VIRTUAL AERONAUTICS EXPLORATION - What is it?

Virtual Aeronuatics Exploration, I know your asking what is that?

We all can not just hop into an airplane and test a wing, fire up one of NASA's many wind tunnel facilites, or talk to actual NASA Engineers and ask questions. We at the NASA Glenn LTP have combined some simulation tools created by NASA Engineers, with guidance from educators worldwide, to provide you an opportunity to conduct these experiments on your desktop. With a click of your mouse you can test Airfoils, ModelRockets, Fly Kites, Test Engines. You can ask questions and talk to NASA engineers via videoconferences called NASA Virtual Visits. Now with our next SIM you will have a 3D version of a BottleRocket SIM to test bottle rocket design and learn some rocket areodynamics. Having these tools at your finger tips allows you the feeling of actually being there testing the new wing designs or nose cones of future aeronautical and space vehicles.

How did we decide to do a Bottle Rocket SIM?

Our talks included discussions among the Glenn LTP group, NASA Glenn engineers, and teacher responses, these are some prime areas brainstormed for 3D visualization:

3D BaseballSim - All type of balls could be used.
3D Kites - design and fly in all types of conditions
3D Rockets - Model Rockets, Bottle Rockets, Stomp Rockets, Straw Rockets

We visited with COSI Toledo members to form a partnership with teachers in the northern Ohio area. We provided the ideas above for their comments on what would best help or what they could use as a tool in their curriculum.

We finalized our decision with Rockets. Rocketry is NASA Specific and by narrowing rocketry down to Bottle Rockets we can develop lessons and activities that can be experimented on in the computer 3D world and then performed live by building and launching their own Bottle Rocket.

The NASA Glenn LTP Phase I entry into Virtual Aeronautics will be a piece dealing with rocketry. The application will cover a brief history of rocketry, the aerodynamics of rockets, and then lessons, simulation, and activities to reinforce lessons. The next step will be up to Educators if they want to build the bottle rockets and test their findings.