Space School Africa (SSA) is an initiative from the South Africa-based National Youth Development Trust (NYDT), offering school- and college-age students from South Africa itself and wider in Africa, the opportunity to learn more about and experience aspects of the outer-atmospheric environment.
The SSA programme is centered around "design and fly" concepts with leadership development being a critical part of the programme - participation is mainly done in teams of six students. To develop such skills, every year participants are taken to a "survival boot camp" - in 2007, participants went to Tswaing, a meteorite crater.
The School conducts research projects where interns focus on science-based projects including the nature of the outer atmospheric (space) environment, astrobiology, human survival in space, space medicine, space law, aerospace engineering and the physics of space flight.
In the "design and fly" initiatives, mainly conducted at the camp, students design bottle rockets, cars and planes.
SSA students take part in several international competitions. Last year two SSA students won the group category of the NASA Aerospace Design Competition for High Schools.
Space School Africa has generated many initiatives:-
- it has created a database for research topics students may use to identify relevant research questions where the potential for contribution to science exists.
- Science Theatre "where science and culture meet". In 2007, students composed an astronomy song based on hip-hop music. This song is being released on DVD for educational purposes.
- The SSA's Emerging Scientists Programme focuses on career path development, and aerospace design is one area where training is provided to students.
- A development Olympiad (in partnership with the Astronomy Society of South Africa) for school students who live and go to school in disadvantaged school communities.
- Three students are nominated on an annual basis to attend an international Astronomy School, the International Astronomy Space Camp [IAYC] in Europe.
Students from outside Africa may participate on virtual basis as part of the SSA's Reciprocal Adoption Programme: schools form an academic partnership and do research together. School teachers and college/university lecturers also take part as team mentors or coaches.
The input of several corporate investors, government departments, academic institutions, organisations and sponsors make it possible for students from disadvantaged communities to participate in the programme.
A milestone for 2008 is the bi-annual International Africa Aerospace and Defence event. The 2nd AAD Science Competition will be held from September 17 to 21 2008. Early indications show that students from five other countries will participate on virtual basis in the rocketry and robotics events.
An FAI/CIAM World Cup Rocketry World Cup (The Africa Cup) will be held in South Africa for the first time.
Follow the links supplied above to find more about each topic.
