Space SIG 101
FY16 Overview of NSBE Space SIG
Engineering Projects, Conferences, and
Outreach
National Society of Black Engineers Professionals
What Does it Mean to be 501(c)3
according to IRS?
• The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable,
religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety,
fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and
preventing cruelty to children or animals. The term charitable is used
in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor,
the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion;
advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining
public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of
government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating
prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights
secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile
delinquency
•
Source: http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=175418,00.html
Red text = areas of intersection with the Space SIG
NSBE Mission
• Mission
– To increase the number of culturally responsible Black
engineers who excel academically, succeed
professionally, and positively impact the community
• Organization
NEB
PEB
Programs
Zone
Space SIG
NSBE Professionals
• NSBE Professionals Vision
– To be the premier career access organization for Black technical
professionals
– To develop and impact active NSBE professional members to
succeed as future corporate leaders, technical experts in industry,
and strong stewards in their communities
• NSBE Professionals Focus Areas
– Increase membership value
– Increase NSBE Professionals programs participation
– Develop NSBE Professionals Chapters
Space SIG
• The mission of NSBE Space is to stimulate the active participation of
the community, with focus on the Black community, both within and
beyond the engineering profession, in space-related activity
• The purpose of NSBE Space is to enable NSBE Professionals to
serve as a bridge between NASA and the community, with focus on
the Black community in an inspirational and educational capacity; to
encourage the realization of the “One-NASA” vision within NASA
centers; and to apply the technical expertise of its members to
develop solutions to enhance the public and private space
capabilities of the United States
Space SIG
• Space SIG success requires the leadership of many
people
– Technical Leadership
• Subject matter expertise
– Managerial Leadership
• Organizational excellence, influence leadership, political savvy
– Operational Leadership
• Financial, marketing, communications expertise
• Any activity/initiative lacking above leadership is at
risk
Member Engagement
• Goal: every member of the Space SIG to be
engaged in some capacity
• Over 250 available roles for NSBE Professionals to
choose from
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Space SIG Board of Directors (10)
Admin Support Volunteers (10)
Conference Planning Teams (65)
Technical Project Teams (160, with room for growth)
Outreach Project Team (10)
2-5 Commitment Strategy
• What level of involvement are we asking for from
current and potential members?
– Participate in ONE role
• Project Team, Conference Planning, Outreach Team, or Board
– Average of 2-5 volunteer hours per week
• 0-2 hours: meetings
• 0-2 hours: project work
• 1 hour: communication
– 10-15 min per day
– Tell someone about NSBE, help them join, update your NSBE group
lead on accomplishments
NSBE Space SIG
Engineering Projects
(Most projects divide into subprojects)
• Arusha
– Long range pressurized rover design
• East Africa Spaceport
– Feasibility study
• Macho Mengi
– Cubesat-based multi-telescope constellation using interferometry
• Space Robotics
– Robotic system technology development
• Power Beaming
– Wireless energy transfer study
• Visions for Human Space Flight Working Group
– White paper recommendation
Chapter Project Engagement
• Space SIG projects are open to chapter participation
• NSBE Professionals chapters can host portions of a project
to conduct as a chapter program
– Provides programmatic content to program
– Provides manpower to Space SIG
– Enables appropriate NSBE expertise to be directed to each
project
• This idea at full maturity: the Space SIG leads a coalition of
dozens+ Professionals chapters to build an operational
spacecraft, which is then launched via a NSBE aerospace
corporate or government partner
Project Arusha
Research to Inform Human Space
Exploration
In 1969, America stepped foot on the Moon.
In 1972, America left.
Will anybody ever return? Why?
What should a return achieve?
How Do We Go From
Outposts…
To Colonies?
Project Arusha Overview
• Arusha is Swahili for “He makes fly (into the skies)”
• Conceptual design project of NSBE Space SIG
– Commercial/international lunar expansion beyond an
initial return to the Moon (next step after Cx/FLO/etc.)
