Providing Research Infrastructure in Space and Material Sciences (PRISMS) Year Two at SOCC

After a successful year one of PRISMS in collaboration with Dr. Michael Springer (now at SOU), year two saw continued success with our micrometeorite collection and asteroid detection groups, a slight pivot in our interplanetary modeling project, and the facilitation of an aeronautical engineering project to meet the learning goals of our participating students. In addition, we have fortified student and community interest through our robust K-12 and community outreach program.

Initial attempts with modeling interplanetary pick-up ions met a temporary impasse forcing a shift to the analysis of time-of-flight flux rates for various species. This has been more successful at engaging students and finding tangible results. This past year we began the design process to investigate the concept of the Energy Reclamation System (ERS) into a functional model. In the last year we successfully designed and 3-D printed our miniature model. We also completed a wiring diagram for our mini ERS as a 2 phased system from induced current to the rectification from AC to DC and to regulation. Our IASC team has made significant strides with our analysis and reporting of near-Earth object detections based on comparison of PAN-STARRS observations. Since May 2022, our team has had a total of 77 preliminary detections (and our first provisional detection) with 40 of those coming from our recent summer and fall 2023 campaigns. Our micrometeorite group has collected 30 potential candidates since beginning our project in earnest in 2022, and we now have access to a slide microscope nearly double the magnification of our original. This allows us to add an extra step in the analysis process and inspect a candidate's texture in much greater detail, enabling much more accuracy in our analysis. In addition to our student research, we have established connections with more than 60 educators in our local area either supplying resources or facilitating outreach events.