High-Level Project Summary
What exactly does it do?Our project mainly emphasizes on storytelling aspect of Parker Solar Probe's journey primarily targeting young audiences. The awe-inspiring journey of Parker Solar Probe towards the sun starting from the probe's design, associated technology, preconceived challenges about the mission, the preparations undertaken to overcome it, probe's launching, it's operation throughout the mission, the unexpected challenges it tackled, the spacecraft crossing the Alfvén surface and finally bringing home alot of crucial data related to Sun's corona and solar wind.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
What exactly does it do?
First, we prepared a story that completely describes the journey of Parker Solar Probe to the sun mainly focusing young audiences. We created model of the Probe, Sun, Earth, Venus and Mars using locally available materials like plastic balls, thread, bottle lid, super-glue, Aluminum foil, etc. We then shot a video that visually represents the story using our phone, properly edited it and added an interactive narration that explains the journey.
Our story that resides in the heart of our project is divided into five phases:
Phase-1 "The sun and its heel turn"
In this phase, we introduced the sun starting from it's basic facts to it's origin story and it's importance to us. Yet we also mentioned in what way the phenomena associated with it like solar wind disrupts our communication line, short circuit our sensitive satellite system and even cause power blackouts on the Earth's surface. The sun presented as an anti-hero in our story.
Phase-2 "With great power comes great responsibility"
This phase introduces the Parker Solar Probe as our main protagonist that will fulfil the long envisioned dream of humanity to reach at the proximity of the Sun. But this mission is not easy. Our probe must be well equipped with the best technology produced by some best scientific minds of this century to tackle the harsh challenges that exist in this journey.
We also discussed it's objectives also mentioning it's strengths (fastest manmade space object, manufacturing cost of nearly 1.5 billion USD with 6 decades long hurdles it faced to come at this point).
Phase-3 "Wingardium Leviosa"
We describes the solo journey of Parker Solar Probe to the sun, the unexpected challenges it faced and how it is keeping itself intact to the journey till now in this phase. We also discussed the non counter intuitive relation between heat and temperature and finally described the role of Earth's twin planet Venus's gravity assistance without which this journey wouldn't be possible.
Phase-4 "Touching the untouchable"
In this phase, we celebrate our probe's record breaking venture into the Corona after crossing the Alfvén surface. We also described about a previously little studied phenomena called switchbacks and it's implications as well as unsolved mysteries that is still fascinating the scientific communities.
Phase-5 "Into the future"
This phase shades light on the importance of studying solar phenomena and the significance of scientific endeavour in the progression of human thoughts, culture and way of life.
We also added the descriptive information about the whole mission through PowerPoint slides using the comprehensive data(measurements, images, videos, counter intuitive facts) provided by NASA and some space related journals(like Acta astronautica).
What benefits does it have?
Our project offers multidimensional benefits like we can use it in any place from the very urban to very remote areas to effectively teach young people and local communities about the scientific concepts and aware them about the importance of astronomical endeavours. We have used very cheap and easily accessible materials to develop tools that can boost the enthusiasm of young people from very marginalized communities to increase their knowledge and participation in STEM and related fields.
What do you hope to achieve?
Our project hopes to develop conceptual skills of students and general people to organize and assist science and astronomy related events in their local areas. It targets to use astronomy to stimulate young people to follow career in STEM and finally it hopes to reintroduce astronomy in school and high school curriculum which will emphasize more interactive teaching and learning processes.
What tools, coding languages, hardware and software did you use to develop your project?
We used CapCut video editing software to edit and synchronize the narration with the visual elements. We also used Microsoft PowerPoint software to prepare interactive slides to share in depth description of Parker Solar probe's journey incorporating NASA and other related space agency's data.
Space Agency Data
Space Agency Data:
We used the data of NASA through the resources it provided in our challenge panel. We learned so many counter intuitive facts about the sun and the fascinating phenomena associated with it. Data obtained from NASA and Johns Hopkins University Research Laboratory provided us with valuable information about the Parker Solar Probe( It's design, technological aspects, operation, preconceived challenges and findings).
This helped us to trace the difficult journey of Parker Solar Probe and develop a compelling story which is both simple and interactive.
For example we used NASA's data on Probe's heat shield to learn about it's composition, design and how it could keep the instrument in the probe at a comfortable temperature of 30°C. NASA's factual information also provided us the crisp grasp of the counter intuitive relation between heat and temperature.
Similarly, we used NASA's data to understand the jaw dropping concept of Venus Gravity Assistance that sits at the core of this mission. We were awe-inspired by such a beautiful concept and it's execution of the journey.
Furthermore, we used the data from space journal called Acta Astronautica to investigate in depth about the operation, control and unexpected challenges faced by the Parker Solar Probe throughout it's journey.
The story fictionalized some elements of the journey but alway kept the scientific truth in it's essence
Hackathon Journey
This hackathon journey was a new experience for each one of our team members. Even though we all come from scientific backgrounds we were unfamiliar with hackathons till now. As the old saying goes- better late than never, I think the knowledge, skills and memories we shared through this platform will stay with us for the rest our lives. We learned a lot about the importance and challenges associated with space explorations through the journey of Parker Solar Probe to the sun. Our approach was to develop a tool that can facilitate the teaching and learning of astronomical concepts using limited resources. We had a team with people coming from different scientific backgrounds and skillsets that helped us to divide the task conveniently design the project with clarity. Everyone from our team contributed their ideas to make this project a complete package. In short, our space app experience was excellent because it represents what we truly believe: transforming nation through development scientific education.
References
References:
•https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe
•http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/
•http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/index.php
•https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe
•https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/parker-solar-probe-offers-a-stunning-view-of-venus
•https://www.nasa.gov/magnetosphere
•https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/aurora-image-gallery/index.html
•https://www.nasa.gov/eclipsephotos
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