10. Concluding Remarks

ASI’s team is on track towards developing a space-based construction industry. The plan for the Year 2000 is to continue along the technical development efforts through participation in flight tests as well as in-house research, while moving strongly along the Customer Engagement and Outreach processes through this year’s NMB program.

By following this plan, ASI aims to lead the space-based construction industry by becoming the resource for knowledge in this area.

11. Supplemental Information

Project Organization

ASI plans to grow through 4 distinct phases. Today we are in the first Phase, a university student team. Our organization structure is given below:

SAMPLING OF GEORGIA TECH INTERESTS AND CAPABILITIES

From its beginnings as the North Avenue Trade School in the 19^th century, The Georgia Institute of Technology has grown into the largest source of engineering graduates in the United States. It is also one of the very best by any measure, a fact which is gaining in recognition. The latest opinion survey of practicing engineers by US News and World Reports ranks the Georgia Tech engineering program second in the nation. In addition to the 300+ faculty and 10,000 students of the College of Engineering, Georgia Tech has unique capabilities in the College of Sciences, the Dupree College of Business and Management, and the Ivan Allen College of Technology, Policy and International Affairs. The traditions of practical, hands-on problem-solving and competitive spirit that characterized the North Avenue Trade School, and the Georgia Tech graduates of NASA's early days, are still thriving in today's technological university. The College of Engineering offers the full range of engineering expertise, of which two specific schools are sampled here: The School of Aerospace Engineering, and the new School of Bioengineering. As seen below, Georgia Tech offers capabilities relevant to the full spectrum of NASA's activities.

1. Interests in the School of Aerospace Engineering

The School of Aerospace Engineering prepares students at the Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral levels for a career in engineering, with primary emphasis on flight vehicles. The School has several research facilities, including a 7’x9’ test section low speed windtunnel, a low turbulence windtunnel, a flow visualization facility, structures laboratory, combustion laboratory, a fluid dynamics laboratory, and extensive computer research facilities. Georgia Tech’s School of Aerospace Engineering is an integral part of the Georgia Space Grant Consortium, and is a Rotorcraft Center of Excellence. The School also houses a UAV (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle) research facility, and a Materials Research Council, as well as fields a competitive Aerial Robotics team. The faculty of the school is divided among several research disciplines: Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics, Flight Mechanics and Controls, Propulsion and Combustion, Structural Mechanics and Materials Behavior, and System Design and Optimization.

1. Department Course Curriculum and NMB

The NASA Means Business competition has already been incorporated into the department’s curriculum in the form of special projects classes, AE 2902, 3902 and 4902. Students enrolled in these classes work intensively on the competition project, researching and learning about the business aspect of space and working with customers, in addition to working on the technical side of ASI by doing further research and refinement of the acoustic shaping technique. Students receive 3 semester hours of aerospace engineering elective credit towards their degrees for their efforts.

Currently, there are no business planning, marketing, feasibility, etc. classes included in the curriculum. The NASA Means Business competition, and the experience of working with students and faculty from Business Schools, would be used to introduce those elements into the course curriculum. In the senior level design classes, a business plan, addressing questions that the Competition raises (such as: How much will the venture cost, and how can the money be raised? How should it all be managed? How should the ideas be marketed?) would be an extremely beneficial addition.

1.2 Project Team

Georgia Tech’s 2000 NMB team contains a strong base of students from many different departments at Georgia Tech. In addition to students from the Aerospace Engineering school, the Schools of Industrial and Systems Engineering (IsyE), Management, Public Policy, BioEngineering and Physics are represented.
 

