Category Archives: Space participation

Activism, Education, Space participation

Video: “Citizen Science – Can Science Harness the Power of 7 Billion?”

The SETI Institute posts this video of a discussion at the SETICon2  event last summer of the potential of citizen science. Here is a the list of the panelists (See the Youtube caption for the full backgrounds):

  • Debra Ann Fischer – Debra Fischer is a professor of Astronomy at Yale University. Her research is centered on the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars.
  • Jon Richards – works on the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) software and hardware control systems.
  • Alex Hall – now the Senior Director of the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, a private race to the moon designed to enable commercial exploration of space while engaging the global public, Hall brings a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors in USA and Europe to the X PRIZE Foundation. As the co-founder and former CEO of Airship Ventures …
  • Dan Werthimer – is co-founder and chief scientist of the SETI@home project and directs other UC Berkeley SETI searches at radio, infrared and visible wavelengths, including the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations (SERENDIP).
  • Ariel Waldman – founder of Spacehack.org, a directory of ways to participate in space exploration, and the global coordinator of Science Hack Day…
  • Moderator: Dane Glasgow, SETI Institute Trustee is a Vice President of Global Product Management at Ebay, and former Director of Program Management at Microsoft Live Search.

Mars, Space participation, Space Settlement

Interview with Gerald Driggers, author of Earth-Mars Chronicles + Volunteering for Mars One

Gerald W. Driggers, author of the Earth-Mar Chronicles book series,  was interviewed on the Space Show this week: Gerald Driggers, Monday, 11-3-14 | Thespaceshow’s Blog,

They talked about the books and about Mars settlement in general.

A portion of the payment for the books goes to the Mars One project. Popular Science has an interesting extended article about the Mars One project and the motivations of those who want to sign up for it : Why Thousands Of People Are Willing To Die On Mars – Popular Science “More than 200,000 aspiring space explorers have volunteered for a one-way trip to Mars. Are they insane?”

Astronomy, History, Space participation

Citizen science project transcribing astronomy logbooks

Simon Owens writes about an interesting citizen science project at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics : Why Harvard and the Smithsonian teamed up to crowdsource a century of astronomical history – Simon Owens

The goal of the project is

to transcribe logbooks for nearly half a million photographic plates of the night sky that had been taken over the course of a hundred years.

The project, called Digital Access to a Sky Century at Harvard (DASCH for short), is actually a collaboration between the Harvard College Observatory and the Smithsonian Institution, the latter of which has embarked on a much larger endeavor to crowdsource the transcription of millions of pages of archival material.

See also the Smithsonian Digital Volunteers site where the transcription projects are managed.  And here is a listing of the logbooks being transcribes by the DASCH project.

DIY space, Space participation, Space Systems

Space crowdfunding: Eclipse capsule simulator

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Craig Russell at Space Operations Inc. in Huntsville, Alabama points me to a Kickstarter campaign they have initiated to fund a simulator for their Eclipse spacecraft, a two person module modeled after the Gemini capsules : ECLIPSE 2-seat orbital spacecraft; first step: simulator by Space Operations Inc.- Kickstarter

The crew procedures simulator will be a used to train people for orbital missions in the ECLIPSE spacecraft. SpaceOps will upgrade the existing cockpit layout and procedures from NASA’s successful Gemini spacecraft of the 1960’s. All avionics will be replaced with current qualified technology. Some new equipment will be added to the ECLIPSE that did not exist before, such as GPS.

This simulator will be a simple table mounted modular design to allow for easy relocation of panels and components to determine the best interior layout for a modern 2-seat orbital spacecraft. As we progress from the initial testing through final design of the actual ECLIPSE spacecraft, we will be upgrading this simulator along the way until it is certified to train crewmembers.

Activism, Education, Space participation

Challenger Learning Center with new design unveiled in San Antonio, Texas

A message from the Challenger Center:

Challenger Center Unveils First Newly Designed
Challenger Learning Center

STEM education organization continues to inspire and
educate students around the globe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Challenger Center for Space Science Education (Challenger Center), the international science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education organization, unveiled a newly designed Challenger Learning Center at San Antonio College. The state-of-the-art Center has quickly become Challenger Center’s flagship facility. It is the first completely new design since the organization was founded nearly 30 years ago and represents the future look and feel of Challenger Center’s simulated STEM education experience.

“Today’s students have different expectations than students did years ago,” said Dr. Lance Bush, president and CEO, Challenger Center. “We know our model works, and the concept of Mission Control and the Space Station will always be our foundation. But it was time to take that classic Challenger Learning Center to a new level.”

Scobee-night[1]

The new Center features a futuristic look and a more functional design while incorporating the best parts of the organization’s original Challenger Learning Center. A revamped open floor model gives students more room to work together in the Space Station. Each student has the chance to interact with at least one hands-on lab during the mission. Large monitors above each work station display emergency alerts and videos throughout the sequence, providing additional engagement and interactivity. Mission Control now resembles what current Mission Control rooms look like with collaborative work stations, large high-definition screens to enhance the visual experience, and computer monitors that drop down into the tables to allow for more flexibility.

The Center is part of the Scobee Education Center, a state-of-the-art 22,000 square foot facility combining the school’s planetarium with the new Challenger Learning Center. The completed Scobee Education Center is named in honor of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee and his widow June Scobee Rodgers who attended the college together. June Scobee Rodgers along with the other Challenger crew families founded Challenger Center after the shuttle tragedy.

“We are so very grateful for the opportunity to open our first next generation Challenger Learning Center, a design that represents the future of Challenger Center, in San Antonio” said Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, founding chair, Challenger Center. “It is especially meaningful for it to be part of the Scobee Education Center, extending the relationship between my family, the Challenger astronauts, and San Antonio College.”

Building on students’ natural enthusiasm for space, Challenger Center uses simulated space missions to strengthen knowledge and excitement about STEM subjects. The newest educational missions, Earth Odyssey and Lunar Quest, were developed with the help of NASA and NOAA so that students would be given the opportunity to analyze real-life data. In addition to applying the knowledge they have learned in the classroom, the missions allow students to practice important skills like problem-solving, communication and teamwork. Today, Challenger Center has more than 40 Challenger Learning Centers around the globe in 26 states and three other countries.

About Challenger Center for Space Science Education (Challenger Center)

As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center and its international network of Challenger Learning Centers use space simulations to engage students in dynamic, hands-on opportunities. These experiences strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Centers reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Founded in 1986, Challenger Center was created to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L: Dick Scobee, Gregory Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Michael J. Smith. Learn more about Challenger Center at www.challenger.org and connect with us on facebook.com/challengerctr, twitter.com/challengerctr and youtube.com/ccsse.