NASA Seeks Undergraduates to Defy Gravity for Science, Engineering

HOUSTON — Undergraduate students interested in testing an experiment aboard NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft, the "Weightless Wonder," need to submit their proposals by Oct. 31.

The opportunity is part of NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Project to give aspiring explorers a chance to propose, design and fabricate a reduced gravity experiment. Selected teams will test and evaluate their experiment aboard the modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jet liner, which flies about 32 roller- coaster-like climbs and dips to produce periods of micro- and hyper- gravity, ranging from 0 g to 2 g.

"It’s today’s students who will be the ones going to the moon and beyond to live, explore and work. This project gives them a head start in preparing for those future ventures by allowing them to conduct hands-on research and engineering in a truly reduced gravity laboratory," said Douglas Goforth, the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Project manager at the Johnson Space Center.

Interested students should submit a letter of intent by Sept. 19. This step is optional but serves as an introductory notice that a team plans to submit a proposal for the upcoming competition.

On Dec. 6, NASA will announce the teams selected to fly in the spring and summer of 2008. Once chosen, teams may invite a full- time, accredited journalist to fly with them and document the team’s experiment and experience. All applicants must be full-time students, at least 18 years old and citizens of the United States.

With this project, NASA continues its tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs. It is tied directly to the agency’s education goal of strengthening the future workforce for NASA and the nation. Through the agency’s college and university programs, NASA will identify and develop the critical skills and capabilities needed to achieve its plans of going back to the moon and journeying on to Mars and beyond.

For more information about the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Project and to submit a proposal, visit:

http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov  

Sara Malloy, the program coordinator, can be reached at 281-483- 7847 or sara.w.malloy@nasa.gov.

SOURCE NASA