Supplementary material to “University Satellites and Space Science Education Symposium”
Norma B. Crosby, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, E-mail: norma.crosby@oma.be; Serge Krasotkin, Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow; Hans J. Haubold, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna.
Citation:
Crosby, N. B., S. Krasotkin, and H. J. Haubold (2007),
University Satellites and Space Science Education Symposium,
Eos Trans. AGU, 88(15), 172.
[Full Article (pdf)]
Global society increasingly is dependent on reliable space satellite systems that are resistant to hazards present in the space environment. Therefore, it is essential that the present young generation, as well as future ones, be educated in satellite technology as well as in the space sciences. These multidisciplinary subjects cover a wide range of topics in science, engineering, medicine, environment, finance, and so forth. In regard to teaching activities, these subjects offer many unique opportunities, such as teaching students the different ‘languages’ of the various subjects so that later in their careers they are better communicators.
With increasing developments in space technology a better understanding of the link between protection of spacecraft and the space environment is needed. Therefore, it is essential to improve the quality of traditional space-related educational material, taking into consideration the skills required for modern space industry and science. The first international symposium on space education, ‘UNIVERSAT-2006: University Satellites and Space Science Education,’ informed university and space-industry communities on new initiatives in space science education including student satellite construction and development. With this main objective, the symposium was held 26–30 June 2006.
The meeting, organized and hosted by Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), in Moscow, Russia, attracted a wide range of participants, from many countries (e.g., Armenia, Austria, Belgium, France, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United States). Topics covered in oral and poster presentations included space research in university education covering near-Earth space environment and geophysics; heliobiology, ecology, atmosphere sciences, remote sensing; space technology education; design, development, and management of university satellites; basic space sciences in high school; and cooperation in space education projects. The symposium provided an international platform for attendees to discuss past and present space educational activities, and to brainstorm new national and international initiatives.
Talks of Interest
Of particular interest to non-Russian participants were presentations about ongoing Russian university satellite projects. One example is the Bauments student microsatellite project, its purpose to perform remote sensing of the Earth, that at the time was being carried out by the Youth Space Center of Bauman Moscow State Technical University under the coordination of Vera Mayorova and in cooperation with various companies (the project subsequently was destroyed in a failed launch). This was the first time in Russia that a project of such size and payload has been completely implemented by students (science and educational program, scientific hardware, mission control), with the participation of industry experts.
A talk by Igor Belokonov (Samara State Aerospace University, Russia) concerned the Russian-European summer space school ‘Future space technologies and experiments in space,’ which was held in 2003 and 2004 at Samara State Aerospace University in the southeastern part of European Russia. The school’s overall objective was to involve university level students in developing and implementing experiments in space, with the aim of obtaining new fundamental knowledge that can be applied to relevant technologies. For example, students worked on innovative experiments, their scientific objectives to provide new fundamental knowledge which may have significant application potential.
Meeting participants also discussed how new information can be extracted from old data: for example, using satellite observations taken in the beginning of the space era and comparing them with present observations. A series of space image atlases—developed by MSU geographers, in cooperation with the Institute of Space Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, and other organizations—was presented by Valentina Kravtsova (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia) as a remote sensing educational example. Comparing images from the 1960s with those from the beginning of the twenty-first century provides unique information about the changing environment, often a result of human intervention. Such examples are useful as teaching material, and can help to convince governments of the importance of protecting our planet.
Victor Zhuravlev (Ulianovsk State University, Russia) presented an inspiring talk about ‘space schools’ for developing interest in space research among university teachers and students. These schools, held in the autumn of 2004 and 2005, were an initiative of Ulianovsk State University with participation by MSU. The main objective of these schools was to attract interest to space research. At these space schools, MSU scientists gave space science lectures, Ulianovsk students performed the work (preparing educational materials), and Ulianovsk teachers guided the students.
Special Symposium Visits
Symposium highlights included a visit to the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) Space Physics Practice Laboratory, at MSU where three recent graduates from Ulianovsk State University presented examples of their hands-on space educational material they had produced. The trip also included a visit to the SINP Mission Control Center where the receiving and processing of information from the MSU-built satellite ‘Universitetskiy’ occurs. Universitetskiy was launched in January 2005 from the Plesetsk space-launch complex within the framework of the MSU space education program. On board the satellite is the ‘Tatyana’ scientific equipment developed by SINP, which is intended mainly for studying the radiation conditions in near-Earth space and Earth’s atmosphere in the ultraviolet spectrum.
On the final day of the symposium, a special excursion was made to the Korolev Mission Control Center outside of Moscow, the control center that operated the first international flight ‘Soyuz-Apollo.’ The visit emphasized the importance of space science education at all educational levels and the importance of efficient communication between academics and industry.
Inspiration for the Future
In 1957, the International Geophysical Year, a program of international research, was organized to study global phenomena of the Earth and geospace. To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, an international program of scientific collaboration was proposed for 2007, to be called the International Heliophysical Year. As with the International Geophysical Year and two previous International Polar Years (in 1882–1883 and 1932–1933), the scientific objective of the International Heliophysical Year is to study phenomena on the largest possible scale, with simultaneous observations from a broad array of instruments.
Currently, unlike in previous international years, observations routinely are received from a vast array of sophisticated instruments in space that continuously monitor solar activity, the interplanetary medium, and the Earth. These spacecraft, together with ground-level observations and atmospheric probes, provide an extraordinary view of the Sun and the heliosphere and the influence of both on the near-Earth environment. The International Heliophysical Year is a unique opportunity to study the coupled Sun–Earth system. Also during 2007 is the fiftieth session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and, of particular importance for Russia, the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, which heralded the start of space exploration.
Given the need for satellite technology and space science technology education, and several space anniversaries, the international community has many opportunities to participate in the promotion of space sciences and student satellites at all educational levels. UNIVERSAT-2006 is a reminder that learning activities should include young people as well as those already working in the space arena.
Acknowledgments
UNIVERSAT-2006 was held within the framework and with information support of the International Heliosphysical Year (http://ihy2007.org/ and http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SAP/bss/ihy2007/index.html) and with financial support from the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, United States Air Force Research Laboratory (http://www.london.af.mil/). For more information about UNIVERSAT-2006, see the Web site (http://cosmos.msu.ru/universat2006/). For more information about the Space Research Scientific and Education project of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, see http://cosmos.msu.ru/eng/.
