David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz@nasa.gov
Ruth Dasso Marlaire
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-4709
ruth.marlaire@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 11-159
STUDENT EXPERIMENT MICROGRAVITY KIT WINS NASA-MAKE TECH CONTEST
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- "Bring It Back," a small and inexpensive
microgravity spaceflight kit, has won the do-it-yourself technology
and education space competition sponsored by NASA and MAKE Magazine.
The competition challenged participants to design experiments that
could be built for under $200 by high school students to eventually
fly on a suborbital flight. In addition to being low cost, the
winning entry also had to illustrate sound science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) principles. The competition was designed
to inspire curiosity and create interest in STEM among classroom
teachers and students.
The "Bring It Back" concept, created by Houston engineers Prashant Rao
and Subra Sankaran, outlines three experiments using molten wax to
demonstrate important principles of science and engineering. Each
experiment can be performed using the same equipment, making the kit
versatile. The students will use wax to understand the dominance of
surface tension, wetting effects and the impact of a lack of buoyancy
in the absence of gravity. Other science concepts include simulated
boiling, fluid flow behavior and bubble movements induced by
temperature changes, natural convection, and wake flow.
"It is a challenge to create an affordable and achievable method for
microgravity experiments, but the Houston team came up with three
innovative options, using materials easily found in most
communities," said Bobby Braun, Chief Technologist at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. "As a result, students across the country
will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with some of
the principles required in a career in science and engineering."
Sponsored by Teachers in Space, a project of the Space Frontier
Foundation in Nyack, N.Y, the first "Bring It Back" kits will fly
aboard the Excelsior STEM mission scheduled to fly on a Masten
Aerospace unmanned suborbital mission later this year. Teachers and
students will assemble the experiment kits at a Suborbital Flight
Experiment Workshop at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center's AERO
Institute in Palmdale, Calif., in early August.
"At this stage of their lives, we think it is particularly important
to provide an experience that will get students excited about science
and engineering in general, and space in particular, all in an
artistic and imaginative way," Sankaran said. He is a senior thermal
specialist at MEI Technologies and Jacobs/ESCG in Houston. Rao is a
principal engineer at Barrios Technology and Jacobs/ESCG in Houston.
Their kit was selected as the winner by NASA's Ames Research Center in
Moffett Field, Calif., MAKE Magazine and Teachers in Space. Sankaran
and Rao will be honored May 21 and 22 at the Bay Area Maker Faire in
San Mateo, Calif.
"I believe that makers are inspired by the emerging opportunities for
'do-it-yourself' space exploration," said Dale Dougherty, founder and
publisher of MAKE Magazine, a do-it-yourself publication for
technology. "We are proud to partner with Teachers in Space and NASA
to encourage makers to develop space science kits that high school
teachers can build and fly on suborbital flights. The project's
ultimate goal is to open the door for the next generation of makers
to gain real-world experience in space science. "
For more information about the NASA MAKE Challenge, visit:
For more information about Teachers in Space, visit:
http://www.teachersinspace.org/workshops.htm
For more information about NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist,
visit:
-end-
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