%0 Journal Article
%T Student Space Missions¡ªFacilitating Pathways to Success for Next Generation Professionals in Space
%A Edgar A. Bering III
%A Shuhab Khan
%A Laura T. Jacobs
%A Donald Hampton
%A Nicole M£¿lders
%A Denise Thorsen
%A Rachel B. Gamblin
%A Michael Greer
%A Presley Greer
%A Bryan Gunawan
%A Elizabeth Hernandez
%A Emily Humble
%A Jamie Lehnen
%A Andy Nguyencuu
%A Megan Pi£¿a
%A Itay Porat
%A John R. Prince
%A Ana Gabriela Pessoa
%A Carlos Salas
%A James Simmons
%A Chloe Tovar
%A Alexandra Ulinski
%J Creative Education
%P 607-636
%@ 2151-4771
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ce.2023.143041
%X The Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Project (USIP) was a NASA program created to engage undergraduates in rigorous scientific research for the purpose of developing the next generation of professionals in space research. It is now run by the University of Houston using local resources. The development of next generation space professionals is addressed by using inquiry- based learning. Students are guided through the process of selecting a question of interest to them from disciplines such as heliophysics; atmospheric physics, chemistry, and biology; and geoscience. The students are then guided through the process of developing an experimental investigation to address their question. This student-led project is executed by the students from initial ideation of research objectives to the design, testing, and deployment of scientific payloads. The 5E Instructional model places the student at the center of knowledge building, while instructors facilitate interaction with content and guide the inquiry process. The project is designed to integrate engineering, technology, physics, material science, and earth and atmospheric sciences as an important opportunity for the students to gain access to cross-disciplinary experiential research. In addition to classroom engagement, the students build their own payloads and ground instruments. This project increases students¡¯ command of essential skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication, innovation, and leadership. For the students, this formative experience continues to encourage the development of a broader range of technical skills than is typically offered within an undergraduate degree. These skills include project management, systems engineering, balloon payload design, and balloon flight operations. More specifically, we teach sensor and instrument design, avionics, circuit, and power systems design, payload mechanical and thermal design, and telemetry and navigation. The students are also taught to prepare and present standard NASA project review materials, such as Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review and Mission Readiness Review presentations. Furthermore, the time and energy that students commit to this project promotes professional responsibility and emphasizes the necessity of coherent teamwork. Not only do students make
%K Curriculum Development
%K Project-Based Learning
%K Spacecraft Design
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=124104