Virginia Tech KTU Feb. 22nd hands-on activities!

Robtic Extraterrestrial Mining-- Astrobotics at Virginia Tech

Mining in Space is the first step to substantial space travel and colonization. The extra-terrestrial minerals that have been studied have proven to be an effective fuel source. This is a must in the endeavor that is deep travel. Colonies on other planets would need to have a local fuel source. The first step in this would be in developing robots that can harvest regolith in the harsh environments found on Mars and Asteroids.

The Astrobotics team is a senior design team in the Aerospace and Mining engineering departments that is participating in the NASA Robotic Mining Competition. This is the 5th year of the competition formerly known as the Lunabotics competition has be held at Kennedy Space Center, but as space exploration has shifted from the moon to Mars and asteroids. The team is tasked with designing and building a robotic rover capable of mining Martian or asteroid regolith.  

__________________________

Measuring Wind Speed- Virginia Tech Service Learning


You can observe wind speed affecting flags and trees and other objects around you, and you know that when the wind is blowing hard, tree branches move more and flags extend. In the early 1800’s Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort developed a scale for observing sails on ships to estimate wind speed. Over the next fifty years the scale was expanded to include observing sea and land conditions.

An anemometer is an instrument that measures wind speed. One common type consists of three or four cups that rotate in the wind. The speed at which they turn allows you to calculate wind speed. There are many other types including electronic digital anemometers, hot-wire anemometers, propeller anemometers, and laser anemometers.

The undergraduate students presenting the activity are Virginia Tech Service Learning Students. As part of their classes, students participate in service projects where they donate a portion of their time and write a final report on their experience. Kids' Tech University is excited to work with these students!