Microgravity University for Educators (MgUE) invites teams of educators and high school students to solve technical problems by designing, building, and testing devices in NASA's unique facilities. MgUE is an authentic learning experience requiring application of scientific and engineering practices that creates exposure to STEM career pathways.
The following schools have been selected to participate in the Microgravity University for Educators Precision Air Bearing Floor challenge.
NOTICE: Currently, we are not accepting proposals for MgUE. If you are interested in knowing when the next opportunity for MgUE opens, please send us an email at JSC-EPD@mail.nasa.gov. Please include "MgUE" in the subject line.
Microgravity University for Educators (MgUE) invites teams of educators and high school students to solve technical problems by designing, building, and testing devices in NASA's unique facilities. Teams will share their experience through outreach programs in their communities. The process begins with the submission of a proposal from a team including a commitment from the supporting institution.
Challenges's involve student-derived solutions to technical problems, or improvements to existing solutions, identified by NASA scientists and engineers who use simulated microgravity environments in their work. Examples include designing a docking device, designing a grapple structure, and/or designing a satellite deployment.
Selected teams will design and build their device prior to testing it at a NASA field center. To help with the challenge, teams will be paired with a NASA mentor who will help them integrate student-derived solutions with the selected test facility.
Educators will have the opportunity for professional development during the online and onsite portions of the activity. Professional development hours may include online meetings, webinars, field center tours, interactions with subject matter experts, and learning experiences unique to NASA.
|Proposal Opens||11/01/2017||2:00pm||Central Time|
|NSTA Regional Conference â€“ Milwaukee||11/9-11/2017||TBD||Central Time|
|Information Session||11/09/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm||Central Time|
|Information Session||11/14/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm||Central Time|
|NCTM INNOV8 Conference||11/15-17/2017||TBD||Central Time|
|Information Session||11/30/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm||Central Time|
|NSTA Regional Conference - New Orleans||11/30-12/2, 2017||TBA||Central Time|
|Information Session||12/05/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm||Central Time|
|Proposal Submission Ends||12/13/2017||2:00pm||Central Time|
|Team Announcements||01/05/2018||2:00pm||Central Time|
|Online Meetings (Pre-Onsite)||01/08/2018 - 03/01/2018||TBA||Central Time|
|Onsite Testing Week 1||03/19/2018 - 03/23/2018||8:00am - 5:00pm, Daily||Central Time|
|Onsite Testing Week 2||03/26/2018 - 03/30/2018||8:00am - 5:00pm, Daily||Central Time|
|Online Meetings (Post-Onsite)||04/02/2018 - 05/04/2018||TBA||Central Time|
A MgUE team and NASA mentor on the PABF.
Attend a one-hour online presentation to learn more about the proposal requirements.
To connect to our online session click on this link: Join the Blackboard Collaborate session.
Download the free Blackboard Collaborate Mobile App from your App store to attend via smartphone or tablet, or connect in a browser on your computer.
|11/09/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm, Central Time|
|11/14/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm, Central Time|
|11/30/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm, Central Time|
|12/05/2017||6:30 - 7:30pm, Central Time|
A primary function of operating in space is the deployment and retrieval of payloads. NASA uses a deployment system to eject payloads such as cube satellites from the International Space Station. In recent years, a deployment system failed to release satellites when commanded, and inadvertently or prematurely released satellites. Work to improve the mechanics and powering of the system has been a focus for NASA and its partners. Microgravity University for Educators (MgUE) invites educators and high school students to be a part of the team to improve the solution.
We are challenging teams to design and build a Satellite Launching Experimental Device (SLED) coded to autonomously deploy a mock satellite into a moving, targeted zone that mimics a Mars orbital insertion. Teams should represent a school, school district, informal educational organization, or any combination of the above. Teams should have a minimum of two educators and at least 60 highly involved high school students in grades 9 through 12. Each team will be able to send only two educators and four high school students to Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX to test the SLED in a simulated microgravity and reduced friction environment called the Precision Air Bearing Floor (PABF). Interested teams will prepare a proposal package to be reviewed and scored by NASA.
Proposal Deadline: 2:00pm, Central Time, on Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Please direct all questions to email@example.com . Please include 'MgUE' in the subject line.
Information sessions will be held to answer questions LIVE about the challenge, proposal process, and technical questions. Sessions will be held online. Please scroll up to review times and connection information.
Participants get an opportunity at a variety of NASA unique experiences.