College of Engineering
Newsletter Spring 2009
Engineering Team Took Research to New Heights in NASA’s Microgravity University by Erin Ryan
NASA/JSC
Students and faculty from the College of Engineering conducted an experiment for NASA March 31 and April 2. They were one of eight teams in the Systems Engineering Educational Discovery segment of Microgravity University, a reduced gravity education program designed to advance research tied to NASA’s current vision.
“I am thrilled to be working with these brilliant, enthusiastic students,” Morgan said. “They are great thinkers and natural leaders. I can’t wait to see what they will do in the future.” The team spent a week at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston training, testing, touring and meeting role models from robotic engineers to plasma physicists to astronauts. They took to the sky in a specially outfitted Boeing 727 called the G-Force One to thrill in the sensations of Martian and zero gravity and conduct their experiment in lunar gravity, the results of which will expand Boise State’s research portfolio, aid NASA’s Constellation Program and hopefully inspire young people to explore engineering — and possibly space.
That vision is to return Americans to the moon by 2020. NASA hopes to explore the uncharted poles, far side and craters as well as lay the groundwork for a permanent presence. Boise State’s “This is, by far, the most Microgravity University project dealt with lunar surface traction concepts and will help NASA engineers anticipate incredible experience I have challenges in designing better rovers.
“This is an amazing and exciting opportunity for these students and faculty, as well as Boise State as a whole,” said President Bob Kustra.
To learn more, visit had in my entire life. The project depended on support from across campus http://microgravityu.blogspot.com and Nothing tops this.” and the community. The Houston team included http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov. engineering faculty Jim Browning and Bob Davidson, grad – Dan Isla, Student lead on students Matt McCrink and Jeff Perkins, undergraduates Boise State’s inaugural Mallory Yates, Alex Miller, Dan Isla, Kyle Knori and Ryan Bedell, NASA mentor Pedro H. Curiel, and Barbara Microgravity University project Morgan, a former NASA astronaut and now distinguished educator in residence at Boise State. It was Morgan who introduced the students to the opportunity, and they ran with it.