– 48 people living and working on the Moon
• Staggered 2-year crew rotations
– Rover transportation required between a primary base
at the South Pole and additional facilities across Moon
• Six person crew, lunar circumnavigation capability
• 30-day rover excursion mission duration
Project Arusha Overview
Rover
Workstations
and Subsystems
Arusha Long Range Rover
Transportation Between Facilities
Arusha Lunar Architecture
South Pole Base, Multiple Surface Facilities
Project Arusha Rover
• Arusha Rover Cabin
– Current research focused
on cabin
– Pressure vessel 3m
diameter, approximately
8.5 m length barrel
– Additional logistics
module provides stowage
space but cabin is sole
pressure vessel for
habitation
Arusha Rover Extensibility to
NASA Exploration
• NASA and Commercial use of ~3m diameter spacecraft
– Atlas propellant tank and Cygnus cargo freighter are both 3m diameter
– Select Mars Phobos and Surface habitat concepts use 3m diameter modules
– A workstation that can be packaged inside the Arusha rover can also be
packaged inside a commercial-derived spacecraft or Mars habitats
– Arusha-type rover on Mars greatly expands Mars exploration range
Arusha FY15 Focus Areas
• Deployable Maintenance Workstation (Hosted at Houston
Space Chapter)
• Deployable Medical Workstation (Hosted at Houston Space
Chapter)
• GNC Subsystem
• Power Subsystem
• Cabin Structure Subsystem
• Crew Exercise Capability (August kickoff)
Arusha Future Focus Areas
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Deployable Sleep Stations
Cockpit Workstations
Flight Crew Equipment
Hygiene Facilities
External Logistics Module
Interior / Exterior Lighting
Communications Subsystem
Data Subsystem
Projects can be initiated upon
evidence of sufficient membership
interest and technical expertise
• Robotic Manipulators
• EVA / Suit Port Subsystem
• Inflatable Docking Tunnel /
Emergency Airlock
• ECLSS and Thermal
Subsystems
• Mobility Subsystem
• Full Scale Medium Fidelity
Cabin Mockup
Arusha Projects
• Rover Subsystems
– GNC Subsystem
• Conduct a preliminary design for the rover GNC subsystem
• Consider implications of lunar canyons, deep craters, and
lava tubes
• Develop protocols for operations when the rover is beyond
line of sight of any orbital or surface communications relays
Arusha Projects
• Rover Subsystems
– Power Subsystem
• Create design to supply average 260-300 kW with 30-day
continuous operation
• Trade nuclear fission vs. regenerative fuel cell solutions
– Cabin Structures
• Define cabin pressure shell, including hatches, windows, and
suit ports
• Define interior and exterior structural load attach points
• Trade composite versus metallic pressure shell construction
Arusha Projects
• Deployable Crew
Workstations
– Maintenance Workstation
• Develop facility capable of
repairing critical failures
during excursions
– Medical Workstation
• Develop medical care facility
for crew injuries or illnesses
– Crew Exercise Capability
• Aerobic and resistive
exercise equipment and
protocols
Arusha Progress
• Deployable Maintenance Workstation
– Completed first round of study fall 2013
– Paper presented at 2014 Aerospace Systems
Conference
– Workstation concept presented to NASA Advanced
Exploration Systems’ Exploration Augmentation Module
Project Manager Lora Bailey
• Exploration Augmentation Module project interested in both
medical and maintenance concepts from Arusha
Arusha Progress
• Suit Port Maintenance Glovebox
– Component of deployable maintenance
workstation
– Enables repair of “dirty” or toxic exterior rover
components without bringing component inside
cabin
• Ammonia pumps, wheel mechanisms, etc.
