Conference Session

Aerospace Workspace: Current and Future 2

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michele Dischino, Central Connecticut State University; Nidal Al-Masoud, Central Connecticut State University; Peter Baumann, Central Connecticut State University; Zdzislaw Kremens, Central Connecticut State University; Viatcheslav Naoumov, Central Connecticut State University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

math and science and excite them about careers in aerospaceengineering. This new program, “Go For Aerospace!,” will provide mentoring and support tothese students and encourage them to pursue a degree in engineering. CCSU, with itsexceptionally well-qualified engineering faculty, its central location, and its close linkages withlocal industries and secondary schools throughout Connecticut is ideally suited to launch thiseffort. The selection process is an extremely important part of the project and is conductedthrough nomination by math and science teachers in five high-need school districts throughoutConnecticut. Based on their recommendations, 30 high-achieving high school juniors areparticipating this year.Last fall, a kick-off dinner was

Conference Session

Aerospace Workspace: Current and Future 1

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

students tospace-related problems and careers as they work toward solving a NASA mission-relevantdesign objective. Participating students work as part of an engineering design team under theguidance of a faculty advisor and alongside a dedicated workplace mentor to solve a “real-world” problem identified and provided by NASA. Over the course of one or two semesters,each team simultaneously secures funding for their individual project and satisfies course creditrequired for graduation.The opportunity to engage in substantive student research is the hallmark of the program’s effortto encourage and prolong student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)related academic studies and careers. A measure of success is assured for all

Conference Session

History of Aerospace Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Eberhardt, Boeing Company; Narayanan Komerath, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

flow of information would drive similarchanges at many institutions, but the differences in paths taken by the two that we discuss Page 14.1218.12show that such generalization is limited in its validity.University of WashingtonDuring the pre-Sputnik years, the Department of Aeronautics at the University ofWashington had very strong ties to Boeing. Between WWII and 1960, several facultyserved time on Boeing’s engineering staff before teaching. While some graduates wenton to distinguished careers in other companies, Boeing management and engineering staffwas littered with UW graduates who came through the program during this period. All ofthese graduates

Conference Session

Design, Build, Fly (DBF)/AIAA Student Competition/UA

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian Rodrigue, Saint Louis University; David Safont, Saint Louis University; Alex Rees, Saint Louis University; Jim Maday, Saint Louis University; Francisco Vilaplana, Saint Louis University; Goetz Bramesfeld, Saint Louis University

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

Page 14.299.2requirement is that the vehicle must be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily as to notdelay the specified mission. Prioritizing design parameters is an important task, but optimizingthe overall design will require definite tradeoffs. Understanding the optimization process is aninvaluable lesson that students must learn to embrace before and during their careers asengineers. Projects like the Bumblebee provide students with the opportunity design their owntrade studies prior to entering the work environment. II. The Team The team in charge of designing and building the Bumblebee consists of five senioraerospace engineering students. Although the core team only consists of

Conference Session

Aerospace Workspace: Current and Future 2

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Guerra, NASA; John A. Christian, University of Texas, Austin; Wallace Fowler, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

undergraduate aerospace curriculum enables the fresh-out engineer to be moreeffective in the workforce. The benefits of this program extend beyond just graduates from theinstitution where the materials were first introduced, but help numerous graduates from otherinstitutions that adopt the systems engineering curriculum. Although it takes years of experienceand exposure to space missions and the relevant disciplines to truly be a competent systemsengineer, being aware of the discipline at the start in one’s career can only benefit the aerospaceworkforce in general. As the most recent NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, stated in aspeech to engineering educators: “System engineering is a holistic, integrative discipline, wherein the

Conference Session

History of Aerospace Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Eberhardt, Boeing Company; Lee Jonathan, Boeing Company; Adam Bruckner, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Aerospace

. Sometime during the mid- to late 1940’s the directorship ofthe tunnel transferred to James Dwinnell, a 1939 graduate of the department who had joined thefaculty in 1941, and who later went on to a distinguished career at Boeing.Kirsten, the Professor By the late 1930’s and early 1940’s Professor Fred Kirsten was known for his strongviews on education. On May 26, 1936 the school paper reported on Kirsten’s “Guess your gradeand take no exams” policy. The “student choice” grading system started in the fall of 1935 andworked by allowing students to guess their grade to opt out of the grueling three-hour final exam.If their own estimates agreed with Kirsten, they did not have to take the final. “So far”, Kristensaid, “I have agreed with one