Location
Holiday Inn, Manatee Room D
Start Date
1-5-1997 1:00 PM
Description
NASA is in a unique position to promote utilization of post mission satellites to provide college and secondary school educational opportunities in the mechanics and intricacies of space satellite operation. Many of NASA’s communication and scientific satellites are decommissioned after completion of their mission for various reasons, such as budgetary constraints, end of life expectancy, fulfillment of scientific mission or operational constraints. Therefore, it seems sensible to assess the feasibility of developing alternative applications for these satellite resources. In particular, there may be an opportunity to garner additional, long-term educational benefits from the utilization of such satellites.
NASA is studying its options in this area by identifying its satellites which may be candidates for decommissioning. NASA then plans to assess the possible extended life capabilities of satellites identified in this conceptual process. Using the information from these studies, NASA would then assess the feasibility of establishing a process whereby colleges and secondary schools could participate in utilization of the decommissioned satellites. Success in such a program may enable NASA to: 1) create new partnerships with the college and secondary education communities; 2) provide students direct experience with space science data collection and spacecraft operations; 3) provide students an opportunity to directly operate high technology equipment and to conduct original analysis of scientific satellite data. Invaluable “hands-on” experience could thus be provided to future generations of space scientists and spacecraft engineers.
Paper Session III-D - Post Mission Utilization of Satellites for College and Secondary Education
Holiday Inn, Manatee Room D
NASA is in a unique position to promote utilization of post mission satellites to provide college and secondary school educational opportunities in the mechanics and intricacies of space satellite operation. Many of NASA’s communication and scientific satellites are decommissioned after completion of their mission for various reasons, such as budgetary constraints, end of life expectancy, fulfillment of scientific mission or operational constraints. Therefore, it seems sensible to assess the feasibility of developing alternative applications for these satellite resources. In particular, there may be an opportunity to garner additional, long-term educational benefits from the utilization of such satellites.
NASA is studying its options in this area by identifying its satellites which may be candidates for decommissioning. NASA then plans to assess the possible extended life capabilities of satellites identified in this conceptual process. Using the information from these studies, NASA would then assess the feasibility of establishing a process whereby colleges and secondary schools could participate in utilization of the decommissioned satellites. Success in such a program may enable NASA to: 1) create new partnerships with the college and secondary education communities; 2) provide students direct experience with space science data collection and spacecraft operations; 3) provide students an opportunity to directly operate high technology equipment and to conduct original analysis of scientific satellite data. Invaluable “hands-on” experience could thus be provided to future generations of space scientists and spacecraft engineers.