– Low fidelity glovebox mockup tested fall 2014
on NASA lunar rover (MMSEV Cabin 1B)
– Progress update presented at December 2014
NASA Human Factors TDT meeting
– Medium fidelity mockup fabrication to be
completed by end of year 2015
Arusha Funding
• NASA Human Factors Technical Discipline Team provided
funding to purchase hardware for fabrication of medium
fidelity mockups
– Maintenance Workstation
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Stowage shelving
Deployable desk
Suit port maintenance glove box
Dust mitigation shrouds
– Medical Workstation
• Stowage shelving
• Deployable table
• Surgical table surface
• Substantial additional funding needed to build full scale
cabin structure (no less than ~$50K+)
• Pursuing collaborative partnerships at NASA Johnson
Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center
East Africa Spaceport Feasibility
Study
East Africa Spaceport Overview
• Project intent: Investigate the feasibility of a
spaceport in the East African Community (EAC) that
could provide low cost, reliable access to space
while stimulating African economic and technology
advancement
– Determine strategic US interests served by an
equatorial African spaceport
– Determine benefit to African countries from EAC
spaceport
East Africa ASC Developments
• Interest identified from multiple East African
government officials
• Potential interest in hosting an Africa Space
Development Forum at 2016 Aerospace Systems
Conference
• Might not focus exclusively on East Africa
– Other nations may contribute space activity that builds
the case for a spaceport in East Africa
• DC location hoped to increase potential access to
Congressional offices and State Department
Macho Mengi
Innovative Approaches for Astronomical
Observation
Macho Mengi Project
• Swahili for “many eyes”
• Observatory system involving numerous groundbased and space telescopes that can combine their
total functionality to act as a large observatory
• Long range goals (technical feasibility TBD)
– Ability to use system to detect potentially hazardous
asteroids in the solar system or planets orbiting other
stars
– NSBE telescope network available to HBCUs, K-12,
other academic and research institutions
Macho Mengi Partnerships
• Former partnership with NASA Ames
– Cubesat deployable/inflatable telescope feasibility study
1.
• Current partnerships
2.
– Draper Labs, Texas A&M, GeoControls, Seal of Valor,
C3 Software
Macho Mengi Interferometry
• Current focus is study of
various techniques to
combine images from
multiple light sources
• Optics educational tool
provided initial learning
– Currently pursuing
marketing of tool to Lego
– Also assembling Michelson
interferometer with opticalgrade components
– Next step: imaging interferometer
– Will be first testbed capable of
processing actual imagery
Space Robotics
Space Robotics Engineering
RFI Response
• Responded to NASA Centennial Challenges
Program Space Robotics Challenge Request for
Information
– NASA requests information prior to releasing call for
proposals in order to consider relevant information from
subject matter experts
– Challenge involves software development for NASA R5
robot (Valkyrie)
• Expressed interest in submitting proposal for
challenge when released
RFI Response
• Recommended challenge include representative
tasks for International Space Station maintenance
and human robotic interaction
• Recommended specific scoring metrics to include in
competition
• Recommended challenge time assess ability of
robot to perform tasks in the same or less time an
astronaut requires
Power Beaming Demonstration Unit
Wireless Energy Transfer Study
Power Beaming
Demonstration Unit
• Develop and characterize demonstrations of
wireless energy transfer of increasing scale
– Definition: Transfer of electrical energy from source to
user without connecting wires (no transmission lines)
• Technology pathfinder as precursor to investigations
of feasibility of wireless energy transfer between
celestial objects
– Paper studies have advocated power beaming since the
1970s, but little engineering has been done to
understand losses or other limitations
Power Beaming
Demonstration Unit
• NSBE unit assembled
spring 2011 and
demonstrated at
National Convention
• Transmits 1 watt
across 18-24 inch
distance
• Illuminates LED light
bank
• Replicates 2008 Moon
Society demonstration
Power
Transmission
System
Power Supply
(120V to 12V)
1U
Signal
Generator
(2.6 GHz)
Power
Reception
System
Microwave
Amplifier
