Abstract
Since the fall of 2003 the Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) program has been providing university students a two semester project that culminates with the flight of a scientific balloon experiment. During the first semester students complete the Student Ballooning Course (SBC) which teaches basic skills necessary to develop a working scientific payload. The SBC consists of a series of lectures and activities providing instruction in electronics, programming, project management, balloon payload design, and introductory circuit assembly. The SBC introduces the BalloonSat, a sub-assembly designed at LSU for LaACES which contains a microcontroller, real-time clock and a four channel analog-to-digital converter. The second semester is spent on the design, development, testing and calibration of the payloads. Upon completion of the Flight Readiness Review, students travel to the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, Texas for integration, launch, recovery and science presentations. A flight capable Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) radio beacon armed with GPS and command capable cut down was developed to track the balloon during flight and to cut-down the payloads. Tracking vehicles are outfitted with radios tuned to APRS frequency and laptops displaying maps of the payload location. Here we describe LaACES; program development, tools and technologies, implementation, program, management issues and flight experiences.
Highlights
The Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) is a rigorous two semester program in which student participants from various institutions across Louisiana learn how to manage a real-world scientific experiment from the design phase to data analysis and results presentation[14]
LaACES matured from the pilot program Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (ACES)[14] which was created by LaSPACE as a way to increase the number of STEM professionals within the United States (e.g. Fig. 2)
This follows the Walker Report, which states that the ―future of the U.S Aerospace industry depends on the ability of the industry to attract, develop and retain a properly skilled professional, scientific, engineering and production workforce.‖1 Every two years the National Science Board (NSB) releases a report containing indicators denoting the status of STEM related fields
Summary
The Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) is a rigorous two semester program in which student participants from various institutions across Louisiana learn how to manage a real-world scientific experiment from the design phase to data analysis and results presentation[14]. A large portion of the first semester is dedicated to providing the students with the skills necessary to complete the project while the rest of the semester is dedicated to payload design. Students that complete the program gain ―hands-on‖ practical experience working with a team to complete a project in a time-critical environment. They learn a specific set of skills directly applicable to STEM related fields as well as improve upon their written and oral communication skills. Launch of ACES-1 LaACESto inspire‘ so that participants continue towards STEM related careers
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