Name	Academic Department	Expertise
Richard Ames gt5157a@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE PhD Student in Experimental Aerodynamics. Master of Science in Management. Aeromodel aerobatics expert. 1999 NMB team member.	Business Management & Finance
Alana Boleman gte261p@prism.gatech.edu	GT ISyE Freshman President's Scholar at Tech	Financial Analysis Team
Adam Coker gte124j@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Junior, Aerodynamics; President’s Scholar Interest in Aerodynamic Composite Structures, Resins, and acoustic shaping. Solar Car project team member. 1999 NMB team member.	Product Development
Donald Changeau gte866j@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Sophomore. Developer of Closyst, a concept for bringing space technology to environmentally-efficient communities. Web page developer. 1999 NMB team member. 1999 Reduced Gravity Flyer.	Flight Test Engineering
Avinash D’Souza avinash@resnet.gatech.edu	GT AE Junior. team member, Experimental Aerodynamics.Co-op at Gulfstream. Design, Performance and Flight test group experience.	Flight Test Engineering
Olivier Deigni gt7298b@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Junior  Co-op : NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX. 1999 NMB team member.	Financial Analysis Team
David Francis gte415q@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Master’s Student in experimental techniques Internship in Magnetometry at the CNRS (France, ‘96)	Customer Engagement
Bala Ganesh gte579q@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Master’s Student, experimental aerodynamics. Jet pilot experience. 1 year of MBA courses at Regional Engineering College, Trichy, India, 1998-99.	Financial Analysis Team
Justin Hausaman gte757h@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Sophomore. Research assistant, experimental aero. 1999 NMB team member. Flapping-wing model designer. Space mission design enthusiast.	Space Operations
Martin Hinson gt9911b@prism.gatech.edu	GT ISyE Senior; President’s Scholar Educational interests : operations research and simulation, finance and marketing. 5 Co-op terms as an internal business consultant with the IE department at Walt Disney World.	Financial Analysis Team
Jin Kim jsk@innocent.com	GT AE Master’s student. Customer support experience at GT Office of Information Technology. GT Europa Lander Design Competition Team, 1997- Cost Analysis and Power Systems	Product Development
Pat Kriengsiri gte762i@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Freshman Area of interest: Propulsion and Combustion	Flight Testing Team
Catherine Matos gt7126c@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE PhD candidate, rotorcraft aerodynamics. 1999 GT NMB Team Leader. Web page designer.	Executive Director, Outreach
Tinoush Moulaei gt5577c@prism.gatech.edu	GT BioEng PhD Student. Material selection for Acoustic Shaping. 1999 NMB Team Member.	Life Sciences Applications
Peter Pociask gte761j@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Sophomore, 1999 NMB Team.	Long Range Planning Team
Xinyuan Tan gte812k@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Junior. Experimental Aerodynamics Group. Student assistant, School of IsyE.	Product Pricing
Paul Thienprayoon gte156q@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Freshman. Cadet in the U.S. Air Force ROTC program at Georgia Tech. Engineering experience was in the Boston state mechanics project in 1999.	Flight Testing Team
Chanin Tongchitpakdee fengcht@yahoo.com	GT AE Master’s Student Worked at Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (IAA), Taiwan as a research assistant.	Customer Engagement
Sam Wanis gt2691b@prism.gatech.edu	GT AE Master’s Student. Research Area : Aeroacoustics. 1999 NMB Team; 1997-’99 Reduced-Gravity Flight team leader.	Acoustic Shaping Technology Research and Development
Nate Watson gte474p@prism.gatech.edu	GT Physics and Public Policy Freshman	Long Range Planning Team
Narayanan Komerath narayanan.komerath@ae.gatech.edu	Faculty Advisor. Professor, AE.

 

1.3 Advisory Board

The students of the Georgia Tech NMB team have access to a large pool of faculty at the Institute. Those that have specifically agreed to support the efforts of the team are listed on the Advisory Board below, along with their departments and position. Technical and professional publication citations are listed for each advisory board member in the Reference section.
 

Name	Position	e-mail	Expertise
N.M. Komerath	Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology	narayanan.komerath@ae.gatech.edu	Faculty Advisor; Testing technologies & operations
R.G. Loewy	Professor and Chair, School of Aerospace Engineering	robert.loewy@aerospace.gatech.edu	Structures & Materials; Corporate Management
J. Olds	Asst. Professor, Aerospace Engineering	john.olds@aerospace.gatech.edu	Space launch systems
M. Smith	Asst. Professor, Aerospace Engineering	marilyn.smith@aerospace.gatech.edu	Structural Mechanics
Z.L. Wang	Professor, Materials Science	zhong.wang@mse.gatech.edu	Director of Electron Microscopy Center
Erian Armanios	Professor, Aerospace Engineering	erian.armanios@aerospace.gatech.edu	Composite Manufacturing;  Space Commercialization
Wanda Pierson-Jeter	NASA Georgia Space Grant Consortium	Wanda.pierson-jeter@ae.gatech.edu	Outreach to K-12 programs for science and space education
Oscar Aldana	Program Coordinator, former GT Chemistry PhD student	oscar.aldana@ceismc.gatech.edu	Education Outreach

1.4 Supporting Faculty Biosketches

Dr. John Olds, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering is the co-Director, Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory. Dr. Olds’ research focuses on the design of advanced space launch systems, in particular the conceptual design of advanced earth-to-orbit launch vehicles. Dr. Olds applies multidisciplinary design and analysis methods to advanced space transportation vehicle design problems. Research areas include multidisciplinary design optimization techniques, distributed computational design frameworks, and improved design-oriented disciplinary analysis capabilities. Recently, a student team led by Dr. Olds won the X-prize competition, developing a concept for a single-stage suborbital vehicle to carry 3 passengers plus a pilot, with a rail-launch system. His team also brings expertise in cost estimation for space missions, a valuable part of ASI's capabilities. Their recent publications are listed under Olds[1996 - 1997c] and Holland et al [1998].