(1 Watt)
Microwave
Panel
Antenna
Microwave
2.6 GigaHz to
Panel
12V DC Rectifier
Antenna
Powered
Device
(LEDs)
Power Beaming
Demonstration Unit
• Expertise and hardware to analyze unit exists at
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Asking Greenbelt Space Chapter to host project
• Unit assigned to Myron Fendall and Mark Branch at
Goddard
• FY15 goal to add 3-5 Greenbelt Space NSBE
members to project team and support project as a
Greenbelt Space Program
Visions for Human Space Flight
Working Group
Reconciling competing visions for
humans in space and promoting coherent
US space policy
Visions for Human Space
Flight Working Group
• Space SIG conducted one-year study of options for
US human space flight and driving rationales of key
stakeholders
• Task: explore conflicting visions for human space
flight and recommend architecture with rationales
• Identified acquisition costs as a major national issue
affecting entire nation, not just NASA
– Dramatic acquisitions cost growth since WWII
• F-35c fighter costs 152 times more than WWII era P-51 fighter
after adjusting unit costs of both aircraft to FY2012 dollars
Visions for Human Space
Flight Working Group
• Applied X-38 acquisition model to apply at major
program level with multi-destination spacecraft
elements
• Results compiled into Unlimited Horizons – a white
paper detailing NSBE recommendations for US
human space flight
– Low cost approach to asteroid, lunar, and Mars missions
– Mixed NASA, commercial, international teaming
• Feeds into annual legislative visits via Space
Exploration Alliance (nonprofit coalition)
Visions for Human Space
Flight Feedback
• Unlimited Horizons Brown Bag Series
– Informal monthly discussions held fall 2014 at
Johnson Space Center
– JSC community provided feedback on NSBE
recommendations
• Informal and formally documented comments
– Each month July-December covered different
section of white paper
Visions for Human Space Flight
Next Steps
• NASA reviews indicated need for additional
Systems Engineering products to accompany white
paper
– Work Breakdown Structure
– Product Breakdown Structure
– Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RACI)
• Currently inactive
– Team of 3-5 systems engineers needed to develop
products (2015 SLC goal to reactivate team)
JEDI
Jumpstart to Engineering Design and Invention
These ARE the jobs you’re looking for
Purpose: Establish and maintain a mechanism to
leverage Space SIG technical activity in a way that
inspires Black youth to pursue careers in the space
industry. Particular emphasis is placed on the
development of practical, hands-on engineering skills.
JEDI is an outreach project intended to provide
different services to Black youth based on their
academic matriculation, ranging from Kindergarten
through Undergraduate as well as to university-level
institutions.
Problem Statement
• There is severe underrepresentation of African
Americans in the US Space Industry
• This is reflected in low percentages of African
American students pursuing or enrolled in internship
and co-op programs throughout the industry
• This limits African American hiring opportunities
JEDI Outreach
• Desired results: more students hired into space
agencies and companies
• Younger students = wide net
– Expose as many children as possible to ideas of careers
in space
• Older students = narrow focus
– Give detailed attention to high promise students
• JEDI is also the pathway that allows students to
participate in the Space SIG
• This is an initiative we MUST do
Outreach Philosophy of JEDI
• Traditional student outreach takes technologists AWAY
from their technical work to provide technical outreach
unrelated to their work
– Toothpick bridge building, egg drop, Estes model rockets, etc.
• Not a bad thing, but not the best use of our limited time
• JEDI outreach takes technologists AND their technical work
to provide technical outreach directly related to their work
– Component design, fabrication, research for existing Space SIG
technical projects (Arusha, Macho Mengi, etc.)
• We believe the greater relevance will enhance student
interest and increase project efficiency
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Youngling
– Student in grades K-8
– Targeted for space-related presentations in group
settings
• SEEK and other NSBE conferences
• NSBE Bridge Magazine, Websites and Social Media
• Church, community, or other youth groups
– May also be engaged via student kits, competitions, etc.
