Second Self Evaluation 1994-1998 Submitted: January 1999 TE AS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM

Second Five Year Evaluation

Covering the Period Between

January 1, 1994

to

December 31, 1998

Submitted to:

NASA/HQ

January 1999 TE AS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM

Strongly embracing the objectives of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, the undersigned have entered into agreement for participation in an exemplary alliance of Universities, Industries Non-Profit Organizations and State Government agencies in a coordinated effort to help maintain America’s preeminence in aerospace science and technology. On behalf of our institutions, we hereby pledge to support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the conduct of the National Space Grant and Fellowship Program. We are proud to have participated in the development and completion of this self-evaluation of Texas Space Grant Consortium’s participation in the National Program.

TSGC Board of Directors

Byron D. Tapley University of Texas at Austin Tom Moser Texas Aerospace Commision Director

Aaron Cohen Texas A&M University Linda N. Domelsmith Texas Higher Education Chairman of the Board Coordinating Board

David R. Criswell University of Houston Reynaldo Elizondo University of Texas at Associate Director San Antonio

Wallace T. Fowler University of Texas at Austin Ray French Lockheed Martin Associate Director

John L. Junkins Texas A&M University F. Curtis Michel Rice University Associate Director

Jim Buchli Boeing James Smith Texas Tech University

Note: Original signatures are available upon request at TSGC Headquarters.

3 TSGC Institutional Representatives

Baylor University Texas A&M University

Boeing Texas A&M University Kingsville

Lamar University Texas Aerospace Commission

Lockheed Martin Texas Christian University

Prarie View A&M University Texas General Land Office

Raytheon Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Rice University Texas Southern University

Southwest Research Institute Texas Tech University

Sul Ross State University University of Houston

Note: Original signatures are available upon request at TSGC Headquarters.

4 TSGC Institutional Representatives

University of Houston Clear Lake University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

University of Houston Downtown University of Texas Health Science Center,

San Antonio

University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

University of Texas at Austin University of Texas Pan America

University of Texas at Dallas University of Southwestern Medical Center

University of Texas at El Paso Universities Space Research Association

University of Texas at San Antonio

Note: Original signatures are available upon request at TSGC Headquarters.

5 1998 Self-Evaluation

Executive Summary National Objectives # Cntrb. Sec. Establish and maintain a 288 6.6, 4.1, The Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC) national network of universities 4.2, 6.1 was organized in 1989 as a team of academic, Encourage cooperative programs 152 6.6, 6.4, industry, state government, and non-profit among universities, aerospace 7.3 institutions from all regions of the state in industry, and government support of the National Space Grant College & Encourage aerospace related 149 4.1, 4.2, interdisciplinary training, 6.4, 6.1 Fellowship Program (NSGC&FP). In the last research and public service five years TSGC has conducted fifty-eight programs distinct programs specifically addressing the Recruit and train U.S. citizens, 218 4.5, 4.2, NSGC&FP objectives and priorities. In especially underrepresented 6.4, 4.3 addition to the NSGC&FP funding for these minorities, women, and programs, TSGC members provided additional persons with disabilities direct and in-kind support, over $8.4M since Promote a strong science, 96 6.6, 5.1, 1994. These programs, most of which mathematics, and technology 4.4, 5.2 involve multiple institutions and disciplines, education base from K-12 have involved every TSGC member institution, six NASA centers, and various 2. Texas Space Grant other local and national organizations. TSGC emphasizes the following objectives: 1. National Space Grant College & Fellowship Program Objectives ¥ Foster development and sharing of space related educational resources and experiences TSGC strongly embraces the NSGC&FP among consortium members in Texas and Objectives. Over the last five years TSGC has nationwide conducted fifty-eight programs which make up ¥ Foster high quality graduate level space 395 contributions to the NSGC&FP National research at consortium academic institutions Objectives and National Strategic Plan (1996- ¥ Foster the development of multi- 2000) Priorities. Each major section of this institutional space research efforts including report contains a table that provides measures industry, university, and NASA teaming of TSGCÕs contributions (Cntrb.) to the goals ¥ Increase the pool of high school graduates of the NSGC&FP. The third column of these who enter college to study science, tables references the sections of this self- mathematics, and engineering with emphasis evaluation where examples of the respective on underrepresented minorities and women contributions can be found. Each unique and ¥ Foster space-related programs and curricula distinctive activity of TSGC is counted as a for public schools and for the public contribution. For example, the NASA ¥ Use interest in space to increase Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities participation in science and mathematics in Program counts as seventeen contributions. the public schools Each Texas team that flew aboard the KC- 135A is a unique and distinctive contribution: 3. Organization four teams flew each year from 1995 to 1997 and five teams flew in 1998. TSGC has 36 member organizations from all regions of the state. Members are divided into the following categories: Texas Space Grant Colleges (3), Academic Affiliates (22-eight of which are federally designated minority

