NASA, THE RASC-AL PROGRAM, AND

COLLEGEClarkson University

A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF Name _____ Currently ____ at

Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY

Studying ______

NASA

Something to think aboutThe first airplane that flew was in 1903,

and the first man took a step on the moon in 1969. That’s only a little over 50 years of engineering from a wooden biplane to a liquid fueled rocket.

Can you think of any of NASA’s achievements besides the man mission to the moon?

NASA – A LITTLE HISTORY Founded during the Cold War when the

United States was in an Arms Race with the Soviet Union.

Both countries were trying to put the first satellite into spaceSoviet Union succeeded with the launch of

Sputnik in 1957 The United States then decided to

create a government run civilian space program, NASACreated in the beginning of 1958

NASA – DO WE NEED IT ? Some people believe that

NASA is a waste of government money, and is too dangerous in relation to what it brings to society… This is not true!

NASA receives about $15 billion a year, which is only 0.5% of the United States annul budget.

The high cost of space travel and launches is often too much for private companies to afford.

NASA – ACCOMPLISHMENTS Apollo Missions

sent the first men to the moon. Shuttle Missions

carry out various experiments that can only be made in “zero-gravity”

Allow assembly and repair of man made satellites International Space Station

A source of good government relations with other countries, including Russia, China, and various European countries

Allow people to stay in space for extended periods Hubble Telescope, other various communication

satellites, and many space probes

NASA – ACCOMPLISHMENTS

HUBBLE PHOTOS

NASA - CONTRIBUTIONS Calculators Personal Computers Transition Lenses Digital Clocks Smoke Detectors Flat Panel Televisions Solar Panel

Development

NASA - CAREER When many people think of NASA, they may only

think of only the astronauts that go into space. That’s not the only career choice

Engineers Materials, Chemical, Aeronautical/Aerospace, Structural,

Mechanical, Computer/Software, Electrical Scientists

Physicists, Chemists, Geologists, Biologists, Meteorologists Mathematicians Business and Communications Pilots

Many NASA pilots were apart of Top Gun (yes like the movie)

Any questions?

THE RASC-AL PROGRAM• Stands for: Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts -

Academic Linkage• A student design competition that is sponsored by NASA

and managed by the National Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

• Choose from four missions and we design and plan the entire venture.

• All aspects of the mission must be planned and as original as possible

• Go to competition at NASA at the end of the year to compete against other groups from other colleges across the nation

MANNED MISSION TO MARS• NASA is interested in eventual

human mission to the Martian surface. 

• Current technology would not allow for effective exploration of Mars by humans.

• We need to find faster ways to get to Mars

• We are to take up to 4 crew members to Mars for a minimum of thirty days in less than 5 launches.

• The idea is to lower costs and make it as safe as possible for the traveling astronauts

THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED• What is the purpose of the

trip?• How would it benefit society?• What's necessary for life?• What supplies would you

need?• Where would you live (what

structure)?• What type of reusable

materials would you use?• Any Input?

• How would you get energy?

• How would you protect from radiation?

• How do you maintain bone mass?

• How would you collect data?

• How would you travel to Mars, at Mars, and back to Earth?

COLLEGE Here’s my curriculum for my Four years

at ClarksonFreshman Year: Clarkson Seminar,

Freshman Year Seminar, Calculus I, Chemistry I, Calc. Based Physics I, Calculus II, Chemistry II, Physics II, Intro to Engineering Use of Computers

Sophomore Year: Statics, Electrical Science, Materials Science, Differential Equations, Aero Seminar, Strengths of Materials, Dynamics, Intro to Aero Eng. Design, Calculus III, Aero Lab

…CONTINUED Junior Year: Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics,

Aircraft Structures, Advanced Engineering Math (Linear Algebra/Statistics/Fourier Systems) Mechanical Vibrations and Control, Aerodynamics, Aircraft Performance and Flight Mechanics, Design of Aircraft Structures, Aero Lab (times 2)

Senior Year: Aircraft Design, Stability Control of Aero Vehicles, Gas Dynamics, Aircraft Design II, Design of Propulsions Systems

Along with these classes for the engineering major I also need “knowledge area” and business credits. There are also a few other classes I need for my minor.

SOME CLASS MATERIAL

Statics Problem : Find the Forces exerted on the press at point A

MORE CLASS MATERIAL

TIPS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL AT COLLEGE Study Make Friends Get Involved Study Eat Sleep during

normal human hours

Buy the textbooks, and READ them

Have a social life Time management Talk to professors Don’t procrastinate Seek help if you need

it College professors are

not like high school teachers

Don’t be afraid to change majors if you are not happy , its your future

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?