– Does not receive one-on-one mentorship
– Parents may also subscribe to JEDI listserv for spacerelated and career information
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Initiate
– NSBE Jr. member in grades 9-12
– Formally registers as a JEDI
– Assigned to an Initiate Cluster * (group of Initiates in
same chapter or city)
• A cluster could be a NSBE Jr. chapter program
• Each cluster is assigned to a Padawan or Enclave
– Targeted for high-school level Space SIG competitions
and technical project activity
– On email distribution for space-related information
* Number of Clusters may be limited by number of JEDI Padawans and Enclaves
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Padawan
– NSBE member in an undergraduate STEM discipline
– Applies for acceptance as a Padawan
– Assigned to a JEDI Mentor
• Participates in Mentor’s Space SIG technical project(s)
• Receives academic, career, and engineering research
mentorship from Mentor
• Assists Mentor with outreach
• May be assigned an Initiate Cluster to mentor/oversee
– On email distribution for space-related information
* Number of Padawans may be limited by number of JEDI Mentors
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Enclave
– Academic institution (may partner with other Enclaves and/or
Padawans)
– Must have a faculty member who joins the Space SIG as a
JEDI Mentor and research Principal Investigator or CoInvestigator
– Must have a NSBE Chapter that votes to participate as an
Enclave via Executive Board or General Membership vote
• Chapter designates a lead who becomes Padawan to the
Mentor
– May recruit or be assigned one or more Initiate Clusters
* No limit to number of Enclaves
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Enclave
– May align with one or more Space SIG projects
– Must contribute some combination of grant/proposal writing,
facility or lab space, tools, raw materials, or other equipment
– Grants/proposals should align with Space SIG’s AcademiaNSBE-Industry method
– Graduate / Undergraduate student engagement must be
composed at least 60% of NSBE chapter members (may
also incorporate senior design classes, special topics
classes, independent/graduate research, etc.)
• Some Enclave students may also be Padawans, but most are not
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Mentor
– Space SIG member on a technical project team
• Each member encouraged to become a Mentor
– Assigned to mentor an Enclave or a Padawan
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Assigns and evaluates project-related technical activity
Ensures direct relevance of assigned activity to project
Provides advice leading to space-related careers
Any Enclave assignment includes the Padawan lead of the
Enclave, but no other Padawans
• Prepare Padawan for competitive job application with
Mentor’s company/institution
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Mentor
– Helps technical project team prepare at least one new
Youngling or Initiate outreach product (competition,
presentation, video, etc.) annually
• Must be directly based on team’s technical project
• May be created to generate/provide relevant project data if
age appropriate
• Will build up a library of relevant outreach over time
– Helps evaluate/judge competition submissions
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Councilor
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Space SIG member of JEDI Council - coordinates JEDI
Recruits Space SIG members to become JEDI Mentors
Oversees Youngling, Initiate, and Padawan listservs
Creates, distributes, and evaluates Padawan
applications
– Assigns Padawans to Mentors
– Assigns Initiates to Clusters
– Maintains tracking data of all JEDI participants
Who is a JEDI?
• JEDI Councilor
– Develops and implements metrics to assess overall
effectiveness of JEDI
– Develops and oversees any JEDI-specific competitions
– Coordinates JEDI presentations at SEEK and other
NSBE conferences
– Coordinates distribution of outreach material to target
outlets (e.g. SEEK, YouTube, NSBE PCI leadership,
Youngling or Padawan listservs, etc.)
Building the JEDI Council
• The JEDI Council is the bridge between the Space SIG’s
technologists (with their work) and students
• Who are the Space SIG members who should lead this
activity as JEDI Councilors?
– Generally not the technologists – those should be the JEDI
Mentors (invent the technology)
– Educators / education / youth workers (both professional and
volunteer) are ideal (make the technology fun/understandable)
• How large should the JEDI Council be and how should it
operate
– Ten different Councilors assigned to specific duties
Recruiting JEDI Mentors
• Encourage all technical project team members to be
Mentors
• Mentor/Padawan relationship is an asset to technical
project operations
• Project team leads weigh in on the assignment of
Padawans to their Mentors
• Each Mentor is assigned only ONE Padawan
– Invest proper time to build strong personal / professional
relationship – mold student into a competitive space professional
– Padawan is assigned for his/her entire undergraduate
matriculation; should become a lifelong mentorship
JEDI Council
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Chief Councilor
Councilor for Younglings Due to the level of effort required and the
importance of this task, it is recommended
Councilor for Initiates
that serving on the Space SIG’s JEDI
be a NSBE Professional’s primary
Councilor for Padawans Council
NSBE duty. The individual member must ,
however, make his/her own determination.