6 serving institutions), Industrial Members (5), modifies existing programs, and establishes Non-Profit Members (2), and Government new programs. Members (4). TSGC is unique in that all members can submit TSGC has established a Board of Directors that proposals for funding of projects under the is responsible for overall policy and guidance three program areas. Committees that include as well as performing an overview function for the Director, the Associate Directors and program activities. Board members are additional members selected for their related selected to provide a balanced representation expertise, review the proposals. of the interests of the members. The Board of Directors consists of: the Chair of the Board, In addition to the NSGC&FP funding, TSGC the Director, three Associate Directors, three members provide additional direct and in-kind representatives from the Academic Affiliates support. Since 1994 the TSGC membership (one from a minority institution), three has provided $800 K of direct support through representatives from the commercial/non- annual assessments and special projects. The profit organizations, a representative from the membership also has provided $7.6 M of in- Texas Aerospace Commission, and a kind support. representative from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 4. Higher Education Programs

All TSGC activities are organized and The goals of the TSGC Higher Education monitored by the Higher Education, General programs are to foster development and Public/Outreach, and Research committees. sharing of space related educational resources These committees support the Program Office and experiences among consortium members in the evaluation of proposals and make in Texas and nationwide and to foster high recommendations of how funds can be quality graduate level space research at obtained and distributed. The directorÕs staff consortium academic institutions. implements the TSGC programs. Since 1994 TSGC has conducted 326 Higher TSGC Organizational Chart Education activities involving over three thousand undergraduate and graduate students. Board of Directors National Education Priorities # Cntrb. Sec. Provide fellowships and 196 4.2, scholarships emphasizing student 4.3, research and mentoring 4.4 Director components. Office Staff Member Stress development of 95 4.1, Institutions interdisciplinary courses and 4.2, curriculum. 4.5 Associate and Enhance pre-service teacher 19 4.4, Directors Representatives education emphasizing 4.7 coordination with existing efforts. Develop community college 6 4.6 initiatives. Higher General Public/ Research Focus on involving 162 4.2, Education Outreach Committee underrepresented groups including 4.3, Committee Committee women and people with 4.5 disabilities. Develop courses that use emerging 123 4.1, TSGC holds semi-annual meetings of the NASA-developed technology. 4.2, Board of Directors and of the member 4.3 institutions. At these meetings the consortium reviews program performance, For most of these students this was the first exposure that they had to space related

7 concepts in the classroom. Many have gone undergraduate students, a supervising faculty on to receive graduate degrees in space related member, and one professional journalist. At fields. A total of $5.9M of direct and in-kind least two students from each team will be able support was devoted to these activities. to fly on the KC-135 aircraft. Greater than 93% of these funds were provided by outside sources with less than 7% provided This program began in 1995 as the Texas by TSGC. Space Grant Consortium Students Understanding Reduced-Gravity Flight (SURF) 4.1 NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Summer Academy. In five short years the Opportunities Program program has grown from flying four Texas- only student teams to flying over one hundred This program provides a unique academic teams of high school and undergraduate experience for undergraduate students to students. (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/floatn/) successfully propose, design, fabricate, fly and assess a reduced-gravity experiment of their 4.2 TSGC Advanced Design Project own design during an eight month academic/flight experience. That experience The objectives of the TSGC Advanced Design includes scientific scholarship, hands-on test Project (TADP) are: to improve design operations and education/public outreach education at participating institutions; to activities. excite students about design by using space design topics; to provide modest funding to The JSCÕs Reduced-Gravity Program provides support design education at participating a true three-dimensional "weightless" training schools; and to provide NASA with a stream and testing environment. Originally the of new and innovative ideas. province of astronauts in training and flights in support of missions ranging from Mercury In Spring 1995, TSGC initiated this program to the Space Station, NASA's Boeing KC- modeled after the recently canceled 135A has recently provided other NASA, NASA/USRA Advanced Design Program. The government, academic and commercial users TADP is a multi-university, multi-disciplinary, with a reduced-g experiment venue. design project in which students from various institutions cooperate to produce a space related design. Led by the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, the program involves universities with extensive design programs and vast experiences in spacecraft design to universities with no prior experience in spacecraft design. Twenty-five percent of the universities involved are federally designated minority institutions.

