Engineering the future: STARBASE La., summer academy students pilot DoD program

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Sherri Bohannon
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AFB, La. --  The room is darkened, as engineers work feverishly on their latest innovation. It has taken much thought, but the group of highly-skilled professionals have put their heads together and created what could become the most up-to-date communication device used on the surface of the moon. 

Funny thing, though, not one of these engineers is over the age of 14. 

Students, children of base professionals, attended STARBASE Louisiana's summer academy July 16-20. This year's camp is different than in years past, according to Mrs. Kathy Brandon, STARBASE director. 

"Our students are part of the 14 out of 53 STARBASE sites piloting this engineering curriculum, a first at the elementary level," she said. "Astronauts are in need of a device they can use to communicate, signal one another while on the moon." 

Parameters were given like, the device must be visible to the users 20 feet away; the device must fit in the palm of one's hand, among other "musts." The group of 14 brainstormed coming up with only one device to fit all requirements--a tiny flashlight, coincidentally in the shape of a spaceship, operated by the push of a button and a small watch-type battery inside. 

"We knew, in advance, the conclusion we wanted them to reach," said Mrs. Brandon. "We just had to keep working with them and narrowing down this wide field of possibilities they had come up with." 

Using the new three-dimensional printer, valued upwards of $40,000 (a year's pay for most), provided by a grant/partnership with PTC and the Department of Defense, students came together on day four, Thursday, and processed the end result of some 15 hours of class work--a beacon to be used in lands beyond. 

"Seeing that you made something on the computer and then making it on a machine is really neat," said Brittany Shankle, student and daughter of Master Sgt. David Shankle, member of the 917th Wing. "Engineers have to use so many steps to do that. It is amazing!" 

"This country is facing a critical shortage of engineers and scientists" the STARBASE staff members said. "It is our hope that programs such as this will excite and motivate today's youth to pursue careers in these fields. Who knows - the NASA engineers of tomorrow could be training with us today!"