‘Made for Space and Played in Space': GravityGames, Microgravity 3D Printer, and Crew on the International Space Station Create a Critical New Space Engagement for STEM Students

摘要

Aerospace and its partners will spearhead the 21st century's space innovations in the U.S. All will require a workforce educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to provide the expertise needed for critical breakthroughs and leadership. But STEM interest and participation is declining and falling critically behind our future needs, threatening to stall our advancements and our future as a world leader in space. If not addressed, the impact on our goals and economy will be severe. STEM disciplines include highly challenging coursework, and if not combined with experiments that engage students to solve real-world problems with hands-on solutions, contribute to discouragement and dropout among students pursuing such disciplines as early as high school. Outlined herein is the summative assessment of the pilot project called GravityGames that combines three highly motivating areas of engagement for students: the International Space Station, 3D cutting edge printing technology in space, and game design. Leveraging these areas of engagement, GravityGames provides students access to space, develops confidence in their ability to imagine new solutions, and offers an experience of equity for students who may not have otherwise considered a future in space. A pilot team comprised of STEM high school students designed the first game ever manufactured in space and played by the ISS crew. The positive outcome of the first GravityGames experiment will inspire and motivate future participation among students in STEM studies and has potential for national scalability. GravityGames, is one part of the global showcase that demonstrates the many uses of 3D printing in space. Made In Space, Inc. (MIS) has encouraged STEM students to participate in designing the GravityGame that was printed on their latest Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) Zero-Gravity 3D printer. The pilot is an example of how commercial and government aerospace partnerships can actively support STEM. It promotes innovative thinking and communication among STEM students and provides aconnection between them and the inspiring team at MIS, as well as the astronauts working on the largest laboratory ever built, the International Space Station. The debrief by the ISS crew that conducted and demonstrated the print will take place upon return from the ISS in the Fall of 2017. Leaders of the pilot team, currently enrolled as undergraduate students, are discussing the scalability of GravityGames outreach into schools across the country, which could make the next GravityGames into competitions, and available to potentially hundreds of students over the next few years. The project provides an inspiring and creative engagement for STEM students to use the scientific method in design, testing and analysis, and to support the future workforce of our space programs.