Welcome to Civil Air Patrol Texas Wing – Aerospace Education Newsletter– Fall/Winter 2014

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All of your hard work in aerospace education has not gone unnoticed! The Texas Wing was awarded first place in the Southwest Region for the Aerospace Education Mission Award. It was presented to Major Vural September, 2014. In addition, the Texas Wing was awarded

second place at National for the same award and Col Cima accepted the award. The plaques read

“For Excellence in Aerospace Education and Outstanding Achievement in the Aerospace Mission Awards Program.”

The AE Mission Award identifies the best wing in aerospace education in each region. It is based on the Wing’s AE Activity Report and is evaluated on the four major AE mission areas:

staffing, internal programs, external programs, and the AE Plan of Action.

Excellence in Aerospace Education – Congratulations Texas Wing!

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Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)

Looking to enhance your rocketry program? TARC is an aerospace-specific national STEM competition. This is the 13th year and has reached over 60,000 students! This competition is a hands-on,

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project-based learning (PBL) challenge where teams of 3-10 cadets design, build, and fly a rocket working within the Challenge’s criteria and constraints. TARC gives cadets opportunities to apply their math, science, and social skills to a real wold project as well as discovering what aerospace

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engineers and skilled technical workers do and what it takes to become one of these professionals. For more information visit http://rocketcontest.org/ TARC on the Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3oxw3p5Hok

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Important AE News

Giant  Sunspot  Seen  The largest sunspot since November, 1990, is seen traveling across the front of the sun captured by the Solar Dynamic Observatory October 17-20. Labeled AR 12192, this active region on the sun became the largest active region in 24 years. It was so large, people observing the partial solar eclipse on October 23rd could see this region while viewing it through eclipse glasses. It is estimated to be almost 80,000 miles across.

NASA  Virtual  University  NVU provides online, free, professional development experiences for educator – including AEO’s – who wish to integrate NASA educational material in your learning environments. These courses are primarily self-directed with live components, including webinars facilitated by NASA Education Specialists. http://helixtraining.gtpe.gatech.edu/

Flying  with  Texas  

153,000 aerospace workers: The aerospace and aviation industry directly employs over 153,000 Texas workers at 1,300 establishments.

$80,958: The average annual salary for a Texan aerospace worker is $80,958.

15 active military bases: Texas is home to 15 active military bases with 250,874 personnel, registering a $150 billion impact on the state economy.

Educated workforce: From high school through graduate research programs, Texas educational institutions are creating the future of aerospace. Texas teaches aerospace technology in:

• 23 college and university-level aeronautical programs

• 36 public high schools offering aeronautical courses

• 13 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved aviation maintenance technology schools

Aerospace does business in Texas: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, L-3 and Bell Helicopter operate aerospace product manufacturing facilities; Southwest and American airlines maintain headquarters in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, and 14 aerospace companies perform defense contracts in Texas.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas ranks in the top three nationally in aerospace and aviation manufacturing in terms of capital investments, employees, value added per employee and value of shipments. In addition to product manufacturing, Texas also has deep talent pools in air transportation, aircraft maintenance, airport operation and flight training. Adapted from Texas Wide Open for Business https://texaswideopenforbusiness.com/industries/aerospace-aviation-defense

What’s Up? Skywatch

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January  5th  – Full Moon – this full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled near their camps.

January  20th  – New Moon –This is the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters.

February  3rd  –  Full Moon - the Moon will be directly opposite the Earth and Sun and will be fully illuminated. Native Americans call this the Full Snow Moon because the heaviset snows usually fell during this time of year.

February  6th  –  Jupiter at Opposition – The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be full illuminated by the Sun. A good pair of binoculars shoud be able to show you some of the details in the bands.

 

November    – Leonids Meteor Shower – This shower occurs every November as our world moves through space, crossing the orbital path of Comet Tempel-Tuttle – the parent comet of the Leonid meteor shower. The best time to watch is usually between the hours of midnight and dawn. The expected peak night is Nov 17-18. The moon will be a waning crescent so the moonlight will not jeopardize viewing. The shower will appear from the constellation Leo the Lion. December – We will be graced with another meteor shower, the Geminids. Your best bet to watch is on December 12-14 from mid-evening (21:00-22:00). The Geminid meteors are often bright and are considered plentiful with 50-100 per hour visible during the peak times.