A short film made by 8 year olds Gabrielle Nafie and Miles Pilchik about the SciTech Kids program was shown in the Student Film Festival at The White House. The film included a segment about the Pongsat experiments their class sent to the “edge of space” with the help of JP Aerospace:
Here is the latest episode of The Virtual SpaceTV 3D show with Amanda Bush. The programs are created by BINARY SPACE (www.binary-space.com) with story content from HobbySpace.com.
In this show, Amanda Bush talks about the following topics:
01:24 — 03:02 The ISS releases a Flock of Doves
03:03 — 04:06 Low cost Satellites multiplying
04:07 — 05:16 Google planning a Space Invasion?
05:17 — 07:08 Blue Origin powering up in West Texas
07:09 — 08:41 A lame lunar Rabbit and lots happening on Mars
Other Virtual SpaceTV 3D shows are available on the HobbySpace Youtube Channel.
These videos are intended as educational programs and as demonstrations of an experimental technique for generating animated presentations. The show was generated autonomously by software according to a text script. The project is described in the Virtual Producer whitepaper (Release 1.1, Oct.2013, pdf). For further information contact info@binary-space.com.
Joe Latrell of the Space Frontier Foundation (and Photos-to-Space) sent this announcement:
Teachers in Space Announces Opening for Flight Experiment
Summer Workshop Applications
The Space Frontier Foundation’s Teachers in Space (TIS) project today announced that teacher’s applications are now being accepted for its Flight Experiment summer workshop.
Teachers in Space is a project to inspire student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by engaging teachers with authentic astronaut training and real space science experiences combined with information and resources they bring into classrooms across America.
The workshop is offered for high school teachers of math, science and technology.
The Flight Experiment workshop offers hands-on, repeatable experience with suborbital and orbital experiment design and launch processes. Participants will build, launch, track, retrieve, and analyze captured data from weather balloon experiments which can be recreated within a typical classroom budget. Teachers will learn about commercial spaceflight, suborbital and glider and balloon flight, meteorology, basic glider controls, basic instrumentation, control surfaces, and simple pre-made instruments that will be flying with teachers in gliders and on weather balloons. They will also learn about pressure change, accelerometers, and dosimeters. The experience will culminate with teachers practicing what was learned during the week as they launch their own weather balloons.
Leading the workshop are award winning master teachers James Kuhl, Earth Science Teacher from Syracuse, NY, Rachael Manzer, STEM Coach from Hartford, CT, Luther Richardson, Physics Instructor, Columbus High School (Columbus, GA) & Systems Engineer for AstroSystems, LLC, and Joe Latrell Project Coordinator from Teachers in Space, PA.
The workshop will be held in Columbus GA, on July 21-25, 2014.
If you are a teacher of science, technology, engineering, or math at the high school level we encourage you to apply. Space is limited; only 30 seats are available. The deadline for workshop applications is April 1, 2014. The workshop is free of charge to qualified applicants.
U.S. High School STEM (Science Technology Engineering or Math) teachers may apply at: http://tis.spacefrontier.org
High school teacher Richard Zmuda turned the Apollo 11 landing dialogue into a stage play for students: Apollo 11 Play Aims To Showcase Landing To Teenagers And Inspire Space Love – Universe Today.
From the manuscript description: Apollo 11 – Original Adaptation for the Stage
This riveting stage adaptation of the historic Apollo 11 mission is written in the classic style of Tennessee Williams. The dialogue reflects virtually the exact words of the astronauts and Mission Control CapComs themselves. It brings to life – in breathtaking detail – the drama that captivated the world as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their unforgettable first steps on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. “Apollo 11 – Original Adaptation for the Stage” is a MUST READ for anyone interested in the history of space exploration and the technology behind its remarkable achievements. Furthermore, as a play it was specifically crafted to be produced at the collegiate and secondary school levels, thus enabling a new generation to finally share in the experience which changed mankind forever.
John Powell of JP Aerospace sends me a notice of their sale on flights of the Minicubes to high altitudes on their balloon and airship missions : MiniCube Flights on Sale! – JP Aerospace Blog –
Photo of MiniCubes in flight at 100,000 feet.
A MiniCube is a payload container for people to fly their projects on our high altitude balloons and airship missions.
MiniCubes can be used for research, commercial applications, art, inspiration or anything you can imagine.
Run your own space program!
The MiniCube is small plastic box five cm on a side. On the base is a standard camera tripod mount. You put your project inside the cube and mail it to JP Aerospace. We carry it to the edge of space on a high altitude balloon then send it back to you.
MiniCube and flight all included price: regularly $320 now on sale for $270
Flights available April 26th and September 27, 2014
Sale ends March 12th 2014.
When you purchase a MiniCube you will get a MiniCube and a flight. After the flight your MiniCube will be returned to you along with a data sheet about the mission and a CD with images and video from the flight.
The next MiniCube mission: High altitude balloon flight to 100,000 feet, April 26, 2014
Thank you,
John Powell
President
JP Aerospace, America’s OTHER Space Program
