%0 Journal Article
%T Flight mechanics experiment onboard nasa¡¯s zero gravity aircraft
%A Kyle R. Matthews
%A Samira A. Motiwala
%A Donald L. Edberg
%A Eduardo Garcia-Llama
%J Journal of Technology and Science Education
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.3926/jotse.26
%X This paper presents a method to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education through participation in a reduced gravity program with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Microgravity programs with NASA provide students with a unique opportunity to conduct scientific research with innovative and creative solutions through hands-on experimental design and testing in reduced gravity conditions. A group of undergraduate students from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, participated in the NASA¡¯s SEED (Systems Engineering Educational Discovery) Reduced Gravity Program, which focuses on addressing systems engineering challenges in microgravity. The team worked with a NASA Principal Investigator on a project to build and fly a prototype test article to demonstrate emergency atmospheric reentry with single-axis control. Through this experience, the team was able to gain hands-on experience with spacecraft instrumentation and learn valuable lessons in teamwork and systems engineering that can be applied to real-world situations. As part of the SEED program, the team shared its experience with local high schools in order to spark interest in STEM-related fields in the next generation of scientists and engineers.
%K NASA Microgravity University
%K STEM
%K SEED
%K reduced gravity program
%K zero gravity
%U http://www.jotse.org/index.php/jotse/article/view/26