Each year, approximately fifty undergraduate students participate in the program. These students form into design teams with a student Figure 1: An undergraduate student from Texas leader and a local faculty advisor. Each team A&M University operating her teamÕs experiment on NASAÕs KC-135A in microgravity. works on related design projects. This necessitates and provides opportunities to The program is designed to encourage teams cooperate. Each student team is expected to to participate either as an organized class send one or more representatives to end-of- project or as an independent study project. It the-semester design meetings to present their is highly recommend that the participating work to the other attendees and to team's academic institution convey class credit representatives of NASA and industry. for the successful completion of the program. Coordination of the various teams is Each selected team usually includes up to four accomplished by graduate students from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas

8 A&M University. The program's yearly academic year. Graduate students can either budget of $50K serves to stimulate over receive an application from their university $450K of in-kind support from the students, representative or download it from the TSGC faculty, and the local space industry. web site. Applications are submitted to the (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/tadp/) university representative who is responsible for the initial pre-selection process. Each Past Project Foci: university may submit up to three applicants ¥ Lunar Oxygen Verification Experiment to a consortium-wide selection committee. (L.O.V.E.): a technology demonstration The selection committee is made up of faculty spacecraft that extracts Oxygen from the from the Academic Affiliates, excluding the lunar regolith Space Grant Colleges. The effectiveness of ¥ Power From Space: research of possible the Fellowship program is continually solutions to the world's power requirements evaluated and modified at the semi-annual for next century consortium meetings. For example, a recent ¥ Various projects supporting the exploration modification is allowing institutions to utilize of Mars a Fellowship to aid in recruiting top students into their space-related graduate programs. 4.3 Fellowship and Scholarship Program Undergraduate Scholarship Implementation TSGCÕs graduate student fellowships and TSGC awards a $1,000 Scholarship to undergraduate student scholarships are designed encourage students at each of its Academic to recognize high-quality students at TSGC Institutions to pursue graduate studies in space institutions and encourage their further pursuit related subjects. Each fall TSGC announces of space-related careers. Since 1994 TSGC has and distributes the Undergraduate Scholarship awarded over $720,000 in fellowships and program for the following year. scholarships. Students receiving these awards Undergraduate students can either receive an perform research in space-related topics. application from their university Their disciplines range from Aerospace representative or download it from the TSGC Engineering to Neuroscience to Biomedical web site. Applications are submitted to the Engineering. university representative who is responsible for the entire selection process. Each The TSGC and member institutions have been representative then notifies the TSGC successful in achieving ethnic diversity and Program Office of its selection and details involving underrepresented groups in their local selection process. educational, research and outreach programs. The success of the TSGC program has 4.4 TOPEX/POSEIDION continued despite limitations imposed through the recent Hopwood vs. The State of Texas This program focuses on the development of decision that limited consideration of ethnic meaningful and useful learning materials for background and underrepresentation in the non-technical audiences based on the evaluation of student packages for admission, TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) spacecraft mission. scholarships, and fellowships. Since 1995 30% It promotes direct involvement by university of TSGCÕs Fellowship and Scholarship awards students in T/P research and helps to increase have been to minorities. This closely matches the public awareness and support of the the 31% minority enrollment in universities in Mission to Planet Earth. The program also the state of Texas. provides pre-service and in-service K-12 (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/grants/) teachers with T/P-based materials tied to their basic teaching goals that will assist them in Graduate Fellowship Implementation generating enthusiasm in their students about TSGC awards a $5,000 Fellowship to science, mathematics, and engineering. supplement a half-time equivalent appointment at his/her home institution. One aspect of this program was to design a Each fall TSGC announces and distributes the shallow water buoy-type instrumentation Fellowship program for the following platform that carries satellite ranging

9 equipment in order to better understand the 4.5 Careers in Engineering for Women bays in the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans. Teams of undergraduate and high school The goal of these summer workshops is to th th students received scholarships to design, strengthen the interest of 7 and 8 grade girls fabricate, and test a buoy capable of and their teachers in engineering fields. Each supporting and protecting a GPS (Global summer 48 girls and 16 teachers attend this Positioning System) receiver antenna and program conducted by the Women in measuring other ocean properties which are Engineering Program at The University of used to calibrate the T/P satellite. They also Texas at Austin. TSGC sponsors a session for had the opportunity to work side by side with the girls on what it is like to have a career in scientists from the University of Texas Center engineering. TSGC also sponsors sessions for for Space Research. In the words of one T/P the teachers on space flight and satellite participant: applications.

