Space Science Program
The objective of the Space Science Program is to teach students the principles of rocketry, payload design and the scientific method as they design and execute their experiments aboard a real rocket, followed by analysis of data that has been captured. The Robert Feigin Memorial Scholarship Trust has been providing financial support to the program, to ensure students have sufficient resources for their experiments.
Summary
2014 Program
As part of the Year 11 Astrophysics detailed study students were introduced to Multi-Wavelength Astronomy, which provides astronomers with a more detailed view of our universe. Students had the opportunity to design a space-based observatory using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. An invitation from the Victorian Space Science Education Centre provided students with an opportunity to control the world famous Parkes radio telescope.
KDS students in the front row at Victorian Space Science Education Centre
Thanks to support from the Trust, King David was visited again this year by Brett Biddington, our resident Space Science expert. Brett spoke to the class on the use of satellite technology, not only on improving our understanding of the cosmos, but also on how satellites have been recently used to identify the search location for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, as well as to identify the launch site of the missile used to bring down flight MH17.
KDS Year 11 Physics students with Mr Brett Biddington
2012 CanSat Program
As part of this competition students are required to design, build and program a small scale satellite that can fit inside a soda can. This “satellite in a coke can”, better known as a CanSat, is then launched either aboard a high power rocket, or from a helium blimp. At apogee, the CanSat is then deployed and commences its primary mission of measuring and transmitting data (e.g. air pressure, temperature, himidity) as telemetry to the ground station. Students then select a secondary mission for their CanSat to complete, such as undertaking advanced telemetry, landing as close as possible to a designated landing site, simulating an exploration flight to a new planet, or Terraforming. (Source: The Harp, April 8, 2011, page 2)
Following from successes in previous years, in 2012 The CanSat project continued to inspire students at the school, and there was a significant increase in student participation. We were also lucky enough in 2012 to have some industry mentors from BAE systems assisting the team.
In 2012 the team once again travelled to France for the international competition, and finished equal 3rd at the final stage. The competition had started with 13 teams, with nine going into the final two stages. The perseverance of the team was very clear and as a result they managed to qualify for the Final in the dying few minutes.
KDS's CanSat ready for deployment
The team was unable to capture data during its final descent. However, the Jury, consisting of members of the French and European Space Agencies, were impressed with how clearly the team had articulated their approach, the rationale behind their designs, the improvements made to the satellite system over last year, and also from what they have learnt from the mission.
Participation in this prestigious event has resulted in a number of partnerships being established on a global level with the French and Japanese teams.
The team that went to France consisted of the following students: Elie Loummer, Isaac Moulton, Raphael Morris and Max Elkin. Boaz Ash (university mentor) and Debra Howieson (teacher) also accompanied the team.
2012 Cansat Team - Boaz Ash, Max Elkin, Elie Loummer, Raphael Morris and Isaac Moulton
2011 CanSat Program
August 2011 - Our Team Golum places in the top five!
Out of sixteen teams, King David's Team Golum, representing Australia and sponsored by the Trust, were one of only five teams to progress to the final round of this year's international CanSat competition in France, which took place from 21 - 25 August. The final data analysis presentation was well received, with representatives of the European Space Agency (ESA), French Space Agency (CNES) and Planete Sciences very keen to see an Australian team back next year.
Helen Page, from the ESA Education Office made the following comment: “Very nice collaboration between University mentors, High School students and the Victorian Space Science Education Centre. You were able to receive the telemetered data and whilst you may not have been happy with some of the data points, your analysis was good. You should be proud of your results for this, your first year of competing in CanSat.”
The students received several questions from the CNES and Planete Sciences judges and they responded excellently.
As an indication of the technical difficulties involved, the Budstar team from France - which took first place - and the Austrian Technische Universität team - suspected of picking up second place - failed to capture and transmit any GPS data. Team Golum did manage to capture and transmit GPS data; though the French team were able to collect data recorded to an on-board SD card. The Austrian team also had a failure in their airbag system due to human error, which caused the bag to inflate on take-off rather than on touch down. The Turkish team’s microcontroller failed to trigger key aspects of their mission due to an incorrect assumption regards the release altitude in their programming code.
Source: Milorad Cerovac, Team Manager.
The team's success featured on Page 4 of The Harp, 9 September 2011. For more information refer to the VSSEC and Planete Sciences websites.
June 2011
The team hosted Gaelle Neuvic from CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), which is the French Space Agency, and Naomi Mathers from the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC), in preparation for the launch of their satellite. With help from the Robert Feigin Memorial Scholarship Trust, the launch will take place in France in August this year.
