The
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design Challenge is an educational activity designed for students in grades 7–12. It aims to develop skills relevant to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The challenge consists of two phases: project-based learning and team competitions. Students, supported by teachers and coaches, engage in solving engineering problems inspired by NASA and collaborate with university students and engineering mentors in a virtual reality environment. The focus of the challenge revolves around real-world issues related to the
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Spa ...
and the
Robonaut
A robonaut is a humanoid robot, part of a development project conducted by the Dexterous Robotics Laboratory at NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. Robonaut differs from other current space-faring robots in that, while ...
2 humanoid robot. By working on these problems, students contribute to finding practical solutions that align with ongoing research efforts. The RealWorld-InWorld initiative is a collaborative educational program between NASA, the
National Institute of Aerospace The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is a non-profit research and graduate education institute headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, near NASA's Langley Research Center.
NIA was formed in 2002 by a consortium of research universities. NIA perfo ...
(NIA), and
USA TODAY
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
Education. It builds upon the Sight/Insight design challenge developed by NASA and USA TODAY Education, as well as the Virtual Exploration Sustainability Challenge (VESC) developed by NIA and NASA. These initiatives share a common foundation of using NASA themes and content to engage and educate students in grades 7–12.
Problem solving
Students participating in the challenge will have the opportunity to tackle one of two questions related to either the James Webb Space Telescope or Robonaut 2.
Regarding Robonaut 2, the task is to address its need for a means to attach itself to the outer walls of the International Space Station while in open space. As Robonaut 2's "legs" are still under development, students are tasked with designing a "zero-G foot" that will provide stability and support during spacewalks.
As for the James Webb Space Telescope, it is a significant infrared space telescope intended as a replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope. Students are challenged to design a large shield capable of maintaining the telescope's low temperature while enabling it to detect faint sources of infrared light, such as distant galaxies and extrasolar planets. The shield should facilitate the telescope's mission to explore these celestial objects.
Robonaut 2
History and application
Robonaut 2 (R2) is an anthropomorphic humanoid robot that was constructed and designed at
NASA Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA's center for human spaceflight (originally named the Manned Spacecraft Center), where human spaceflight training, research, and flight control are conducted. It was renamed in honor of the late U ...
. Its purpose is to be utilized in situations where there are high risks that could endanger human life. The development of Robonaut 2, along with the potential for other dexterous humanoid robots, aims to enhance human capabilities in space exploration and construction. These robots can perform complex missions and navigate hazardous environments that may not be safe for human astronauts. Robonaut 2 holds the distinction of being the first of its kind (with four similar robots) to both journey into space and carry out tasks aboard the
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...
(ISS). It is also the first U.S. robot to be deployed on the ISS. The advantage of having a "dexterous humanoid" robot like R2 is its ability to utilize the same tools as humans and operate alongside them in shared spaces. To develop R2, NASA has formed partnerships with General Motors (GM) and Oceaneering Space Systems (OSS). These collaborations will expedite the advancement of R2 as a new technology, with the ultimate goal of surpassing human dexterity. The intended application of R2 extends to both the aerospace and automotive industries.
R2 represents significant improvements over its predecessor, R1. It has a fourfold increase in speed compared to R1, a more compact design, enhanced dexterity, and a broader range of sensory capabilities. R2 incorporates various advanced technologies, including an optimized dual-arm workspace with overlapping capabilities, series elastic joint technology, extended finger and thumb travel, miniaturized 6-axis load cells, redundant force sensing, high-speed joint controllers, extensive neck movement, and high-resolution camera and infrared systems. These advancements contribute to the overall capabilities and versatility of Robonaut 2.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
History and application
The James Webb Space Telescope is a state-of-the-art imaging system designed for deep space observations. Its primary objective is to advance our comprehension of the origins of Earth and life in the universe. This telescope holds great significance for future scientific advancements. The RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design Challenge offers students an opportunity to engage in the engineering design process and tackle problems associated with the James Webb Space Telescope.
James Webb
The
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Spa ...
, also referred to as JWST, received its name in honor of former NASA Administrator James Webb. Webb served as the head of the space agency from February 1961 to October 1968,
during which he made substantial contributions to space science, leading to the development of the JWST, the next-generation space telescope bearing his name. Webb's notable association is primarily linked to the Apollo Space Program. Despite his significant achievements, it is noteworthy that Webb initially hesitated to accept the role of NASA administrator. Although he lacked a background as an engineer or scientist, Webb had held distinguished positions in government and the aerospace industry. President Kennedy recognized Webb's capabilities and convinced him that the position of NASA Administrator was primarily focused on policy matters.