This is what I want to do later on in my 4.6 Community College Task Force life. Today, I'm getting a head start on learning how to use the equipment and In an effort to improve space-related what it is all about. educational programs in two-year institutions in the state of Texas, TSGC has established an (http://www.utexas.edu/tsgc/topex/buoy/) ongoing task force to address the following opportunities and issues:

¥ 82 Community College Systems in the state ¥ 450,000 community college students ¥ the current low level of funding per member institution ¥ how to include community colleges without diluting funding ¥ how to have a very low cost meaningful program at community colleges

This task force was initiated in 1992 and originally came to the conclusion that individual TSGC member institutions would Figure 2: Undergraduate students from the University involve Community Colleges when and if good of Texas and the University of Colorado Boulder and opportunities arose. In 1998 this task force High School students from the Galveston area testing was charged with reevaluating its original their designs for the T/P Calibration Experiment in position and will report to the BOD in the the Gulf of Mexico. spring and fall of 1999. Another aspect of the program is pre-service 4.7 Shuttle Photo Essays and in-service K-12 teacher workshops that provide space-related education. TSGC has The goal of this project is to develop conducted many workshops with the theme meaningful earth science presentations based ÒT/P Education and Classroom ActivitiesÓ. on handheld photographs taken from the Each workshop is structured to meet the needs space shuttle by astronauts. These Òphoto of its participants while maintaining common essaysÓ will be evaluated, edited, and integrated elements. At each workshop TSGC distributes into pre-service K-12 teacher classrooms. over 1,000 pages of T/P and other space- The final product will be posted on TSGCÕs related information, classroom-tested web site. activities, posters, CD ROMs, reproducible lectures, and many other items. Another aspect of this program was for (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/topex/) undergraduate students to develop conceptual

10 designs of systems to produce Earth imagery This was one of the best experiences in from the Space Station nadir pointing window. teacher education that I have ever had! I am leaving with a renewal of interest and 5. Outreach/Public Service Programs enthusiasm. I will be singing your praises for a long time. You did a great job and TSGC seeks to increase educational and career deserve a hearty ÒThank you!Ó I hope all opportunities in science, engineering and the science teachers in my district will mathematics for K-12 teachers and students, apply; I will be encouraging them to do including minorities and women. Through so! I have a workshop planned for these projects TSGCÕs major focus has been on sharing this information as soon as school teacher training. Since 1994 TSGC has starts. Thank You!!! (The photo op on conducted 187 Educational Outreach and Friday was super!) J General Public Projects involving almost one million people. These projects have had a total budget of $1.3M. Greater than 92% of these funds were provided by outside sources with less than 8% provided by TSGC.

National Public Service Priorities # Cntrb. Sec. Stimulate public interest in 44 5.1, aerospace sciences through informal 5.4 education partners 5.5 Provide information and activities 187 5.2, to increase public appreciation for 5.3, the benefits of NASA-sponsored 5.6 research Figure 3: LiftOff Summer Institute Teachers study space suite operations at NASA/JSC. 5.1 LiftOff Summer Institute The goal of these workshops is to enrich (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/liftoff/) teaching of math, science, and technology by providing teachers with information, ideas, 5.2 Fly High activities, and materials that can be used t o This program provides a unique academic augment the regular curriculum and shared with experience for High School students to colleagues. This ongoing program is organized successfully test, fly and assess a reduced- around an aerospace or space science theme gravity experiment during an eight-month drawn from the many research and engineering academic/flight experience. That experience programs of NASA. Past themes have includes scientific scholarship, hands-on test included International Space Station, Remote operations and education/public outreach Sensing Lunar Bases, and Space Biomedicine. activities. The LiftOff workshops have shown that the Fly High was initiated by TSGC in 1998 in excitement that teachers and students feel cooperation with NASA/JSC. Prior to their about space science and exploration can be flights, students work directly with a Team tapped to enrich math and science classes. In Mentor. A Team Mentor is a professional addition, the workshops provide teachers the NASA scientist or engineer who guides the rare and for some, unique, opportunity to students as they choose and learn to operate a spend a week working with professional zero-gravity experiment of their own design scientists and engineers involved in up-to-the or one made available by NASA. While at minute missions and projects that are not yet JSC, students attend pre-flight training well known to the public at large. In the words sessions, facilities tours, and astronauts' of one LiftOff participant: presentations, as well as fly with their experiments aboard the "K-bird."

