SBIR Phase I: Satellites in Low Earth Orbit as a Learning Tool

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to support development of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. With the recent successes of space missions to other planets, space-based STEM learning tools will attract the attention of teachers, students, parents, and the public. This project proposes a system to teach middle-school students about analysis, design, building and testing of small satellites. The system uses space-based systems as a compelling context to teach STEM concepts and methods. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project creates STEM insights using a satellite as the context. For instance, a major challenge is accommodating the payload into a small stowed volume. Miniaturization is sometimes a solution but may be limited by the physics. For example, if a communications antenna exceeding the satellite size is desired, it must initially stow into a volume only on the order of a 10 cm cube. Following stowage, it must be deployed on orbit reliably and with an accurate and precise shape. The proposed lesson plan includes: preliminary concept design of a student-accessible small satellite, a teacher and student step-by-step lessons workbook on introductory remote sensing from space, physics of satellite orbits, and detailed software specifications to use gaming approaches for educational plans. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.