Welcome to Auburn University's Alabama Space Grant Consortium Website!

This site is intended to describe opportunities for AU students provided through the Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC).   Auburn is member institution in the ASGC, which is part of a national network of colleges and universities. These institutions are working to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA's aeronautics and space projects by supporting and enhancing science and engineering education, research and public outreach efforts.   As you read further and an opportunity interests you, feel free to contact me, Dr. Beale,  at dbeale@eng.auburn.edu.  I will continue to update this site as opportunities become available.  Another site that tells what is going on with student projects at AU (maintained by Dr. Wersinger of Physics) is www.space.auburn.edu .    Another source for opportunities is the State's Alabama Space Grant Consortium Website  http://www.uah.edu/ASGC/ . 

February 2, 2010 Opportunity:

January 8, 2010:  Quick Links to Recent Opportunities

     For Students:

ESMD 2010 Research Paper Competition Topics: Ground Operations, Lunar and Planetary Surface Systems, Propulsion, Spacecraft.  Awards: Four 1st place prizes of $3500 cash scholarships--one for each research topic, VIP seating to an upcoming launch  Deadline: January 25, 2010 http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/ResearchPaper.htm

Summary of some Summer 2010 Graduate and Undergraduate Student Opportunities:   Links to the opportunities are in the file: Summer_2010_NASAOpps_for_Grad_and_Undergrad_Students.pdf

For Summer Internships:   http://www.uah.edu/ASGC/ListofNASAInternshipOpportunitiesfor2010.pdf

     For Faculty: 

ESMD Summer Faculty Fellowships  2010 ESMD Faculty Fellowship Solicitation 2010 Project List.pdf .    Due February 8, 2010

ESMD Grants: ESMD Space Grant Solicitation 2010 1.pdf   Due January 25, 2010

 Student Opportunities

ASGC could help pay for your education if you are pursuing a degree in any science or mathematics (for example biology, chemistry, physics and every other major in the College of Science and Mathematics), engineering (all engineering degree majors are eligible), and teaching (College of Education).  These opportunities include:

• $1000 scholarships for undergraduate students,
• $37,000 fellowships for graduate students,
•  Scholarships for students who are pursuing teaching degree, 
• Internships provide special training with a stipend to students who wish to work with experienced professionals at NASA and industry, perhaps over a summer.

There are also special on-campus opportunities for students who want to learn about or pursue a career in space-related fields, such as the CubeSat Program for satellites and the High Alititude Balloon Club.  Space Grant also supports student competitions which are fun and often include prize money.

$1000 Annual Scholarship for Undergraduates

Any American citizen undergraduate with a GPA greater than 3.0 in particular disciplines, including physical, natural, and biological sciences; engineering; education; economics; business; sociology; behavioral sciences; computer science; communications; law; international affairs; and public administration. Scholarship awards will be based on academic excellence, the student’s accomplishments and description of their career intentions towards an aerospace career.  Awardees are expected to attend the Fellowship/Scholarship awards ceremony at the University of Alabama - Huntsville in November (transportation and meals will be provided).   The award is renewable for one more year after review. Information and links for applying can be found at ASGC Fellow_Scholar Promotional 2010.pdf

Congratulations to the 2009 $1000 Scholarship Awardees!!!!

• Mallory L. Garver, Electrical and Computer Engineering, BS, August 2011
• Britney R. Willis, Biomedical Sciences, BS, May 2011

Awards are one-year, non-renewable scholarships limited to a maximum of $1,000 student stipend.  Awards will be announced in mid-April, with funding provided to students through the universities for the next academic year. Awards may be applied to the summer session before or after the academic year. Normally the student’s tuition account will be credited after registration.  Award are subject to availability of NASA funding.  Information and links for applying can be found at ASGC Fellow_Scholar Promotional 2010.pdf

 The AU CubeSat Project

Do you want a career in the space industry?  Do you think you have what it takes to be an astronaut?  Considering that Auburn has produced six astronauts this definitely a possibility! If so, a fantastic opportunity for those interested in space is the CubeSat project.

The CubeSat project is a small satellite (bigger than an IPOD, smaller than a backpack) that is currently being designed by volunteer undergraduate students.  After construction and testing, it will be loaded on a Russian rocket, deployed in low earth orbit, and monitored and controlled from a ground station here on campus.  Imagine that - YOU could be part of a team that created AU's own satellite.   You will learn about space technology and in so doing show future employers your interest in a space career.  No experience is necessary! People with passion for space should apply. A lot of information about cube satellites can be found at www.cubesat.org. If you are interested, please contact Dr. J. M. Wersinger at wersinger@physics.auburn.edu and check out the AU CubeSat website at http://www.space.auburn.edu/aubiesat-1/.

 The AU Balloon Club (AHAB)

AHAB is the Auburn High-Altitude Balloon program, a part of the Auburn University Student Space Program. It is a program funded by the Space Grant Consortium. In the program, students build a system designed to travel to near space conditions. Along the way, the balloon system is met with harsh conditions, including heavy winds measuring up to 130 mph and freezing temperatures of -60C!. It also must survive a descent of 80,000 feet using a parachute. The system is also designed so that outside groups (such as high schools or other organizations) can test experiments in near-space conditions using the balloon as a launching tool.

