Connecticut has a very productive aerospace industry which is key to the economy of our state. IT is the backbone of our stat s manufacturing sector. There are over 250 establishments in the state s…

Connecticut has a very productive aerospace industry which is key to the economy of our state. IT is the backbone of our stat s manufacturing sector. There are over 250 establishments in the state s aerospace industry, and each aerospace job produces another 2.5 jobs in the state. The northeastern united states, sadly, does not have a NASA center. In the absence of such a center, the discovery museum would like to serve as a focal point and foundation for informal aerospace education. The discovery museum and planetarium proposes discover NASA to develop and inspire our pre-college population into becoming the workforce needed for this industry. Exhibits will flow from the study of aeronautics to high-altitude or near-space activities to rocketry and space exploration. Each will include NASA content and promote understanding of the past, present and future of space exploration. For students, the goal is to create an exciting experience combining virtual environments and actual science, including real-time control of balloon-launched satellite experiments using an upgraded challenger mission control. Such experiences will open students eyes to the wide array of careers available in aero- and space-related industries. For teachers, the goal is to use informal education to show them how to embed space science into their formal school curricula. The primary audience for this project consists of the students, parents and teachers of bridgeport, connecticut. The bridgeport public schools enroll a highly diverse, underserved population struggling with economic challenges and extremely low student achievement scores in stem subjects. The secondary audience includes students, parents and educators throughout southern new england. Partners in the project include the discovery museum and planetarium, the bridgeport public schools, the university of bridgeport and sacred heart university. The discovery museum also will receive support from many aerospace and stem-focused companies located throughout connecticut. The museum is perfectly and uniquely positioned at the nexus where the interests of informal science, private industry, higher education and public education converge. We can bring an array of methods and technologies to the implementation of a space science center for the northeast. Our approach is to leverage existing exhibits and assets while developing new ones to provide ten educational modules. These include cubesat, a mission operations center, high altitude ballooning, NASA-inspired planetarium shows and exhibits, a science technology incubator and exploration center for kids, rocketry and spacecraft development, robotics engineering, explorer research submarine, a wind tunnel, and astrobiology. This project is relevant to several NASA themes, and every module includes significant NASA content. For example, the robotics engineering module will focus on rovers and uavs, while the submarine module examines the science of exploring extreme environments, including space. NASA s objective for this NRA is to support NASA-inspired space, science, technology, engineering or mathematics (s-stem) informal education projects this project includes the development of ten modules in core areas of space science education, each including instructional materials and exhibits for k-12 students and professional development workshops and tools for teachers. Because of its modular design, the project aligns with the range of mission directorates mentioned in the NRA. The project s outcomes extend from the establishment of a comprehensive education center for space science in an underserved area. Kiosks, exhibits, out-of-school activities, workshops and professional development will connect k-12 students, parents and teachers with NASA curriculum, content and media. This will provide regional resources for improving both informal and formal stem education and occupational skill sets.