Student Space Shuttle Payload Project
And
Space Payload Project Development Program


Introduction:

The BCC Student Space Shuttle Payload Project aims to introduce the student to the world of integrated science through the direct participation in the design, construction, and operation of a shuttle payload. To-date, BCC has launched one payload aboard the Space Shuttle and flown two aboard the KC-135 aircraft.

An introduction to interdisciplinary science means that the students are forced to apply their knowledge in different areas to produce one final product. The final product is not a simulation but an actual NASA experiment. The faculty at BCC believes that the integration of "real life" projects into the curriculum, along with other practice projects, promotes the development of critical thinking skills. Students are also introduced to new potential job markets and employers.

Student participants are encouraged to publish the scientific and engineering results of projects in Journals of various disciplines along with faculty. They are also encouraged to participate in presentations at conferences

Project Categories and Modules:

The Space Payload Project Development Program sponsors a new project each year. Typically projects have multiple experiments and required tasks. The different experiments and tasks form the central objectives of our teaching modules.

From a faculty and organizational perspective all of the activities fit into modules that comprise an educational experience. The modules belong in three different categories:

  1. Experiment design and conceptualization
  2. Experiment execution and data collection
  3. Project Management and team Building.

The student participants work on at least three modules (each in a different category).

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9653672. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.