Stimulating minority student retention with BalloonSAT projects
Authors: Austin Shermane A. , Johnson Leon P. , Flowers John M. 
Published: September 2007

This poster describes outcomes associated with the integration of a BalloonSAT project in Computer Science curriculum to stimulate minority student recruitment and retention.

BalloonSAT projects involve the launch of high-altitude helium-filled balloons with communications equipment, scientific sensors, and on-board computers coupled with ground-based tracking, retrieval, data archiving and analysis. The primary module include communication and tracking equipment - typically VHF or UHF radios with Terminal Node Controllers (TNCs) and GPS receivers to transmit balloon telemetry using APRS, a radio digital mode. The secondary modules (science payloads) may include flight computers and relay controllers integrated with sensors such as temperature, pressure and other data loggers, Geiger counters, CO2 monitors, digital or analog cameras, etc. Students typically design, solder, assemble, test the components and interface sensors with microcontrollers. The project has expanded to include monitoring of tropospheric ozone and students participated in NASA-based data validation teams.

A number of colleges embed BalloonSAT projects in interdisciplinary courses as well as capstone projects. We describe initial results of the impact of this project in the Computer Science curriculum of a small, urban primarily minority-serving institution. The project integrates electronics skills with computer science discipline areas and scientific investigation. The project is offered in a Special Projects Computer Science course supporting curriculum linkages in traditional areas including data communications, scientific programming, database systems, and digital logic design.

In the two years since the project has been implemented, approximately 30 students have participated in the special projects course with direct involvement in the BalloonSAT. Students are integrated into Special Topics courses based on the BalloonSAT project immediately following completion of sophomore-level Computer Science courses. Summer internship opportunities are also available and supported by external funding.

The project is intended to support and complement student performance in upper-level Computer Science courses and provide motivation towards attainment of the BS degree. The project also helped to broaden student understanding of potential career choices including graduate studies. Further proof of this lies in the fact that every eligible student chose to participate in external summer internships in primarily NASA-related areas.

Although the BalloonSAT course has special characteristics that are not generally exportable, it is worthwhile exploring the more generic features that appear to stimulate retention and degree completion. These include the early introduction of compelling applications with links to curriculum which are interdisciplinary in nature, foster teamwork and collaboration and provide students with a broader understanding of their potential roles in the science and engineering community.

The project is partially supported by several NASA grants including State Space Grant Consortia.