Development of an mobile electric propulsion demonstration for STEM outreach
The Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Michigan is developing a mobile-demonstration platform to bring advanced propulsion technologies into high school classrooms in the greater Ann Arbor area. Public outreach is critical to recruit the next generation of engineers and scientists as well as correct misconceptions about the engineering discipline. The development of the platform was structured such that a team of undergraduate women in aerospace engineering and aerospace-related fields designed and implemented the system. The team was split into three different sub-teams with one responsible for Hall thruster refurbishment, another for the design of the facility and the last for the design of the control system. Additionally, the team is developing a lesson plan to maximize the effectiveness of the presentation.