The program is led by students, and is mentored by faculty and advisors. Any Auburn University student can join AHAB, no matter their major, and it will teach them valuable skills such as working in a team, developing a final project, meeting deadlines, and other valuable skills needed in the working world. In addition to teaching valuable skills, it also gives undergraduates a chance to gain some experience working on a project, a valuable asset when interviewing for jobs, co-op or otherwise. If anyone feels they may not have a grasp on the more technical aspects, fear not. The team and faculty will help you in understanding what you need for the project, and many ways give you a real feel for the material in a way a textbook may not be able.  For more information look at www.space.auburn.edu/balloon and contact Dr. Wersinger at wersinger@physics.auburn.edu .

 Student Competitions

Several competitions are described in this section.   Any student or group of students interested in becoming involved in these competitions, or even forming their own team, should contact Dr. Beale at dbeale@eng.auburn.edu .

Lunabotics

Teams of mechanical and electrical engineers in senior project class have recently built lunar excavators and plans are in place to enter the Kennedy Space Center Competition described below.  Details of the competition are described below:

NASA¹s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate is proud to announce the inaugural  Lunabotics Mining Competition "Design It, Build It, Dig It", May 25-28, 2010, Astronaut Hall of Fame Kennedy Space Center, Florida.   More information about the Lunabotics Mining Competition is available at: http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/Lunabotics.htm and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lunabotics and Lunar Regolith Excavator Proposal Template.pdf

Lunar Regolith Excavator Team Project Funding: A university faculty advisor or student team may propose for up to $5,000 to support a student team to design, build, and compete a lunar regolith excavator in the Lunabotics Mining Competition at Kennedy Space Center the week of May 25-28, 2010. Approved proposals will be funded on a first come/first serve basis by NASA through the National Space Grant Foundation. $50,000 has been set aside for this purpose. Proposals will be accepted electronically between August 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010. Proposals must be sent to Susan.G.Sawyer@nasa.gov.  Lots of information and a handbook about excavators and equipment for the moon can be found at www.eng.auburn.edu/~dbeale/ESMDCourse

University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) Programs & Workshops

Internships

ASGC can sponsor internships, such as the NASA Academy at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.  In summer 2009 Samantha Bird and Ajay Madhav were chosen by a mentor for an internship between June 1 and August 7, 2009.  Internships can include a stipend and money for travel.  Interns may also be placed in industry, such as Boeing and Orion Propulsion, and other NASA facilities such as JPL. These are excellent summer training/work opportunities that will beef up your resume and demonstrate interest in a space career.  Contact Dr. Beale if interested.  Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.  Check out these sites: http://www.uah.edu/ASGC/ListofNASAInternshipOpportunitiesfor2010.pdf http://www.eng.auburn.edu/AUNASA/Summer_2010_NASAOpps_for_Grad_and_Undergrad_Students.pdf An example of an internship opportunity:  LangleyGISP Flyer.pdf . 

Interested in graduate school??  Then consider finding an advisor and applying for the NASA fellowship.   The program pays for your tuition, with a $24K stipend plus $6K for research expenditures.  You will also have an extramural research experience at an NASA center.  The fellowship can last for three years, but must be renewed annually. Applications are usually due in the first quarter of the year.   Information and links for applying can be found at ASGC Fellow_Scholar Promotional 2010.pdf

Current graduate student fellows are:

Jeffrey Michael Badyrka, "Prediction of Sound Pressure Fluctuation Levels and Spatial Distribution for Flight Launch Vehicles", Aerospace Engineering, MSE, May 2010. Advisor: Dr. Roy Hartfield. NASA Langley Research Center.

David John Branscomb, "Minimal Weight Composites Utilizing Advanced Manufacturing Techniques", Polymer & Fiber Engineering, Ph.D., December 2011. Advisor: Dr. Roy M. Broughton. NASA Glenn Research Center.

 Faculty Opportunities

For faculty, there are opportunities in curriculum enhancement and faculty development.  ASGC also administer pre-college and public service education projects in the state. 

Faculty need to be aware that every dollar funded through the space grant must be equally cost shared.  For example, graduate student fellowships require a 1:1 match.  Currently a $24,000 fellowship receives $12K from NASA, and is matched 1/3 by the OVPR, 1/3 by the college and 1/3 by the department.  It is the faculty member's responsibility to insure that the matches are in place.

NASAEPSCoR

The Alabama NASA EPSCoR program is full research program, competitively selected in a field of interest to both NASA and the State of Alabama. Proposals will first compete at the university level.  Typically only 1 or 2 proposals from a university are submitted to the state level competition, from which 2 proposal typically are submitted for the national competition.  Funding has been in the range of 500K to 750K for three years.  I will provide the program announcement here when it becomes available. 

Outreach Opportunities

The Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) funds selected programs, conferences, and seminars that promote the understanding, education, development, and utilization of space, that encourage interdisciplinary training and research in aerospace-related fields, and that train professionals for careers in aerospace, science, technology, and allied fields. Innovative methods of teaching and promoting science in the K-12 schools within the state are also encouraged through this program. Development of new curricula for science and technology may also be funded under this program.  Awards are up to $5K.  The application can be found at: http://www.uah.edu/ASGC/ASGCOutreachProgramsAppForm.pdf