In the past couple of weeks we have welcomed two very important visitors to the MES Starbase 1.5 Program Lab. I decided after coming home from the Georgia STEM Forum in Athens that I needed to kick it up a notch with publicity for our amazing aerospace engineering program. Taking some hints from a couple of STEM Laureate presenters at the conference, I decided to take a chance and invite our district state government officials out to our school to learn about our program.
Our first visitor was Senator Michael "Doc" Rhett who was immediately taken aback at the wonderful things that students were learning in our program. A former educator himself, he could not believe the technology that students were working with in our Starbase 1.5 Lab. Senator Rhett was taught how to use the CAD program from some of our students, and tried his hand at flying the drone outside that we will be using to collect data on our simulated missions. We also were spotlighted on Cobb edTV again for the second time, which got some great footage of the Senator and our students learning alongside each other. Check out the video below!
Mrs. Davis & Mr. McKay (Peach State Starbase Director) chatting with Senator Rhett
Senator Rhett assisting with model rocket launches
Senator Rhett helping students with angle measurements
Mrs. Davis showing the Senator how to navigate the drone!
Launching Rockets with Starbase 1.5 Students
Mrs. Cain (MES Principal) watching students assemble prototypes in the CAD program.
Senator Rhett couldn't escape the CRAZY Starbase picture!
Next, the students and I had a great time hosting Representative David Wilkerson to the Starbase 1.5 Lab. Rep. Wilkerson knew a lot about the different types of technology that the students were using so he had no problem jumping right in and navigating his way through learning CAD (with student help of course!). He also showed a lot of enthusiasm with the students as they had their first lesson with trying out our drone technology. Rep. Wilkerson did a great job flying the drone around our Courtyard! The best part about his visit was the kind words that he had to say about our MES Starbase 1.5 students and the program itself. He was so impressed that he suggested other individuals in our state to invite for a visit, and also mentioned that he is going to continue to follow our program to see what great things are going on!
Representative Wilkerson learning how to use CAD software to build a UAV
Starbase 1.5 Student teaching the Rep. how to do it!
A Starbase 1.5 Student shows Rep. Wilkerson his launch rocket model
Things just keep getting better and better here at MES. Last week, Nicholas DiGiovine and I had our first Skype session with Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduate students from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This was a dream come true for both of us! We showed them all around the Starbase 1.5 Lab and they could not believe that we actually had a 3D printer in our room. It is funny to me that MIT aerospace engineers have to share 3D printers with other departments. Our partners, Pronoy Biswas and Anne Miranan, have graciously given their time and expertise to answer student engineering questions and give helpful pointers on ideas that students are coming up with for their missions. We are setting up weekly Skype meetings for the students and our partners to discuss different viewpoints and aspects of aerospace engineering. Who knows, maybe they can actually come meet us face to face in the future, or visit for Starbase graduation in May? That would be really cool and the students would LOVE it!!!!
Our Ultimaker 2 3D printer!
Our first prints fresh of the build plate
Starbase 1.5 Students showing off their paper models!
An upclose look at a prototype in our CAD software
Well....so far......students have formed their mission flight teams, researched and designed launch rockets, made models of their rockets, and brushed up their CAD skills assembling prototypes of UAVs. Our 3D printer is up and running having made a set of robots and stack-able cups for us to use. Next up, learning how to convert CAD files to .stl files for slicing on the 3D printer. Students will also be researching and determining which type of rover or drone they will be using for the Space Volcano mission. The weeks are flying by and next week will be Thanksgiving!!!!! So much to do, in so little time! Until next time, keep on looking up!
P.S.- The students and I have decided on the logo for our Starbase 1.5 Program t-shirts this year......... It will read: It's Not Rocket Science, Oh Actually It Is!
We love it, you should too!
