AFA to Integrate Space Competiton with Space Symposium

The Air Force Association (AFA) will use its StellarXplorers group and opportunities at the 31st Space Symposium to inspire Colorado students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

On the morning of Wednesday, April 15, five teams of high school students will gather at the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs to tackle a problem of orbital design using the Center’s Systems Tool Kit, in its AGI Space Missions Simulation Laboratory (pictured).

The students will spend the morning at the Discovery Center working on their team design challenge, then, while judging takes place, will travel to The Broadmoor, site of the 31st Space Symposium. The students will tour the Symposium’s Ball Aerospace Exhibit Center, and then later that afternoon, trophies will be awarded to the winning team in a presentation at the Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) booth in the exhibit center. All Symposium participants are encouraged to stop by the AGI booth #402 at 3:20 p.m. on April 15 for the award presentation, and to support the young people who may become future space leaders and Space Symposium presenters.

The AFA’s goal is to expand the competition geographically and with increasing complexity to include all aspects of the space system process.

Eventually, the AFA’s objective is to grow this demonstration into a national program with a well-grounded educational component and with objectives of:

• Stimulating in students an appreciation for the criticality of an enduring U.S. space presence;
• Educating students on fundamental aspects of space systems engineering, space support systems, and space operations;
• Exposing students to space industry career opportunities; and
• Facilitating space industry internship and scholarship opportunities for participants.

AFA is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Learn more here.

 

This article is part of Space Watch: April 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 4).