Wedgefield PLTW CubeSAT Mission – Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
By Pam Dimarzio (PLTW info is from https://www.pltw.org/
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL
Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond. That’s why our pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science provide hands-on learning opportunities from the first day of kindergarten through senior year. PLTW’s research-supported approach empowers students to discover and explore interests, imagine and design solutions to real-world challenges, and become independent, confident problem solvers.
MS (Grades 6-8) Program
PLTW Gateway sparks a joy of discovery and illuminates the range of paths students can look forward to in high school and beyond. Students apply knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines. By tackling challenges like designing a therapeutic toy for a child with cerebral palsy, creating their own app, or solving a medical mystery, students are empowered to make a real-world impact.
Go Fund Me
https://www.gofundme.com/wedgefield-pltw-cubesat-mission
Mr. Scott Bawden, PLTW Teacher
Scott.Bawden@ocps.net
Rocket City Neighbors
Here is our chance to live up to our name, Rocket City. Our Middle School (Grades 6-8) has a unique opportunity to send a micro-satellite into space to collect data and then analyze it. They need additional funds and donations to make this happen. This is being done in our Middle School Project Lead The Way course. I’ve included some information pulled directly from their site explaining the program, www.pltw.org . Mr. Bawden, PLTW Teacher and Wedgefield resident has partnered with Exos Aerospace. He has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise $2500 to cover the satellite launch cost. As of today (April 12, 2018) they have raised $1345. The WHOA has donated $500. to this effort. Please consider donating and/or help spread the word on the project. If you can donate in other ways, please contact Mr. Bawden at Wedgefield School..
The Story – copied from https://www.gofundme.com/wedgefield-pltw-cubesat-mission
The Wedgefield School PLTW (STEM) Flight and Space course has received an opportunity to launch a CubeSat mission thanks to support being provided by Exos Aerospace. A CubeSat is a small satellite that, in this case, would spend some time in space and then return to Earth for us to retrieve and collect data/results from whatever experiment we design for the payload. Exos has deeply discounted the payload cost but our timeline to launch is only 60 days. We need to raise $2,500 to cover our share of the launch costs, and this may increase as we move forward and better understand the costs of building the airframe and payload materials. Our PLTW classes will start tackling the design concepts on Monday, March 12th. We are also entering a National Science Foundation design competition for CubeSat airframes to hone our satellite design skills. Students will be working every aspect of this project (design, procurement, manufacturing, marketing, advertising, media, finance, etc.) in committees just like any entrepreneurial business. Opportunities for support will go beyond dollars, but we MUST secure our launch spot with this money as quickly as we can.
Check out Exos at http://exosaero.com/
My support there is John Quinn, the Chief Operating Officer, and his video on the home page is a great explanation of what the company is doing.
