INSA News - The Latest in Aerospace Development and Public Outreach News for the Inland Northwest October 2004

October 25, 2004

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# In This Issue: Senator Burns Announces Appropriations

# Space Camp Advisory Board Announced

# SPI Successful in Cultivating Discussion

# S&K Selected for NASA Contract

# UAV Demonstration Draws over 600 to Glasgow Airport

# INSA Partners With Theme Park to Prepare Montana Teachers

# Hancock Joins INSA Staff

# 'Physics to Go' to offer Curriculum Help for Educators

INSA News is a monthly publication that provides information about the Inland Northwest Space Alliance, the Northern Rockies Consortium for Space Privatization, public education and outreach, research and development and INSA's ongoing projects and partnerships.

Senator Burns Announces Appropriations

The Inland Northwest Space Alliance is likely to receive $3,000,000 in federal funding through the Veterans Administration - Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill for FY05. U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced over $20 million VA-HUD appropriations for the state of Montana including the funding for INSA after the bill passed out of Full Committee in late September.

The legislation will be voted on sometime this fall by the House and Senate.

INSA will use the VA-HUD money to fund the Free Flyer Research Consortium project that is focused on developing low-orbit free flying space modules to be used for biomedical research. The project is in the process of developing a consortium of academic and private industry officials interested in using these aircrafts. Specifically, INSA is involved in developing the hardware and tools for the experiments.

INSA President George Bailey praised Senator Burns for his work in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Senator Burns is building the backbone for Montana's high-tech industry and the Inland Northwest Space Alliance is proud to play a role in his efforts to bring highly skilled jobs to the state," said Bailey. "Through his continued leadership he is ensuring that our economy becomes one of the fastest growing in the nation and that Montanan's will have opportunities for quality jobs now, and for many years to come. We are very fortunate to have Senator Burns working for a better Montana." Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

Space Camp Advisory Board Announced

Plans are in full swing for the summer 2005 YMCA Mission to Mars Space Camp. INSA is excited to continue its partnership with the Missoula Family YMCA as the program expands to reach a wider range of students.

The YMCA recently named Target Range teacher, Kaye Ebelt as camp director and appointed an advisory board to direct the planning for next year's camp. Amy Fisher and Ned Penley from INSA, Wes Snyder and Diane Fladmo from NRCSP, and Kelli Ryan and Kaye Ebelt from the YMCA were selected to sit on the board.

The board is currently engaging in weekly planning meetings to devise a curriculum for multiple camps and age groups. There will be a five-day camp for eight and nine year olds in early July and one for ten and eleven year olds in late July. There will also be a three-day camp for high school students that will focus on Amusement Park Physics which will include a trip to Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

The Missoula Family YMCA will publish dates and registration information for the summer 2005 Mission to Mars Space Camp in its winter program guide. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

SPI Successful in Cultivating Discussion

Philipsburg, Montana may not be home to a leading research facility, but for four days in September some of the leading scientists and researchers from NASA and private aerospace industry gathered in the rural town of 900 to discuss and share their research findings.

The first annual Inland Northwest Space Alliance Space Policy Institute was held in Philipsburg Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. Over 40 people including teachers, university researchers, engineers and even a world renowned astronaut attended the Space Policy Institute to discuss the new exploration vision of NASA, policy issues and funding opportunities for aerospace research and development.

Representatives from NASA Ames, NASA Headquarters, the Space Dynamics Laboratory, Compressus, SHOT, Northern Rockies Consortium for Space Privatization, the University of Montana, Utah State University, and the Giacometto Group attended and presented information at the Space Policy Institute.

NASA astronaut Dr. Shannon Lucid delivered a presentation concerning NASA's new exploration vision. Lucid said NASA's vision to return to the Moon and eventually to explore Mars returns to NASA's roots as an exploration agency. She also stressed the importance of continued exploration to keep the next generation of explorers inspired.

"We need to keep the spirit of Discovery alive," said Lucid. "It's part of the gift we give to our children and grandchildren."

Lucid compared the work being done today to reach the Moon and Mars by researcher and scientists to building a ladder that will be useful later.

"If we build the infrastructure now, generations to come will never run out of things to explore," said Lucid.

Utah State University President, Kermit L. Hall, also spoke to the attendees Wednesday evening about the importance of research at "rural" universities.

Hall is also the President of the Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA). INRA is a coalition of eight universities in Montana, Alaska, Utah, Idaho and Washington that collaborate to conduct worthwhile research.

President Hall stressed the importance of conducting research at rural universities to enhance the communities that house these institutions. Hall talked about the positive effect the Space Dynamics Laboratory has had on Logan, Utah and Utah State University.

INSA hosted a reception for the town of Philipsburg on Wednesday evening at the INSA Philipsburg office. Residents were able to view displays that showcased the attendees' research findings, talk with the experts and have their photo taken at the Picture Yourself in Space photo booth. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

S&K Selected for NASA Contract

NASA Scientists were recently in Philipsburg touting a state of the art wireless medical device. And now they've chosen a Montana tribally owned firm to manufacture pre-production units of the NASA- Stanford's "Life Guard" Physiologic Manufacturing Device.

