TY - GEN
T1 - Multi-disciplinary multi-university design of a high-altitude inflatable-wing aircraft with systems engineering for aerospace workforce development
AU - Smith, Suzanne Weaver
AU - Seigler, Michael
AU - Smith, William T.
AU - Jacob, Jamey D.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - NASA is addressing the anticipated shortage of aerospace engineers in part through workforce development projects of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. BIG BLUE is a workforce development project currently in its fifth year at the University of Kentucky. To date, over 300 students have participated in the BIG BLUE Inflatable-Wing Mars Airplane project. Collaboration with industry is an important aspect. Technologies are researched, developed and tested in consultation and partnership with high-tech industries and NASA, including conducting a detailed design review with industry/NASA representatives. This year, students at two universities worked together on the BIG BLUE project. Partnering with another university for the design/build/test process presents communication and other challenges for students, in addition to the technical challenges. However, this is a more realistic representation of the current working environment for research and development of high-tech aerospace systems. A five-year review of BIG BLUE reveals the effort, cost and results of experiential aerospace workforce development via multidisciplinary, multi-university capstone design. Included is a review of Systems Engineering courses developed to support the BIG BLUE project and recent Aerospace Certificate Option at the University of Kentucky.
AB - NASA is addressing the anticipated shortage of aerospace engineers in part through workforce development projects of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. BIG BLUE is a workforce development project currently in its fifth year at the University of Kentucky. To date, over 300 students have participated in the BIG BLUE Inflatable-Wing Mars Airplane project. Collaboration with industry is an important aspect. Technologies are researched, developed and tested in consultation and partnership with high-tech industries and NASA, including conducting a detailed design review with industry/NASA representatives. This year, students at two universities worked together on the BIG BLUE project. Partnering with another university for the design/build/test process presents communication and other challenges for students, in addition to the technical challenges. However, this is a more realistic representation of the current working environment for research and development of high-tech aerospace systems. A five-year review of BIG BLUE reveals the effort, cost and results of experiential aerospace workforce development via multidisciplinary, multi-university capstone design. Included is a review of Systems Engineering courses developed to support the BIG BLUE project and recent Aerospace Certificate Option at the University of Kentucky.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/78149436554
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/78149436554#tab=citedBy
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78149436554
SN - 9781563479373
T3 - 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
BT - 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
T2 - 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
Y2 - 7 January 2008 through 10 January 2008
ER -