Dr. Marilyn Smith develops computational capabilities for aeroelastic problems [Smith1994-1998c], critical in the design of high-speed aerodynamic vehicles, and for the design of acoustic-shaped panels under intense sound fields. She also has experience with computing the high-angle-of-attack flowfield over a lifting body under hypersonic flight conditions.

Dr. Narayanan Komerath [Komerath 1994-1998] heads the Experimental Aerodynamics Group. They have worked with NASA on high angle of attack aerodynamics of wing-bodies (Langley), rotorcraft aerodynamics (Langley and Ames), and the aerodynamics of the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle and its parafoil landing system (Johnson Space Center). In addition, the EAG guided the first undergraduate flight experiments on Acoustic Shaping under the NASA Microgravity Student Flight Opportunities program, which have since resulted in two AIAA Papers on Microgravity Materials Processing .

On the X-38 project, EAG students worked with JSC engineers (Rick Barton's group) at the Georgia Tech 7' x 9' wind tunnel, solving problems using laser sheet flow visualization, digital signal processing of sensor signals, and force measurements on parafoils. EAG was able to participate in near-real-time in this fast-paced NASA development program, getting results on various models of the X-38 under conditions of interest identified from NASA drop tests and high-speed wind tunnel tests. EAG also calibrated the Air Data Probe built by a contractor company for NASA, again at short lead time. Communication of drawings, test plans, data and results was achieved using Internet pages. Two members of the present team (Richard Ames and Catherine Matos) were team leaders on these projects and have worked with JSC.

Komerath's Experimental Aerodynamics Group is a microcosm of the kind of business organization envisaged in several NASA plans. EAG students come from all parts of the world, and are diverse in every respect except in their enthusiasm for Aerospace Engineering and their commitment to excellence. Built almost entirely on external funding generated through work done for competitive business and government customers, EAG has the world's best facilities for advanced diagnostics on complex aerodynamics problems, related to both rotorcraft aerodynamics and high angle-of-attack maneuvering flight. They have won 3 U.S Patents since 1992, in image processing, dynamic testing, and aerodynamic control technologies. The full-time students who staff EAG facilities have notched up a unique record of excellence: among a long list of achievements is the fact that 5 of the last 6 PhD theses from this group have won School nominations for Georgia Tech's Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, putting them in the top 10% of GT theses, and three have won ('93, '94 and '98), putting them in the top 1%. EAG is a leader in multidisciplinary team-oriented projects, and leads the Aerospace Digital Library Project at Georgia Tech, described below.

Professor Robert Loewy is a veteran leader of the aerospace academic community. He served as Chief of Structures at Boeing, and as Chief Scientist of the Air Force. He has participated in numerous discussions for advisory panels related to NASA projects, and provides a unique perspective on the future of the aerospace industry.

Dr. Erian Armanios, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, is the Director of the NASA Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSCC), and of the Aerospace Composites Laboratory. Through joint projects with Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Tuskegee University, and other affiliate institutions, GSCC is highly successful in developing partnerships with the leading educators of minority engineers. In addition, GSCC takes the magic of the space program to K-12 and junior college population throughout Georgia and the Southeast through the OSS Regional Broker/Facilitator clearinghouse. GSCC sponsors Georgia Tech team(s) in the NASA Microgravity Student Flight Opportunities program, and hosts K-12 visitors at Georgia Tech, including a recent, tremendously successful workshop for students participating in the ACT-SO competition which included a visit by NASA's Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson. Dr. Armanios has won patents on flow-control actuators using smart materials, and has developed innovative energy-absorption devices using the unique properties of tailored composite materials. Recent publications are listed as Armanios[1986-1998].

Oscar Aldana received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and his Master's of Chemistry in 1996 from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He worked in Dr. John Haseltine's laboratory conducting research in organic of Chemistry in 1996 from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He worked in Dr. John Haseltine's laboratory conducting research in organic synthesis. In 1996, he joined the staff at Georgia Tech's Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) where he coordinates science and mathematics programs. Specifically, he coordinates the High School to College Transition Program that works with over 500 students a year in Advanced Placement Chemistry and Calculus classes in Metro Atlanta. He also works with the NSF supported Elementary Science Education Partners (ESEP) Program [a Local Systemic Initiative] where he recruits, trains, and places science and engineering college students to help teachers teach elementary science. He also works with the NSF supported program, All Kids Count in Atlanta [part of the Atlanta Systemic Initiative, an Urban Systemic Program] where students with strong mathematics background who qualify as work study students are paid to be math tutors for 4th and 5th graders. His role is to recruit, train and place the math tutors. In addition, he as served as a Teaching Assistant in Chemistry at Georgia Tech and as a Part-time Instructor of Chemistry at Kennesaw State University.

Commitment regarding team expenses

Expenses incurred, such as preparing the proposal and communicating with NASA personnel will be covered by the Experimental Aerodynamics Group and the Georgia Space Grant Consortium.

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