11 In its inaugural Class of '98, Texas Fly High Force, a prototype project was defined and pilot program successfully flew teams of high implemented that incorporated airborne school students from Austin, Houston and the remote sensing technology and procedures. Clear Lake area. Their activities were reported by local television stations and newspapers, The project provided interactive flight and were featured in an article aired nationally experiment opportunities for three groups of on "CBS This Morning" by reporter Jose Diaz- students, a high school science class in Balart, who flew with the teams. Beaumont, university students from Lamar University, and a 4-H Club in the Corpus In 1999, Texas Fly High will fly 20 teams of Christi area. The focus of the project was students. Each Team Mentor will fly once airborne remote sensing of targets selected by with his or her student team, as will each the students and their teachers. Potential team's supervising teacher and team journalist. target focuses include, but are not limited to, studying Texas beach erosion, land usage in Texas Fly High is designed to give Texas high the transition zone between urban areas and school students one chance every two years to farms and ranches and pollution monitoring. fly aboard the KC-135A. In odd-numbered years, teams from Texas Education Agency 5.5 SpaceExplorers Regions I through X will participate. Students from Regions XI through XX will fly in even- SpaceExplorers is a series of workshops numbered years. sponsored by TSGC in cooperation with 4-H (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/flyhigh/) county extension agents. To date, two one- day workshops have been conducted with 5.3 To Rise From Earth approximately nine follow-up sessions. At the workshops Middle School Teachers who are To Rise From Earth was published by TSGC as interested in space were introduced to topics a scientifically accurate yet easy to understand including international space cooperation, life guide to space flight. Without the use of a sciences, remote sensing, microgravity, and single mathematical equation, this book orbital mechanics. The workshops were held describes how orbits work, what makes rockets in Austin, Texas and Edinburg, Texas on the fly, and how astronauts and satellites perform US-Mexico border. Additional workshops are space maneuvers. The book brings to life in being planned for other parts of the state. laymanÕs terms the space shuttle and what it (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/space/) does in space, the role of satellites in our daily lives, the excitement of the Apollo moon 5.6 GLOBE landings, how to stage interplanetary missions, and explains how the exploration of space The focus of the GLOBE program is to train benefits humanity. After two years of teachers (and for them to train their students) distributing the book at cost TSGC to conduct hands-on experiments that have commercialized its publication and distribution real scientific significance. They learn how through Facts on File. their local observations, together with those (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/to_rise/) of other students and scientists around the word, will assist in forming a detailed 5.4 SkyCap environmental picture of the globe. The goal of this project was to demonstrate TSGC has sponsored five GLOBE teacher- how airborne technology could be used t o training workshops hosted at UT Dallas. Over enhance our knowledge of our environment 160 teachers from across the southwest and resource utilization. To do this the participated in the sessions. SkyCap project pulled together diverse elements of the Texas community. By 6. Research Programs teaming participants in agriculture, aerospace, public education, academia, and the Civil Air Recognizing that TSGCÕs limited resources Patrol, the volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air preclude the funding of continued research

