Page 20 - Abacoa Community News - June '24

Page 20, Abacoa
science on tHe cutting edge

The program culminates in final presentations held in
Albuquerque, with participants also encouraged to attend
the Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah, in August.
The FAU UNP is spearheaded by Oscar M. Curet,
Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Ocean
and Mechanical Engineering and a member of FAU’s Yikes! Scientists Discover
Center of Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Fear Factor Behind Brain
(CA-AI); and George Sklivanitis, Ph.D., Schmidt
FAU Engineering Selected Research Associate Professor, a fellow of FAU’s Institute Plasticity – April 16
for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering
By NASA For University (I-SENSE), and a senior member of CA-AI. Curet’s in the future. Computer virus from a misspelled email sender?
Our brains remember frightening situations to keep us safe
research interests and expertise include fluid dynamics,
Nanosatellite Program biomimetics and biological locomotion, hydrodynamics Delete! That bite from a boot bug? Check those shoes.
of underwater vehicles and energy harvesting. Sklivanitis’
A CubeSat is among a research interest and expertise include autonomous radios,
class of research spacecraft ocean Internet of Things, networked AI and connected
called nanosatellites about robotics.
the size of a 4-inch cube The three students selected for the FAU UNP are Vitas
and typically weighing less Diktanas, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering with
than 5 pounds. a concentration in aerospace; Sky Rueff, an undergraduate
student in mechanical engineering; and Jonathan
By Gisele Galoustian | Mazurkiewicz, an undergraduate student in computer
4/17/2024 engineering.
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering The 2024 Mission Concept Program provides funding
and Computer Science is among eight university teams for all travel, including kickoff, final event, and in-person
in the United States selected to work with NASA and the reviews, allowing faculty and students to formulate
United States military to foster innovation and expertise teams without straining university resources. NASA
in the small satellite sector. uses CSLI as one if its ways to attract and retain students
NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) is partnering in science, technology, engineering and mathematics Neuroscientist Sathya Puthanveettil, Ph.D., joins postdoctoral
with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force for the 2024 disciplines. This strengthens NASA’s and the nation’s researcher Jenna Wingfield, Ph.D., in the lab. They led a
Mission Concept Program. A CubeSat is among a class of future workforce. The initiative promotes and develops group that discovered a new long noncoding RNA that directs
research spacecraft called nanosatellites about the size of a innovative technology partnerships among NASA, U.S. neurons to build connections during fear conditioning.
4-inch cube and typically weighing less than five pounds. industry and other sectors for the benefit of all.
Running from May through August, the University Guided by years of spacecraft development history, the A team led by neuroscientists at The Herbert Wertheim UF
Nanosatellite Program (UNP) will provide students with UNP structure is divided into four distinct phases: design Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology
systems engineering training for spacecraft development. and development; integration and test; environmental test; has discovered a key molecular player in fear conditioning.
The program is designed to refine small satellite project and mission operations. Successful completion of each It’s a specialized RNA with a memorable acronym, SLAMR.
proposals to increase students’ chances of sending their phase is accomplished through specific entrance and exit Their study found SLAMR must be present in adequate
technology into space. The partnership aims to prepare criteria and phases include various reviews and program quantities for neurons to build the complex connections
students to work in the space industry while simultaneously down-selects intended to help as many teams as possible required for fear conditioning. Their research appears in the
enhancing small satellite expertise among faculty at U.S. achieve successful mission operations. journal Nature Communications.
universities.
“We are incredibly excited and proud to have been Science On The Cutting Edge on page 21
selected to work with NASA and the U.S. military to help
revolutionize the space domain with tiny yet powerful
small satellite technology,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D.,
dean, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“Importantly, this initiative will offer participating
students invaluable systems engineering training specific
to spacecraft development and is part of NASA’s broader
strategy to engage and retain students in STEM fields to
build a robust pipeline of talent in the aerospace sector.”
The UNP teams met at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
in Florida for a four-day kickoff meeting in May, followed
by seven weeks at the Air Force’s University Nanosatellite
Program facilities in Albuquerque, N.M. During their time
in Albuquerque, three students from each team will intern
with the Space Dynamics Laboratory, receiving direct
mentorship and guidance from small satellite experts
to refine their proposals and enhance their project’s
viability for spaceflight under NASA’s CSLI or Air Force
nanosatellite launch opportunities.

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