AIAA Space Systems Essay Contest Samantha Infeld AIAA SSTC September, 2015

Concept Align and expand AIAA section contests to feed into SSTC-run space systems essay contest. – 2012: involved committee-members’ local sections (SF and LA sections succeeded, a few others raised interest) – 2013: promoted to all sections through AIAA Education; 4 sections submitted, Northrop Grumman sponsored ($700) – 2014: 9 sections interested/partially participating, 5 sections submitted winners (3 new), Michigan Space Grant and AMA, Inc. sponsored ($700) – 2015: 13 sections interested, 8 submitted winner (4 new), AIAA funds covered ($700) – Goals: more sections through SSTC contacts and AIAA Education, co-sponsor national contest with other TCs, consistent private sponsor

Space Systems Essay Award Benefits – Encourage technical writing capabilities at a vital development time by presenting technical problem to answer and support – Encourage local section connection with teachers and schools and contribution to STEM education Awards – One 7 th grade and one 8 th grade overall winner, $100 each – Certificate – Student membership – $250 to each teacher for class field trip or STEM-related educational equipment – Post essay on AIAA website – Submit story and essays to Aerospace America – Each section do what they can for section-level awards (may differ between sections)

Process Timeline August/September: – SSTC: Send essay question, national due date, other rules, guidelines, and resources to sections – Local: Receive essay question, national due date, other rules, guidelines, and resources from SSTC and confirm participation – Local: Start promoting contest March: – Local: Due date, judging, winners notified, winning essays forwarded to SSTC April: – SSTC: Judging, announcement of overall winners, – Local: awards presented (can announce national winner(s) at local awards) May: – SSTC: Presentation/mailing of national award(s)

Essay Guidelines Qualifications – 7 th or 8 th grade living in section counties – Double-spaced, typewritten (size 12 font) essay in 1000 words or less. – Student name, teacher name, and school name must be written in the top right hand corner of the essay. – A summer mailing address is required for notification. -address also requested. – Mail or to…(section PO box, K-12 officer) Criteria – Originality of ideas presented – Soundness of logic used to develop ideas – Realism of ideas presented – Quality of composition and clarity of expression

2016 Essay Topic Candidates Discuss how either a moon base or a Mars base could help us learn about the Earth and space.

Past Topics 2015: As a future space tourist, where would you go, and what would you do? 2014: Describe an experiment you would like to do on the International Space Station. What would you learn from it? 2013: How can humans and robots work together to explore Mars? 2012: Choose a science fiction movie and discuss how scientifically realistic the ideas and scenes are. 2011: Propose a space mission using a CubeSat. Include – where it would fly, – what data it would gather, – what type of instruments would be onboard to gather that data, – and the benefits expected for science, technology, or education. 2010: Next stop for human space exploration — a lunar base, near-Earth asteroid, or Mars? 2009: How important is international cooperation for the growth of space exploration? 2008: If Space is the answer, what is the question? 2007: How big can passenger airplanes get, and what will they look like? 2006: What steps can be taken to protect the earth from a major asteroid impact? 2005:With the success of SpaceShipOne, space tourism may be just around the corner. Where would you go, and what would you do? 2004: Should we send humans to Mars? 2003: What will be the new developments of flight in the next 100 years? 2002: Where should we go next in the solar system, and why? 2001: What should we do in Space? 2000: How would your life be different if there were no satellites? 1999: As a Settler on the Moon in the Year 2029, What Will the Moon Be Like?

Resources for Sections Promotion: NOTE that you don’t need commitment from teachers to get entries!! Just put the word out there where teachers, parents, and students can see it! – Put contact name, phone, on announcement – Section s, newsletters, events – Targeted mail to Educator Associates – Principals – PTA officers – Supervisor of STEM for County or District Board of Education – STEM teacher organizations, teacher workshops – Museum education coordinators/directors Judging – Collect essays in one file; if many (>50), discard entries that don’t meet qualifications – Recruit judges 1-2 months before due date – Hold a judging event at a home or coffeeshop or ? – Bring 1 hard copy of each essay, scoring matrices, and pencils for each judge – If many essays, may split them into groups to divide effort, but at least 2 judges per essay – May select top 3-5 scoring essays in 7 th and 8 th grade and discuss to come to consensus on winners

Resources for Sections Awarding – Can choose to award 2 nd, 3 rd places and runner-ups, but send 1 st place winners for both 7 th and 8 th grade to SSTC contact ASAP – Ideas for awards (from section funds, not SSTC): certificates, checks, bonds, plaques, awards banquet, trip to a lab or science museum for their family or class – If award includes an event, notify winners early with an invitation to the event or to schedule the trip

Judging Matrix Please rate from 1-10 (10 highest) for each criteria Reviewer’s name: Strong, supported argument Creativity and richness of ideas Grammar and spelling Correct science/te chnology Score (out of 100) WEIGHT Writer Writer