Community college students in a pilot program will take the first steps toward potential technology careers as they develop robotic explorers at NASA field centers.
Ninety students from community colleges in 23 states have been selected to travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston or the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., October 20-22 for hands on experience with technology development and direct interaction with NASA experts.
This past week, the White House Summit on Community Colleges explored how these institutions can support a highly educated and skilled workforce. Concurrently, NASA is preparing for the culmination of the National Community College Aerospace Scholars pilot program.
During the summer, students enrolled in the program completed four Web-based assignments that explored topics in engineering and technology. Students will apply what they have learned during the year to technology and design problems in consultation with NASA engineers.
While at the NASA centers, participants will form teams to establish Mars exploration “companies.”
Each team will develop a prototype rover, design a line drawing of their vehicle, and form a company infrastructure, including a budget and communications plan. The students also will tour center facilities and attend presentations by astronauts and other NASA technology experts about their work and careers.
For a complete list of the students selected and the community colleges they represent, visit:
For more information about NASA’s National Community College Aerospace Scholars, visit:
http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/NCAS
For more information about NASA’s education programs, visit:
By Barbara David