12 TSGC, has opted to utilize its research budget TexaSat-01 was initiated on the WSF-02 flight by providing seed grants. Since 1994 TSGC on September 7, 1995 and the TexaSat-02 was has sponsored over 200 such research efforts. accommodated on the WSF-03 flight of In some instances TSGC was extremely November 19, 1996. successful in assisting a new program to secure other outside funding. These projects have Seven University/Industry payloads were flown had a total budget of $5.9 M. Greater than in the TexaSat series of missions and resulted 94% of these funds were provided by outside in science and technology development in the sources with less than 6% provided by TSGC. space arena, training and education of students, and encouragement of industry to National Research Priorities # Cntrb. Sec. utilize the low earth orbit space environment. Provide resources to initiate 202 6.2, research programs. 6.4, The TexaSat program included 14 research 6.7 professionals, 18 students, 3 technical support Coordinate with other NASA 109 6.2, staff and over $850,000 of direct and in-kind programs. 6.3, support in the design, development, and 6.4 operations of the flight experiments. In Enhance opps. for faculty 81 6.1, addition, the access to space afforded by the partnerships with NASA 6.5, personnel. 6.7 Wake Shield Facility program represents an Establish mechanisms for 91 6.1, added $2.3 M contribution (under a $10,000/lb collaboration among industries 6.3, assumption for the Space Shuttle). universities, and NASA 6.4 Implement research linking 69 6.4, academic and industrial affiliates 6.6, 6.7 Identify and implement topical 66 6.1, research consortia. 6.2, 6.3

6.1 TexaSat TexaSat was a program developed at the University of Houston under the auspices of TSGC to give Texas universities and industries an opportunity for access to space for the development of space science and technology. This unique payload opportunity resulted from the allocation of excess real estate on the Figure 4: The Wake Shield Facility at the end of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) directly to TSGC Space Shuttle Manipulator payloads for flight on two separate WSF missions. The goals of the program were to: TexaSat Payloads: 1. Stimulate space science and technology at Global Positioning System Ð University of Texas universities Texas at Austin Center for Space Research, 2. Promote commercial utilization of space University Corporation for Atmospheric by Texas companies Research, JPL and AOA 3. Elevate the perception of Texas a as place DMS, Dual Mass Spectrometer - University from which to do business in space of Texas-Dallas, Lamar University, and 4. Provide an opportunity for University of Houston Space Vacuum smaller/minority Texas universities to Epitaxy Center develop space technology capacity by The Cosmic Dust and Orbital Debris teaming with space flight experienced Experiment Monitor - Baylor University universities and industry Space Science Laboratory

13 The Iowa Joint Experiment on Materials Solidification- Iowa State, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa Space Grant Consortium IST Solar Cell Exposure Experiment - International Stellar Technologies, Inc. and the University of Houston Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center Atomic Oxygen Processing - Ionwerks, Inc. and the University of Houston Spaced Vacuum Epitaxy Center Atomic Oxygen Concentrator - Ionwerks, Inc. and the University of Houston Spaced Vacuum Epitaxy Center

6.2 The Ultrasound Muscle Mass Measurement Technologies Program Figure 5: Ultrasound generated muscle volume measurement generated at the University of Texas The relationship of muscle atrophy and bone Medical Branch Galveson. demineralization is important to NASA Life Sciences oriented toward long duration space Bone Strength: flight. Muscle atrophy and bone strength loss At the University of Texas Southwestern is observed to continue without plateau or end Medical Center, Dallas, changes in bone in a micro-gravity environment. Bone loss strength were measured quantitatively for both closely follows muscle atrophy; the tension cortical and cancellous bone. These are from muscle acting on bone is important in structurally and biologically distinct tissues and the maintenance of bone integrity. a new ultrasound critical-angle reflectometry (UCR) technique was developed to study them Muscle: separately. Further information on the physics At the University of Texas Medical Branch, and application of the method can be gleaned heart left ventricular and skeletal muscle from the programÕs extensive world wide web volume measurement techniques were studied. site http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/bone/ Three-dimensional reconstructions were realized. Collection of data and resulting Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated with a quantitative results were animated, and an large, non-portable mechanical device. In a interactive virtual reality display was ground based study supported by NASA, UCR demonstrated. A web site communicates the was used to measure the response of the two results to academia, industry, and government. bone types to space flight. The study (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/muscle/) demonstrates profound differences in the absence of gravity on bone strength in the Several NASA proposals were submitted and lower, middle and upper skeleton. This peer reviews requested more clinical validation indicates that the technique would be useful in of the advanced technology. Present work is testing the effectiveness of countermeasures oriented toward the ground based clinical (pharmacological and physical) to avoid bone applications important to human medical care quality losses in space flight. on earth. The technologies will be waiting Òspin onÓ as opposed to the Òspin offÓ. There 6.3 Texas Regional Change Program is no assurance that earth based motivations will precede a micro-gravity requirement for The Texas Regional Change Program (TRCP) quantitative muscle atrophy measurement. is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional endeavor focused on establishing a remote sensing research cooperative program throughout the state of Texas consisting of University, NASA-JSC, State of Texas, and Industrial partners which is a cost effective