The Inland Northwest Space Alliance helped S & K Electronics of Ronan land the contract following last week's Space Policy Institute in Philipsburg. INSA President George Bailey praised the contract. "This is exactly why INSA is here. We know Montana companies have the knowledge and the resources to manufacture these high tech products, so INSA's job is to help bring these aerospace jobs to Montana."

"I'm excited to bring this NASA technology to rural areas of our state and I'm looking forward to a long relationship in the field of wireless technology," said Larry Hall, President of S&K Electronics in Pablo, Montana.

NASA engineers John Hines and Carsten Mundt developed the "Life Guard" device along with Stanford University researchers Greg Kovacs and Kevin Montgomery. The device is like a flight recorder for human beings, and keeps track of biological data, like changes in heart rate, the amount of oxygen in the blood stream, how the wearer is moving, and much more.

It is intended to make it easier to monitor the vital signs of astronauts in space. Now researchers hope to put it to use on the ground- making it easier for emergency first responders to monitor the vital signs of patients.

"There are currently no capabilities for continuous wireless ambulatory monitoring, either continuous or real-time. With this project and the help of S&K Electronics we hope to do just that," says John Hines, Manager of Advanced Biomolecular Technology at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA.

INSA health care consultant, and former CEO of St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, Larry White, says rural emergency medicine is similar to astronaut healthcare. "If you look at Montana's healthcare system, many patients are remote from any medical facility where usually no physician is available, and the patient is being transported. Having a wireless system that monitors patients on board an ambulance or a Life Flight helicopter will greatly enhance medical emergency response." Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

UAV Demonstration Draws over 600 to Glasgow Airport

Over 650 city officials, students and community members attended the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Demonstration at the Glasgow International Airport in Glasgow, MT on Sept. 15, 2004.

The demonstration, sponsored by the Space Dynamics Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory and the Inland Northwest Space Alliance, showcased the cutting edge technology of today's UAVs and mobile command and control centers.

Larry Mires, Executive Director of Two Rivers Economic Growth, helped coordinate the UAV Demonstration event. Working with INSA, nearly 100 area VIPs were contacted and informed and attended the event.

The Department of Homeland Security is considering the use of UAVs to patrol the northern border near Glasgow which could create jobs in northeast Montana. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

INSA Partners With Theme Park to Prepare Montana Teachers

The Inland Northwest Space Alliance and Silverwood Theme Park will sponsor a teacher workshop in January at Silverwood Theme Park to provide teachers with lessons, materials and resources to teach physics based on the NASA Amusement Park Physics curriculum.

Amusement Park Physics with a NASA Twist relates several NASA technologies to amusement park rides to teach basic physics lessons. The unit includes several hands-on activities conducted in the classroom and concludes with a trip to an amusement park in which the students apply what they've learned to complete worksheets for several rides at the park.

The seven hour workshop will provide teachers with an educator guide, information about how NASA research relates to amusement park rides and how to arrange for an amusement park field trip. The workshop will also include participation in the hands-on activities that are included in the NASA curriculum.

For more information, dates of the workshop and to register, contact Amy Fisher at (406) 541- 3130. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

Hancock Joins INSA Staff

Stephen Hancock is a native of San Diego, California, though he was primarily raised on the east coast. Hancock graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master of Aeronautical Science.

Steve recently retired as a Captain from the U.S. Navy with over 24 years of service. During his tour he served in many roles including; Surface Warfare Officer, F-14 Radar Intercept Officer, F-14 Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Officer, Depurty F- 14 Program Manager for Reconnaissance, and Head Expeditionary Warfare Science and Technology. His most recent job was as Military Deputy to the Technical Director of the Office of Naval Research. Stephen currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Merodie, and their three children, Gregory, Trenton, and Mia. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

'Physics to Go' to offer Curriculum Help for Educators

Ned Penley is working to improve the physics curriculum for Montana students and teachers.

Through his involvement in various teacher workshops throughout Montana, Penley realized Montana high school physics teachers lack needed resources and materials that could better their ability to teach the subject. So, Penley decided to develop a program to fulfill that void.

Physics to Go is a series of teacher tutorial videos for high school physics teachers. Penley is currently developing the pilot video on Newton's Law and foresees its completion at the end of December 2004. Eventually, the series will cover all physics topics.

"I realized physics teachers could use help from NASA," said Penley, "To teach physics in a way that captures students' imagination."

Penley is excited to provide the first video to coincide with the World Year of Physics 2005. The World Year of Physics 2005 is a worldwide endeavor designed to celebrate physics and its importance in every day life. Web Bug from http://imgcc.com/spacer.gif

email: hbuck@inwspace.org phone: (406) 541-3130 web: http://www.inwspace.org
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