Development, Test and Evaluation). There are human systems, such as the environmental and life control systems that are needed for human spaceflight, but are not currently on the EM-1 vehicle. These systems are currently under development resolving key challenges in the design and performance (lightweight, low power, high reliability), but we won’t ramp up final production and qualification on those systems until EM-1 is done. The pace of spacecraft development is really just a reality of funding profiles. We load our development schedules to match our budgetary commitments for a given year. We would love to fly sooner or more frequently, and we are always looking for opportunities to move key development milestones, like our first human spaceflight, earlier!

6. How are astronauts being prepared in training to adapt to long periods duration missions inside the Orion capsule?

We have engineers and scientists in a variety of disciplines working to answer this very question. We have human factors engineers at Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the Orion program is also based, working to figure out how some of the elements inside Orion like exercise equipment or even food can be optimized to support long duration missions. The International Space Station is also teaching us a lot about how the human body performs after being in space for a long time, both physically and psychologically. We are still learning quite a bit from Scott Kelly’s yearlong mission on the ISS. We also routinely have astronaut involvement in Orion design and development work, as well as in training. They can provide unique insight from their perspective of what it will be like to interact with the vehicle once they are inside it [and we can] integrate that into our designs.

7. Are there specialist suits being designed for deep-space orbit (7 year old Hayden’s question)?

We are using a modified version of the previous space shuttle ACES (Advanced Crew Escape Suit) for early flights…That’s the orange suit you would have seen for shuttle astronauts. We’ve made some safety enhancements, as well as modifications for it to interface with the Orion spacecraft suit loop (that’s the system that provides breathing gases). But it has a limited capability for extended extravehicular activity (EVA), and is not intended for planetary surface exploration. New suits are in development for these applications. These suits build on our extensive lessons learned from Apollo missions to the Moon and all our EVA experience from space station. The next generation of suits should promise to be the lightest, most mobile and reliable yet.

8. When and how far away is Orion from preparing to orbit around the Moon? And the task of asteroid capture, will this take very precise and detailed planning?

As I mentioned above, EM-1 is being built right now, with power on anticipated next month. Launch is anticipated in Fall of 2019 after an extensive integrated test program. This spacecraft level test program (vibration, acoustics, thermal and vacuum) qualifies the design for launch, abort and deep-space flight. Once the design passes this rigorous qualification process, future builds go through a shorter acceptance process. This first mission of Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will send Orion thousands of miles beyond the Moon. NASA remains committed to the next human missions to deep space, but we are no longer pursuing the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). We will continue to work on some of the ARM technologies, such as solar electric propulsion, which will advance future in-space transportation needs. We recently unveiled a concept using SLS and Orion for building a deep-space gateway and transport in the vicinity of the Moon to help us prepare for human deep-space destinations, including Mars.

9. Upon successful orbit of the Moon, what do you and the team hope to gain from this? Will this give more data and in-depth knowledge in planning for the next stage, for the Mars mission?

Just like our high speed entry test in 2014 allowed us to test out the core flight software, avionics backbone, heat shield, and reentry systems, a test flight around the Moon allows us to test out all of our systems in the real deep-space environments, and for days versus hours. The EM-1 spacecraft will add the service module with the propulsion systems, power generation via the solar arrays and thermal control via the radiators and heat exchangers. We also have expanded the software functionality since EFT-1 [Exploration Flight Test 1] as well as updated the heatshield and several other systems based on lessons learned. The goal is to reduce risk on critical systems prior to adding crew on EM-2.

10. With all the findings so far about the Mars atmosphere and radiation, do we know enough to plan for 2032? With so many new planet discoveries, will Mars still stay in the forefront of human space travel?

The area of space around the Moon and Mars will stay part of our objectives for human spaceflight missions for the foreseeable future. Before we could consider the longer term human exploration associated with ‘earthlike planets’ in the habitable zones of other stars, we need to really advance our systems that allow for independence from Earth. We need to advance our propulsion systems to enable faster travel over these massively long distances. Mars is over 30 million miles away, compare to the Moon’s 200,000 miles. Travel time today is days for the Moon and months for Mars…years for anything further.