Councilor for Enclaves
Councilor for Mentors
Councilor for Metrics
Councilor for Listservs and Social Media
Councilor for Competitions
Councilor for Outreach Distribution
JEDI Council - Duties
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Chief Councilor
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Oversee JEDI Council and implementation of JEDI
Report to Space SIG Board of Directors
Coordinate JEDI engagement with Aerospace Systems
Conference
Promote JEDI within other sectors of NSBE
Councilor for Younglings
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Coordinate with NSBE PCI Chairs and staff as appropriate
Build database of youth organizations serving grades K-8 for
distribution of JEDI outreach material, including SEEK
Help technical project teams and their JEDI develop ageappropriate outreach material related to their projects
JEDI Council - Duties
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Councilor for Initiates
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Coordinate with regional PCI Chairs and NSBE Jr. chapter
officers/advisors
Build a database of youth organizations serving grades 9-12
with potential to form Initiate Clusters
Prepares presentation material for NSBE Jr. conferences
Work with Space SIG technical project teams to identify
tasks/activities suitable for Initiate Clusters
Helps recruit/establish Initiate Clusters and assigns clusters to
project teams
JEDI Council - Duties
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Councilor for Padawans
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•
Coordinates with NSBE Academic Excellence Chairs
Prepares presentation material for NSBE conferences
Oversees Padawan application and review process
Coordinates with technical project teams to assign Padawans
to Mentors
Councilor for Enclaves
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Coordinates with technical project teams and Regions to
identify and recruit candidate Enclaves
Assist with Academia-NSBE-Industry method proposals
Prepares presentation material for NSBE conferences
Oversees Enclave application, review, and assignment process
JEDI Council - Duties
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Councilor for Mentors
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Coordinates with technical project teams to recruit team
members to serve as Mentors
Assists students recommended by projects with Padawan
application process
Assists Councilors for Padawans and Enclaves with
assignments to technical project teams
Develops mentorship training material for Mentors and ensures
incorporation in Space Leadership Conference sessions
JEDI Council - Duties
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Councilor for Metrics
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Works with other Councilors to establish and track metrics in
respective areas of oversight
Prepares quarterly performance reports for distribution to
Space SIG Board of Directors and appropriate NSBE boards
and committees
Councilor for Listservs and Social Media
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Establishes and maintains JEDI email distribution lists
Establishes and oversees social media platforms specific to
JEDI activity
Encourages JEDI use in overall Space SIG and NSBE social
media platforms
JEDI Council - Duties
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Councilor for Competitions
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Oversees all JEDI competitions
Works with appropriate Councilors and project teams to create
age-appropriate student competitions based on Space SIG
projects
Creates necessary descriptive and promotional material
Recruits competition judges as appropriate
Coordinates with any NSBE boards or conference planning
teams or outside agencies as appropriate to secure
competition facility or agenda space or other logistics needed
to implement competitions
JEDI Council - Duties
•
Councilor for Outreach Distribution
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Solicits JEDI Councilors for appropriate outreach material on a
regular basis
Monitors space-industry news platforms for important
information to include in JEDI outreach
Solicits co-op and intern information from space-related
companies affiliated with NSBE
Organizes Space SIG material and space-industry news
suitable for distribution at each JEDI level (Youngling, Initiate,
Padawan, and Enclave)
Posts outreach material on a regular basis to listservs and
social media platforms
Goal: JEDI at 2016 ASC
• Host at least one competition at the Aerospace
Systems Conference geared towards JEDI students
– Aerospace Quiz Bowl?
• Tentatively at the undergraduate level?
