This is a special guest post from Elizabeth Kennick, President of Teachers in Space
Did you know, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do your own space research?
Teachers in Space has helped teachers, students, and other space enthusiasts build, fly, and collect data from low cost experiments since 2012. From eleventh-graders studying the efficacy of a new radiation-protection fabric, to preschoolers observing the effects of spaceflight on marshmallows, our teams of teachers and their students have designed, built and successfully flown meaningful experiments that help them understand the mechanics and effects of spaceflight.
Miniature 3Dprinted satellite structures (“Cubesats”) standardized for low cost flights on a variety of vehicles are the key to educational success. Schools no longer need invent their entire program from scratch but instead can purchase off-the-shelf experiment kits for under $500. Suborbital flights are available beginning at $4000: less than the cost of a First Robotics program. And in November 2020, Teachers in Space will launch our first orbital Cubesat which amateur radio operators can access for free: https://teachers-in-space.com/tis-launching-educational-satellite/
Here are some resources to help you start your own space exploration project today:
- TIS Cubekit: Build a 1u-sized 3D-printed frame to contain your experiment. 2u and 3u sized kits are also available on request.
2. TIS Arduino Starter Kit: Sensors, connectors, micro-computer for experiments
3. High Altitude Achievement: Balloon flights for 1u to 3u-sized cube experiments
4. Perlan 2: Stratospheric Glider Flights for 1u cube experiments
5. Blue Origin: Suborbital rocket flights for 2u standard cube experiments
6. TIS Serenity Orbital Cubesat: Learn how to “talk” to Serenity and get space data back for free
Ready to start? Whether you a teacher, parent, or administrator, visit www.teachersinspace.com to explore the possibilities. We’ll see you in Space!
Elizabeth Kennick, President, Teachers In Space
Note from Brett: Teachers In Space is a perfect example of how to be a rocket scientist without waiting for or having traditional education or career pathways. I hope everyone reading this article who wishes they had more opportunities to participate in space exploration will go to their website to explore more.
I’m also happy to mention that Teachers In Space will be one of the organizations that will benefit from sales of my upcoming book Goodnight Moon Base. But don’t wait for that to take your first step!