14 means for data acquisition and a competitive group for acquiring new research dollars. The During the second year, the TRCP is working TRCP was established in 1996 to facilitate the with students from Galveston Ball High school acquisition of high-resolution optical and located in Galveston, TX. Students from Ball synthetic aperture radar imagery along the High School will perform a GPS ground Texas coast. The TRCP program collects and verification campaign using the high- conducts the accompanying research required resolution optical imagery acquired over to analyze, verify, interpret, and understand Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. The the implications of remotely sensed data for vegetation mapping performed by Ball High studying environmental change in Texas. The students will coincide with other related field principle goal of the TRCP is to collect and trips. The vegetation information that they acquire remotely sensed imagery over portions record will be stored in an on-line database of the state which can be studied and analyzed maintained by UT-CSR and will be made as part of a collaborative program. available for public use. Curriculum is Collaborative work includes algorithm currently being developed for the high school development, ground verification, classroom which will help the teacher establishment of thematic datasets, and data introduce digital imagery to the students. processing techniques. (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/trcp/)

The focus of the remote sensing research is 6.4 Lunar Outpost Construction divided into 3 geographic areas: coastal regions, Rio Grande river/borderlands, and This program studied the properties of the agriculture areas. Due to the large amount of lunar regolith for the production of in-situ interest in the coastal area from many lunar construction materials. This program academic partners, state agencies, and NASA, was originally funded by TSGC and was the first year was focused on the Texas coast. continued into 1998 with funding from In June 1996, TRCP provided funding t o NASA/JSC. Undergraduate students, graduate acquire high resolution optical and radar students, and university professors at Prairie imagery over portions of the Texas coast. View A&M University, a federally designated These areas include optical imagery (CAMS) Historically Black College or University, over Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula, studied properties of the lunar regolith as a as well as both optical (CAMS) and synthetic source of raw materials for construction aperture radar imagery (AIRSAR) over the projects on the moon. This research project Corpus Christi/Aransas NWR area. In lead to more than ten senior projects, graduate addition, data will be collected at several research studies, technical papers, and locations along the Texas coast from an conference presentations. airborne hyperspectral sensor which is capable of collecting 21 bands of imagery sensitive to 6.5 Cooperative Space Research Program vegetative cover. To more directly address the national Research in the first year of the TRCP was priorities in research, in 1998 TSGC done primarily by the University of Texas established the Cooperative Space Research Bureau of Economic Geology and Center for Program (SRP). The purpose of this program Space Research and was focused on image is to stimulate institutional research that processing and classification of imagery in the supports Texas aerospace industries, foster Galveston and Corpus Christi areas. These participation of member industry and efforts have resulted in three publications, two academic organizations in TSGC research to the International Geosciences and Remote efforts, encourage collaborative research Sensing Symposium (IGARSS '97) and one to among TSGC members, and pursue long range the 1998 NASA JPL AIRSAR Workshop. research goals. Preference is given to The second year of research will focus on the proposals supporting collaborative research continued classification of the optical and SAR that is broadly related to the Human datasets, as well as establishing the digital Exploration and Development of Space NASA database. Strategic Enterprise. Awards are granted to