• Teams formed of JEDI Padawans, possible the Padawans for
each Space SIG project form a different team
• Mixture of academic, trivia, career planning, and Black history
topics – all within the aerospace domain
• May use TMAL format/software or create/select other
• Will need to be worked into ASC agenda (space exists)
– Padawan work may also be displayed in poster sessions
Space SIG Conferences
Aerospace Systems Conference
Space Technology Session
Space Leadership Conference
2016 Aerospace Systems
Conference
August 24-27, 2016
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
Alexandria, VA
http://asc.nsbe-space.org
https://twitter.com/nsbeasc
https://www.facebook.com/NSBEASC
https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2776080
2014 Aerospace Systems
Conference Highlights
• 3rd biennial ASC
• Keynote speakers included
– Captain Ed Dwight, Gregory
Robinson, Vanessa Wyche,
Bobby Watkins, Kelvin
Manning, Kwatsi Alibaruho, Lt.
General Darren McDew
• Award presentations from
Nichelle Nichols
• Radar Training Course
• Eye opening Space X tour
2014 Aerospace Systems
Conference Highlights
• Macho Mengi technical paper
presentations attracted
attention of actress/dance
instructor Debbie Allen
• Macho Mengi project team
members visited Debbie Allen
Dance Academy in Los
Angeles
• Debbie Allen expressed
interest in future collaboration
– Debbie Allen is STEM + Arts advocate
– Macho Mengi flower constellations orbital formation may be illustrated through
dance
2016 Aerospace Systems
Conference
• Moving from Los Angeles to DC
metro area for 4th ASC
• Leveraging proximity to NASA
HQ, Capitol Hill, and White
House
• Seeking to build on hardware
training premiered at 2014 ASC
• Goals:
– 300-500 person attendance
– Increase award nominations, papers, attendance, sponsorship
2016 Aerospace Systems
Conference
• Key Conference Events
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Technical Tours (local aerospace facilities)
Aerospace Training Technical Courses
Astropreneur Business Connection
Aerospace Forums
Keynote Speakers
Peer-Reviewed Technical Paper Sessions
Youth Outreach Skype Sessions
Aerospace Trade Show
Networking Events
Celestial Torch Awards
Renaissance Arlington Capital
View
• Contracted
conference hotel
• Adjacent to DC
Reagan Airport
• Half mile from
Crystal City Metro
• Guest room rates:
$119/night
• Complimentary
shuttle
ASC Desired Methods of
Corporate Partnership
• Funding
• In-Kind Sponsorships (materials, services)
• Keynote Speakers (Black executives with aerospace technical
backgrounds)
• Employee Attendance
• Employee Award Nominations
• Employee Technical Paper Submissions
• Employee Conference Travel
• Trade Show Exhibits (hardware products, software demos)
• Company-provided Training Courses (4-16 hrs; aerospace/technical
skills subject matter; hands-on preferred)
• Corporate Facility Tours (DC area)
STS-2015
Space Technology Session
Denver, CO
STS-2015 is operated by the Houston Space
Professionals Chapter on behalf of the Space SIG
STS Overview
• Name Space Technology Session is in homage to space
shuttle program (Space Transportation System)
• Serves as primary in-person engineering hands-on working
session for Space SIG technical projects
– Attendees divided into teams and assigned to a project
– Design, assembly, testing
• Held in odd-numbered years (between Aerospace Systems
Conferences)
• Work conducted at STS used to generate papers for Space
Research of NSBE track at ASC
STS Overview
• STS always held over MLK holiday weekend
• Timing is to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
and other civil rights heroes
– They fought, bled, and died so that African Americans could enter
all phases of American life, including the space industry
– Dr. King told Nichelle Nichols she “must not quit” Star Trek (when
she considered doing so) because of the inspirational value of
her role
– We use STS to institutionalize space technology within the Black
community as the realization and fulfillment of their dreams
• “Don’t just talk about them at some program or gathering; do what they
dreamed of seeing their people doing!” You ARE the dream!