Milorad Cerovac, Josh Marlow, Boaz Ash, Gaelle Neuvic, Jarred Gerson & Naomi Mathers
For more information refer to the 23 June edition of The Harp, where the story made front page news!
The King David School and the Trust will be sending a team to represent Australia in the CanSat (Satellite in a Can) competition in France in mid 2011.
March 2011
Building of the CanSat is well underway, and the team is gearing up for the trip to France.
CanSat team which will be going to France: Naomi Mathers (VSSEC), Josh Marlow, Michael Eisfelder (mentor – Aerospace Engineering), Yarden Rais, Kieran Hirsh, Jarred Gerson, Devon Boyd (mentor – Robotics Engineering), Boaz Ash (mentor – Mechatronics Engineering) and Milorad Cerovac
2010 Program
On 3rd – 4th April, SSRP coordinator Milorad Cerovac attended a weekend rocket launch at Serpentine, hosted by Tripoli Australia. Tripoli Australia is a registered high-powered rocketry organisation, able to obtain flight waivers to 25,000 feet. They have close links with the Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI) who conduct bi-annual launches of their Zuni rockets up at Woomera, Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC).
As part of the 2010 program, students had the opportunity to build a high-powered rocket (HPR). A few smaller rocket kits were also purchased, which students initially assembled to gain “construction” practice prior to building the more complex HPR. Simulation software (called RockSim) allowed students to determine the stability of their model prior to launch, as well as to provide launch simulation data. This simulation data provided the students with an idea of the expected flight plan for their particular rocket design and rocket motor combination. This simulation information was then used to compare with the actual flight characteristics observed.
In all, twelve students signed up for the 2010 program, across Years 9 to 12. The building sessions took place in the Science Labs during lunchtimes and after school. Students not only learned to build model rockets (both low power and high power), but they also designed and built their own sensors (e.g. sensors to measure altitude based upon barometric pressure), program microcontrollers, designed and built other experiments that could be placed in the payload section of the HP rocket. Post graduate students and past King David School students assisted in this program.
Students will hopefully have the opportunity to participate at one of the monthly launch weekends that Tripoli Australia runs at Serpentine, and, as their skills build up, we then hope to register with ASRI for a Woomera launch in the not too distant future.
The advanced nature of this Space Science Program and the enthusiasm shown by the students impressed Dr Naomi Mathers from the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC). This has resulted in The King David School being nominated to represent Australia in the 2011 International CanSat (i.e. satellite in a Coke can) competition to be held in France in 2011.
Students work on the CanSat project
2010 Scientist in Residence
Michael Eisfelder, former King David School student, joined the program as resident scientist in 2010. Michael worked with students from Years 7 to 11 every Friday on the High Power Rocketry Program, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of rocket science.
First Rocket Launch at school - August 2010
The "High Power Rocketry Club", as the club has become known, conducted a 'low power' launch at Magid Campus of The King David School in August 2010. The club is meeting regularly in preparation for the launch of their own supersonic-capable rocket from the Serpentine facility.
The launch was reported in the school's newsletter The Harp, available here (refer page 3).
2008 Program Description
The Australian Space Research Institute, ASRI, is a non-profit organisation which is striving to develop and advance Australian space science and technology. With their assistance, students from Years 10 and 11 designed a series of experiments to be placed in the payload section of an ASRI-supplied Zuni sounding rocket. The Zuni rocket was be launched from the Woomera rocket range in South Australia.
This exciting program allowed students the opportunity to learn about payload limitations, ‘g’ forces (extreme because the Zuni’s are former air to ground missiles), design approval and safety processes, as well as planning, conducting and analysing the results from their experiments.
October 2008 Launch Weekend at Woomera Rocket Range
As part of this long term Science program, which will roll into 2009 (and hopefully beyond), science teacher and SSRP coordinator Milorad Cerovac attended the October launch as an ASRI observer. This provided him with valuable experience to assist in ensuring that the student designed experiments are completed according to all ASRI specifications, and ready to launch in June 2009 with all the necessary documentation completed and approved by the ASRI launch committee.
ASRI Visit to The King David School
On Friday 25th July, 2008, The King David School was privileged to have Brett Biddington from the Australian Space Research Institute, ASRI, come out and talk to a group of dedicated KDS Science students. His talk covered radio astronomy, the current state and the future of space research with a focus on Australia, the objectives of ASRI, and possible careers in Space Science in Australia.