15 projects on an annual basis with a maximum program are to study the tether deployment two-year renewal eligibility. A total of using a tensiometer, video cameras and a GPS $150,000 per year has been allocated to this receiver on each section, and to provide a program with the maximum request set at platform for student experiments to be flown $50,000. Renewal requests are considered for on-orbit. Several high schools have joined the a maximum 50% of the original SRP grant project and will work with sensors for the funding the second year and 25% the third mission. Students in a rocketry and payloads year. Each proposal must include a class at Lamar University will mentor them. commitment letter from an industry partner Instruments to be flown include to commit matching cash funds of at least a accelerometers, magnetometers, solar UV one-to-one dollar ratio to the project. In-kind sensors, thermisters, and a sun sensor. Data matching is also encouraged but will not count will be downlinked over ham radio bands and toward the dollar-to-dollar cash matching an active web site will be maintained. Video requirement. data of the earth and its cloud cover will be (http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/srp/) provided periodically. Launch is expected in approximately two years. 6.6 Miniaturized Heat Pipes 7. Weaknesses and Solutions The objective of this project is to derive and demonstrate designs for flexible radiators fin The TSGC Board of Directors meets at least materials to be used in space. The project twice a year. At each meeting, with the input addresses both flexible miniature heat pipe of the TSGC staff and general membership, concepts for integration into the fins, and the the BOD evaluates the effectiveness of all thermal interface between the mini-heat pipes TSGC activities and makes appropriate and the interfacing loop heat pipe or fluid flow modifications. Three weaknesses that have tubes. New flexible materials, such as graphite been identified are listed below. fabrics, have sufficiently high thermal conductivity to be considered as space radiator 7.1 Industry Involvement fins for advanced applications. One important example is the proposed inflatable lunar or In the last five years TSGC programs have had Mars human transit habitat module. The various levels of success with involving Texas potential for use of these materials can be industry in its programs. To address this issue increased by incorporation of miniature heat (see section 6.5), TSGC initiated the pipes directly into the flexible materials to Cooperative Space Research Program (SRP). further enhance fin efficiency. TSGC and This program concentrates on research in Lockheed Martin fund this project. direct support of the Human Exploration and Development of Space NASA Strategic 6.7 Get-Away-Special Canister Enterprise by providing up to $50,000 of TSGC funds with a required minimum dollar Get-Away-Special Canister (GASCan) is a for dollar match from Texas industry. The NASA program that provides opportunity to project recently began its second round of fly small payloads in the Space Shuttle cargo requests for proposals. bay. Our GASCan program was initiated by a grant from TSGC to the University of Texas 7.2 Community College Involvement at Dallas and to Lamar University to fly a set of student experiments in a GASCan. As discussed in section 4.6, TSGC has not actively pursued ties with Community Colleges The program has evolved into the ASTOR except on an individual basis. In an effort to Satellite project which involves an ejectable improve these ties and increase the satellite that will be released from a GASCan in involvement of Community Colleges, TSGC the Shuttle bay. When the satellite is a safe has recommissioned a task force to address distance from the Shuttle, it will separate into this issue. The task force will report to the two parts connected by a tether of some 2.5 BOD in the spring and fall of 1999. km in length. The goals of the ASTOR

16 7.3 Documentation of Accomplishments The vast majority of TSGCÕs documentation is summarized on the world wide web. We are moving toward a much more web intensive documentation reporting system. We have found it necessary to maintain duplicate sets of documentation because it is extremely difficult to perform consortium management functions using the Consortium Management and Information System (CMIS). Although we have documentation to support all facts and figures quoted in this report, greater efforts must be made to increase the quality of program documentation that we are able to produce.

Closing Remarks

During the second five years of its operation, TSGC has impacted over one million people with fifty-eight projects that span the education continuum from kindergarten through faculty development. Overall, we have been successful in implementing a balanced program across the state. We have also been extremely successful in leveraging its relatively small program funding to a level of $17M, a ratio of almost eight to one. Two of our programs, LiftOff Summer Institute for Middle and Secondary School Teachers and NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, have been successful in extending their influence beyond the Texas borders by attracting participants from across the nation. We have been fortunate to attract the attention of many talented and dedicated people to participate in our programs. It is this group of people who are responsible for the ongoing success of the Texas Space Grant Consortium.

17 Texas Space Grant Consortium 1994-1998 Fact Sheet

National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program Investment: $2.2 M in FY 1999 Dollars $14.8 M in Matching Funds

Participants Accomplishments

36 Affiliates Nationwide Research 3 Space Grant Colleges 42 Programs 22 Universities $5.9 Million Funded Proposals

5 Business/Industry 4 State/Local Government Education

2 Other Affiliates 61 College and University Programs 24 Pre-college Programs $14.8 Million in Matching Funds $6.5 Million Funded Proposals

Public Service 38 Programs Other University 1 Million People Served Federal 51%

28% Texas Space Grant Affiliates

Canyon Industry

1% Lubbock Dallas/Ft Worth

Waco

Other, El Paso College Station Non-Federal Austin Beaumont Alpine 19% Houston

Galveston/ San Antonio League City

Student Awards: $707,000 awarded Kingsville 60 undergraduate scholarships

Edinburg 105 graduate fellowships

30.1% to underrepresented groups

38.1% to women

For More Information Contact:

Texas Space Grant Consortium 3925 West Braker Lane, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78759 800-248-8742 http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/tsgc/