The caltech space challenge: Lessons learned and future plans

Jason Rabinovitch, Jonathan Mihaly, Nick Parziale, Prakhar Mehrotra, Niccolo Cymbalist, Hayden Burgoyne, Jay Qi, Heather Duckworth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Caltech Space Challenge is a 5-day student mission design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. A competitive pool of domestic and international students are formed into two teams, invited to Caltech, and tasked with designing a human space mission. It is a student-led program, and was originally started by Caltech graduate students Prakhar Mehrotra and Jonathan Mihaly in 2011. The mission objectives for each event are developed through collaboration between Caltech and NASA-JPL. In 2011, students were challenged to design a human mission to a Near-Earth Object. The problem statement for the 2013 Caltech Space Challenge was intended to build on the success of the 2011 competition, and students were challenged to design a human mission to a Martian moon. During the event, the two teams are provided with a lecture series (∼10 lectures) consisting of speakers from NASA, international space agencies, and private industry. The lectures are designed to provide the participants with the basic information required for their mission designs. This includes lectures on topics ranging from team dynamics to orbital mechanics. Teams interact directly with each of the speakers, and are supported throughout the week by volunteer mentors from both NASA and industry. The technical products of the Caltech Space Challenge include conference and journal publications based on the teams' final mission proposals. In addition to academic publications, this program also creates a strong professional network among the student participants, and between the participants and the industry sponsors, which can help facilitate full-time positions for the participants in the future. The focus of this paper is on the organizational and planning lessons learned by the student leaders. Plans for future events will also be discussed. Approximate time-lines for the program will be highlighted, including fund-raising, applicant selection, publicity, technological/administrative support, and the structure of the workshop. The Caltech Space Challenge program is an intensive, student event that yields a professional product in only 5 days.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication65th International Astronautical Congress 2014, IAC 2014
Subtitle of host publicationOur World Needs Space
Pages8383-8390
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781634399869
StatePublished - 2014
Event65th International Astronautical Congress 2014: Our World Needs Space, IAC 2014 - Toronto, Canada
Duration: 29 Sep 20143 Oct 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume11
ISSN (Print)0074-1795

Conference

Conference65th International Astronautical Congress 2014: Our World Needs Space, IAC 2014
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period29/09/143/10/14

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