While President Kennedy's commitment was centered on landing a man on the moon before the end of the century, Webb believed the challenge had broader significance, encompassing aspects such as education and industry rather than being solely driven by political motives. Webb is credited with fostering significant scientific advancements within the space agency throughout the 1960s. Various programs enabled Americans to gather new knowledge about outer space, including missions to Mars and Venus, while also preparing for the first moon landing through robotic exploration of the lunar surface.
By the time Webb retired in 1968, shortly before the 1969 moon landing, NASA had successfully launched over 75 missions.
Webb emphasized the involvement of scientists in the agency's decision-making processes. He also played an active role in establishing a strong connection between NASA and university education in the United States. Webb initiated the NASA University Program, which facilitated the establishment of space grants, provided fellowships to graduate students, and supported the development of scientific research laboratories at universities. This collaboration between NASA and education continues to this day and is exemplified by the RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design Challenge. The focus of this challenge is on the telescope that bears the name of James Webb, the visionary leader who propelled America into a successful era of space exploration, contributing significantly to our understanding and scientific breakthroughs.
Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope was successfully launched on December 25, 2021. Positioned approximately 1 million miles away from the Earth's surface, the JWST employs infrared technology to observe space, enabling scientists to gather insights into the origins of the universe. Its observations will encompass the history of the universe, starting from the immediate aftermath of the
Big Bang
The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
and continuing through the formation of solar systems, including our own. The telescope's focus includes the study of environments conducive to supporting life and the processes involved in planetary formation.
The JWST is the result of collaborative efforts between
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
, the
European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
, and the
Canadian Space Agency
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA; french: Agence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is the national space agency of Canada, established in 1990 by the ''Canadian Space Agency Act''.
The president is Lisa Campbell, who took the position on September 3, 2020 ...
. The project is presently managed by the
NASA Goddard Space Center, with
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company. With 90,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and military techn ...
serving as the contracting company responsible for its development. Following its launch, the telescope will be operated by the
Space Telescope Science Institute
The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is the science operations center for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), science operations and mission operations center for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and science operations center for th ...
. Originally known as the "
Next Generation Space Telescope," the project was renamed in 2002 to honor James Webb.
The JWST's goals are categorized into four scientific themes:
# The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization
# Assembly of galaxies
# The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems
# Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life
While sharing some similarities with its predecessor, the
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versa ...
, the JWST offers distinct features that provide scientists with new perspectives and an understanding of the universe. The JWST observes the universe in the infrared spectrum, whereas the Hubble primarily observes in optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. This complementary combination allows scientists to construct a more comprehensive picture of the universe. Furthermore, the JWST features a larger mirror than the Hubble, enabling it to gather more light and peer further back in time. As light travels at a finite speed, greater distances correspond to longer time spans since the light originated. Additionally, the JWST's orbit is significantly farther from Earth than that of the Hubble. While the Hubble is in close proximity to Earth, the JWST will be positioned much farther away, surpassing even the Moon's distance.
Getting started 2011
Phase 1: RealWorld
Participants
Teachers, coaches, and high school-aged students who are involved in the RealWorld-InWorld Engineering Design Challenge collaborate to address engineering problems inspired by NASA.
Objective
Collaborate as engineers and scientists to explore and design solutions for one of two real-world problems associated with either the
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Spa ...
or
Robonaut 2
A robonaut is a humanoid robot, part of a development project conducted by the Dexterous Robotics Laboratory at NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. Robonaut differs from other current space-faring robots in that, while ...
. RealWorld Solutions are developed in a face-to-face setting where small teams of high school students and coaches or teachers work together. The final project solutions submitted by teams will be showcased on the RealWorld-InWorld website, and recognition will be given to the teams for their efforts. To be eligible for the InWorld phase, teams must submit their final RealWorld project solutions by January 27, 2012.
Phase 2: InWorld
Participants
Participating college students form teams consisting of 3-5 high school-aged students and their teacher or coach. Each team chooses an engineering mentor from among the participants. Many of the participants are also involved in NASA's INSPIRE program.
Objective
Collaborate within a 3D virtual environment using modern tools to improve designs and generate 3D models of the James Webb Space Telescope and Robonaut 2. Engineers from both projects will engage in virtual conversations within the InWorld phase of the challenge. In contrast to the RealWorld phase, the InWorld challenge takes place in a virtual environment hosted within the NIA Universe virtual reality world. Teams develop and construct their solutions to the given problems within this virtual setting.
References
External links
Student Engineering Design ChallengeThe Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nasa Realworld-Inworld Engineering Design Challenge
Science competitions