Conference Session

Best Practices in Aerospace Education

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Hannigan, Mississippi State University; Keith Koenig, Mississippi State University; Lorenzo Coley, Mississippi State University; Christopher Hamm, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

and limitations are disseminated to other instructors in theupper division in a timely fashion. Thus the evolution of the introductory courses serves tomaintain high expectations for students, as well as pushing the technological advancement of theupper division coursework. Through the discussion of the assessment of these courses andrelated curriculum changes, an effective process is illustrated that has been used through twomajor ABET evaluations, and that highlights the changing nature of the requirements establishedby assessment criteria.An Introductory Sequence of Courses is EstablishedA three semester introductory sequence in aerospace engineering was implemented concurrentlywith the 1999 ABET evaluation under ABET 2000 criteria

Conference Session

Preparing the Future Workforce in Aerospace

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Hannigan, Mississippi State University; Keith Koenig, Mississippi State University; Christopher Hamm, Mississippi State University; Lorenzo Coley, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

. The immediate and continuedsuccess of students involved in this two course sequence is described, as they put their lab skillsto work in the lab, at home, and on individual research projects. The evolution and expansion oflaboratory instrumentation is described and the assessment of this laboratory sequence isdiscussed.Introduction to Experimental MethodsIn the aerospace engineering curriculum at many universities, laboratory exercises are eitherincluded as an integral part of various classes, or separated into a sequence of courses taught inthe upper division. Previously at Mississippi State University, laboratory courses were offeredonly in the senior year, with one course being a lecture/lab class introducing experimentalmethods, and the

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sven Bilen, Pennsylvania State University; Brian Schratz, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

foundation of the Lab. For the Lab to mature and Page 13.1253.8prosper, an adaptable strategic plan must identify priorities, deficiencies, and methods to addressthem. To this end, the students and faculty identified several key priorities deemed necessary toachieve the desired resources and capabilities. With the SSPL in its infancy, the key prioritiesfor the inaugural year centered on 1. providing an on-ramp for new students in order to develop an experienced workforce, 2. diversifying flight projects, 3. integrating the Lab with the Penn State curriculum, 4. interfacing with existing university research interests, 5. improving our

Conference Session

Preparing a Modern Aerospace Workforce

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

that teams working on very large problems,across continents, are now commonplace. Large system integration tools have come into theworkplace. Conceptually, optimization can include even the “soft” aspects involving social andpolitical realities, that in fact take up a large part of project or system cost and time. Curricula inSystem Design are obvious avenues for pursuing the design of large systems. At present, theemphasis is on industrial training to use the large computer programs and databases thatcharacterize this discipline. In the curriculum, time may be better spent on the thought processes Page 13.452.5required. A valid observation

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Debbie Mullins, Texas Space Grant Consortium; Wallace Fowler, University of Texas at Austin

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

working within the NASA community.The program requires that each team member earn academic credit toward graduation andaccommodates a variety of design sequences taught in institutions of higher learning across theState of Texas: one-semester design, two-semester design, and design and build programs.Team progress is driven by a series of required milestones, called “Levels” and “Option Areas.”By satisfying milestones, a team earns program funding increments to support their project. Theguidelines and rewards attached to each deliverable provide structure to the semester; andmotivation, instruction and funding to the team as projects grow and develop from a preliminaryidea-stage to an acceptable design solution. Peer reviews provided by graduate

Conference Session

Undergraduate Space Design and Project Courses

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Kuhlman, West Virginia University; G. Michael Palmer, West Virginia University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

less opportunity at WVU for the Aerospace Engineering (AE) majors togain experience working on an open-ended design project in a team environment. Forapproximately the past ten years, AE students have been able to elect to participate in theAIAA “Design, Build, Fly” RC controlled airplane competition and receive credit for one oftheir three required senior technical electives in the AE curriculum. Additionally, for the pastsix years, students can also now elect to participate in the WVU “Balloon Satellites” projectcourse, and can chose to count their course credit for this project as a senior technicalelective. Neither of these open-ended, hands on design projects can be used to fulfill thecapstone design course requirement at WVU; this course