Session
Technical Session VI: University Programs
Abstract
Colorado Students and Mentors Applying Research and Technology in Space (C-SMARTS) is a new, portable, hands-on higher education program that involved 126 students from four Colorado colleges along with 22 engineers and scientists from 11 aerospace companies and three research centers. C-SMARTS is different than traditional hands-on learning found in university labs in that all lectures and activities lead to the construction and integration of a working satellite. Students involved with the C-SMARTS program have gained valuable experiences and training, and have gained a level confidence in themselves and their abilities. Companies can hire these students with experience in their company’s technologies. The companies and centers that supported CSMARTS are: Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, General Dynamics, Design_Net Engineering, Starsys Research, MicroSat Systems, Composite Technologies Development, Edge of Space Sciences, Broad Reach Engineering, IOSTAR, Instar Engineering, JPL, Center for the Study of Earth from Space, and the Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy. The ultimate goal for C-SMARTS is to make it into a national program, involving more students and aerospace companies from around the country. This national version of the C-SMARTS program could become a standard method for training new students who plan to enter the aerospace workforce.
Presentation Slides
C-SMARTS: Colorado Students and Mentors Applying Research and Technology in Space
Colorado Students and Mentors Applying Research and Technology in Space (C-SMARTS) is a new, portable, hands-on higher education program that involved 126 students from four Colorado colleges along with 22 engineers and scientists from 11 aerospace companies and three research centers. C-SMARTS is different than traditional hands-on learning found in university labs in that all lectures and activities lead to the construction and integration of a working satellite. Students involved with the C-SMARTS program have gained valuable experiences and training, and have gained a level confidence in themselves and their abilities. Companies can hire these students with experience in their company’s technologies. The companies and centers that supported CSMARTS are: Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, General Dynamics, Design_Net Engineering, Starsys Research, MicroSat Systems, Composite Technologies Development, Edge of Space Sciences, Broad Reach Engineering, IOSTAR, Instar Engineering, JPL, Center for the Study of Earth from Space, and the Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy. The ultimate goal for C-SMARTS is to make it into a national program, involving more students and aerospace companies from around the country. This national version of the C-SMARTS program could become a standard method for training new students who plan to enter the aerospace workforce.
