Presentation Synopsis:
Kevin L. Simmons
Wolfpack CubeSat Development Team
Kevin L. Simmons is a professional educator, author, principal investigator and Congressional advocate. He founded BLUECUBE Aerospace, Inc., co-created the Aerospace and Innovation Academy, Inc. (AIA), and currently leads the Wolfpack CubeSat Development team (WCDT) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Simmons is Principal Investigator for two NASA-selected missions selected by NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) in 2017 and 2019. He led the first middle school team to launch a CubeSat on December 3rd, 2018 and his WCDT was the only K-12 entity selected nationwide by the 2019 CSLI. He is trained as a biochemist, and has worked in industry, military and academia. Simmons completed two years as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and four years as a senior policy analyst in the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Directorate. He serves in a leadership role in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Palm Coast section and as a member of the AIAA SmallSat Technical Committee. Simmons is the current president of the Florida Association for the Gifted, and Area Director for the Florida Association of Science Teachers, member of the inaugural Limitless Space Institute Educator Fellowship, and a 2023 NASA AAPT HEAT Physics Ambassador. Simmons recent national-level awards include the National Space Council Space Worker Hall of Fame, AIAA Foundation Educator Achievement Award, Dwyer Award for Excellence in STEM education, and Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University with Biochemistry and Chemistry degrees, and is a professional educator with a gifted endorsement and licensed to teach Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth/Space Science and 6th-12th Mathematics.
“Educational Benefits of PocketQubes in a Pre-College Setting”
The PocketQube is a picosatellite form factor denoted in multiples of' p', whose dimensions are in multiples of (5 cm)3, and is an emerging tool for both the validation of embedded components and microelectronics and as a valuable STEM education tool. Developed in the late 1990s, the (10cm)3 CubeSat is now the ubiquitous choice as the first satellite built by companies, nations, and even pre-college schools in the U.S. This disruptive form factor, along with lower cost access to launches, has led to the democratization of space. Today the costs range from ~$200K USD to ~$1M USD for 1U-3U spacecraft, respectively. PocketQube is a logical evolution in this miniaturization of space access. PocketQubes are the next logical advancement, reducing the base unit to a (5 cm)3, or 1p size. The smaller size enables an even lower cost to build and launch. First launched in 2013, PocketQube now represents an ideal means for training engineering and scientific students of all ages. Recent missions include the MakerSat-1, where a PocketQube was launched from the ISS to study how 3D-printed polymers degrade in the harsh space environment. Another mission was the EduSat, launched by the Italian Space Agency (ESA) to allow students to gain practical experience operating a small satellite. And lastly, to feature the Unicorn-1 mission where Alba Orbital, a PocketQube company, equipped a PocketQube with a miniaturized high-resolution camera to test the feasibility of its imaging capabilities. It was also equipped with the new radio frequency system to support the Internet of Things to demonstrate the ability for PocketQubes to be possible connectivity in space. Given these notable applications of PocketQubes, they could also serve as a cost-effective platform for increasing the Technology Readiness Level(TRL) of a small component. PocketQubes would be ideal for validating small components to increase their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) before integrating them into larger, more expensive spacecraft. Reducing overall mission costs while getting actual exposure to the launch conditions and space environment is unique and valuable. Leveraging their size and cost-effectiveness, as demonstrated in the EduSat mission, PocketQubes are not only poised to advance technology readiness in space but are also becoming pivotal assets in STEM education worldwide. PocketCubes are revolutionizing STEM education by providing hands-on learning opportunities and stimulating interest in STEM-related careers. Used worldwide in educational programs, they offer practical experiences in designing, building, testing, and understanding orbital mechanics, electronics, and data analysis, fostering excitement for space exploration. Building on the promising advancements and educational benefits of the PocketQube platform, the Greene School Aerospace Team (GSAT) and The Wolfpack are partnering to propel their understanding of miniature satellites even further. The GSAT is a novice in the world of small satellites; on the other hand, The Wolfpack is quite knowledgeable in this domain. Their first CubeSat was launched in 2018, their second CubeSat mission was in 2022, and recently, a Wolfpack member integrated their 3rd student payload mission for later this year. With credibility and expertise in the Satellite field, they will collaborate with the GSAT to perhaps someday command a PocketQube mission. In conclusion, PocketQubes are revolutionizing the Miniature space exploration field by being used as a more cost-efficient alternative to the already cost-effective CubeSat to use as a validation tool for miniature communication systems because of its low risk and high reward. PocketQubes also allows students to learn about PocketQube's orbital mechanics, electronics, and data analysis.