We need to continue to advance the reliability and efficiency of regenerative power and life support systems, and continue to work in situ resource utilization projects, as resupply and even staging supplies becomes less and less practical. We are making a lot of progress on understanding and measuring radiation. This allows us to develop strategies to protect humans and hardware. Of course, that won’t stop our robotics and planetary probe teams from continuing to reach out into the solar system. They do a tremendously important job of pathfinding our way, laying the scientific groundwork, and making it clear what challenges await possible colonization of these farther out destinations. They will also benefit from advances in efficiency and reliability of propulsion and power systems in terms of reaching further faster.

11. A question for the future of space, engineering, and budding astronauts: what would your advice be to young people today about working towards a career in this industry?

If you are serious about turning your love of space into a career in the aerospace industry, I would give all the typical advice. Take as much math and science as you can! But I would also say, make it a priority to pursue opportunities for internships or cooperative education programs that allow you to go to college and work as an engineer. I was lucky enough to do this at Purdue University when I was getting my bachelors degree. This allows you to really understand what it is that engineers do before you graduate and have to commit to a specific facet of engineering. There are so many different disciplines of engineering that support spaceflight. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit from a discipline perspective, and the right fit from a government, industry, academia perspective. And, some of our most important people, aren’t even engineers! They are the people that lead our agencies and institutions, business people, and communications people that manage our finances, tell our stories, and make it possible for us to design, build test, and explore. Finally, persistence is my word. Progress in this field, particularly the human spaceflight side of exploration, is measured in decades…You have to be committed and work long and hard, and know how to stay on point for a long term goal. So, learn early to be focused, but flexible, because it’s a long game!

Author Biography:

Caroline Geraghty if a full time mother to her son with special needs, Hayden. At seven years old, Hayden is one of the youngest Students Space Ambassadors for The Mars Generation. He has Autism and ADHD, and the fields of space, astronomy, and aerospace engineering have unlocked his world.

By doing outreach work and getting involved with The Mars Generation, Caroline and Hayden have embraced many opportunities to be a part of the space industry. They’ve met with astronauts, talked to university professors, and become active in astronomy organizations. Caroline uses her passion to learn something new everyday, even when people say that her dreams are “unrealistic.” With the lessons she’s learned, she teaches her son, Hayden, that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

The Mars Generation Coloring Book: Our Birthday Present

October 6, 2017 By groundcontrol Leave a Comment

We are so excited to share a wonderful birthday gift we received for our 2nd birthday. “Color Me Mars Generation” is a delightful and creative coloring book that is not just full of fun pages to color, but is also a fun space story that stars our founder Astronaut Abby with the fictional character Jess. Moreover, it features many stories of amazing women who have made history in space and STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, math).

While the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are of vital importance to the advancement of the space industry and face their own unique set of challenges, they aren’t the only fields needed for us to get to Mars. Art is essential to success in STEM fields. It is the creative mind that figures out complex challenges like how to build a spacecraft, design a habitat, and develop food systems as well as many other challenges we have to face before we get to Mars. It is creativity combined with STEM fields that advances us as humans and allows us to continue to innovate. For this reason, people sometimes use the acronym STEAM instead of STEM to emphasize the significance of art.

This present was given to our community by an amazing artist and STEAM communicator, 16 year-old Tessa McEvoy. Tessa is a TMG Student Space Ambassador and often illustrates our events and activities using a fun character named Jess and many times includes our founder Astronaut Abby and others from the TMG will appear in the illustrations as well.

Tessa’s cartoons are fun and make space and STEAM something that kids can relate to. Find out all about the adventures Jess and Astronaut Abby go on in this coloring book (hint there is space travel with a little twist including our very own board member Morgan Irons showing up for some space gardening) while also learning some history about amazing women in space and STEM.

The coloring book is filled with story, history, and imagination. Furthermore, while there are loads of great coloring pages, the book also has many opportunities for your child to draw their own images to go with the story!