Typical STS Flow
• Thursday
– Arrival Day
– Evening Welcome Mixer
– STS Overview, Team Icebreakers
• Friday
–
–
–
–
4-hour Morning Work Session
Lunch (sponsor speech)
4-hour Afternoon Work Session
Evening Social/Networking Event
Typical STS Flow
• Saturday
–
–
–
–
4-hour Morning Work Session
Lunch (sponsor speech)
4-hour Afternoon Work Session
Free Evening
• Sunday
– Ski Trip
– Group Dinner
Outing
Typical STS Flow
• Monday
–
–
–
–
4-hour Morning Work Session
Lunch & Project Outbrief Session (no speech)
Optional MLK Activity
Departure
STS-2015 Highlights
STS-2015 Highlights
STS-2015 Highlights
Space Leadership Conference
Annual Planning and Leadership
Development Event
The SLC is operated by the Houston Space Professionals
Chapter on behalf of the Space SIG
History
• Formerly known as Space Leadership Retreat
• Held at NSBE World Headquarters 2006-2010
• Held in Alumni Summit city 2011-2013
– Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 2011
– Las Vegas, Nevada 2012
– San Juan, Puerto Rico 2013
• Held at NASA Johnson Space Center 2014
• Held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 2015
Conference Purpose
• Conduct planning for upcoming Space SIG projects
and conferences
–
–
–
–
–
–
Near-term and Mid-range goals
Schedule/Deliverables
Recruiting
Publicity
Outreach
Corporate Engagement Model
Conference Purpose
• Set long range Space SIG strategic directions
• Refine Space SIG operational practices
• Provide face to face introductions and networking of
Space SIG leadership
• Ensure Space SIG relevance to US space industry
• Maintain project team inertia
• Ensure reasonable progress is made on Space SIG
technical projects
Conference Overview
• Action plans developed in joint or split sessions
• Supplemental activities
–
–
–
–
Leadership training or speakers
Aerospace education presentations
Aerospace facility tours
Social events and mixers
2014 Highlights
Deep Space Networking Cruise
2014 Highlights
NASA Johnson Space Center Tour
2014 Highlights
Project Planning Sessions
2015 SLC Goals
• Improve Space SIG operational efficiency
– Incorporate Systemic Intelligent Fast Failure practices across all
project and conference planning teams
– Incorporate use of Asana tool for task management
– Build relationships among Space SIG members across project
and conference planning teams
– Communicate “big picture” visions across Space SIG team
members
– Improve operational practices within individual project and
conference planning teams
– Select venues and top-level goals for 2016 Space Leadership
Conference and 2017 Space Technology Session
2015 SLC Goals
• Prepare the DC Metro area for the 2016 NSBE Aerospace
Systems Conference
– Complete timelining for conference planning activity
– Conduct a conference hotel site visit
• Increase collaboration/engagement with NSBE
Professionals Chapters
– Establish Space SIG Project Teams within metro area chapters
• DC Professionals – Space Blitz / VHSF???
• Greenbelt Space Professionals – PBDU???
2015 SLC Goals
• Improve Space SIG Outreach at the Collegiate Level
– Prepare promotional material for the NSBE JEDI Padawan
application process
– Define the NSBE JEDI Enclave application process
– Educate Space SIG technical project teams about Padawan and
Enclave involvement
– Identify candidate JEDI Enclave institutions for each project
• Initiate Space SIG Outreach at the NSBE Jr. Level
– Identify contacts to assist with the Aerospace Skype Sessions at
the 2016 Aerospace Systems Conference
SLC Participant Engagement
• Space SIG is a member-driven SIG
– Success comes from the active participation of members
• Each registrant is grouped with a specific project or
conference planning team
– Excellent way to join the Space SIG and receive an introduction
to what the SIG does
– Thursday and Friday sessions provide general leadership training
and Space SIG orientations
– Saturday and Sunday sessions focus on specific projects and
conferences
Call to Participation
“Do…or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda
Join the Discovery
• NSBE invites you to be part of this exciting space
research
• NSBE serves as an enabling platform
– Offers means to be involved in “cool”, interesting, and
scientifically relevant research
– Enables participants to get to know each other in a
professional context
• Not just the “nice guy at the mixer,” but the avionics expert
– Builds professional reputation of participating members
(publications, demos, hardware)
ACTION: Get Involved!
Sign up with the Space SIG at
http://www.nsbe-space.org
https://twitter.com/nsbe_space
https://www.facebook.com/NSBESpace
https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4724548