KidSat Project Files, 1991-1996 (RSS 2303)

Extent: 2 Linear feet (5 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder)

The KidSat Project was sponsored by NASA in partnership with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), UC San Diego (UCSD), and the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Academic Advancement of Youth (IAAY). The program enabled K-12 educators and students to participate in the space program. The records include organizational proposals, policies, and agendas, meeting minutes, hardware and software control documents and manuals, mission procedure manuals and reports.

KidSat began in 1995 as a collaborative three-year pilot project. It was funded by NASA and managed by the California Space Institute at UC San Diego, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, and the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Academic Advancement of Youth (IAAY). The purpose of the project was to revitalize the K-12 public school curriculum by providing K-12 students an opportunity to participate in shuttle missions. Middle School students through the School Mission Operation Centers (SMOC) were able to direct a camera onboard the shuttle through the use of computers linked to the internet and to Johnson Space Control in Houston, TX. Use of the camera required students to become familiar with navigational plotting, computers applications, and working in teams. As part of the project, a Mission Control Gateway Center was established on the first floor of the Chemistry Research Building near Thurgood Marshall College. UC San Diego student responsibilities included managing communication with Johnson Space Center and the SMOC sites, software monitoring, and overall team coordination. Sally Ride served as an advisor, overseeing the progress of several student teams.

The first KidSat Shuttle Payload (STS-76) occurred in 1996. Three middle schools participated in the mission, capturing several hundred photographs.

In 2001, the KidSat program was renamed ISS EarthKAM (formerly known as EarthKAM) corresponding to the move of operations to the International Space Station. In 2013, the program was again renamed to Sally Ride EarthKAM, in honor of Sally Ride who passed away in 2012.

The KidSat Project was sponsored by NASA in partnership with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), UC San Diego (UCSD), and the John Hopkins University Institute for Academic Advancement of Youth (IAAY). The program enabled K-12 educators and students to participate in the space program. The records include organizational proposals, policies, and agendas, meeting minutes, hardware and software control documents and manuals, mission procedure manuals and reports.

Arranged in 4 series: 1) ADMINISTRATION, 2) HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, 3) MANUALS, and 4) REPORTS.

Container List

ADMINISTRATION

Scope and Contents of Series

Series 1) ADMINISTRATION: Documents the management of the KidSat project. Includes meeting minutes, proposals, policies, and reports. Arranged alphabetically.

Administrative Files

Box 1 Folder 1
Construction documents for Chemistry Research Building Rooms 113 and 114, 1995
Oversize MC-149-08
Construction documents for Chemistry Research Building Rooms 113 and 114 - Floor plans, 1996
Box 1 Folder 2
KidSat meeting minutes, 1994-1995
Box 1 Folder 3
KidSat proposal to NASA, 1994 December

Includes description of the requirements to support KidSat Remote School Sites.

Box 1 Folder 4
KidSat UCSD Mission Operations presentation, undated
Box 1 Folder 5
McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. Space Station Division - Acronyms and abbreviations, 1994
Box 1 Folder 6
NASA - Payload Integration Plan: Space Shuttle Program and the KidSat Payload, 1995
Box 1 Folder 7
Policies, procedures, and requirements for KidSat missions, 1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 8
Publicity materials, 1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 9
Request for flight assignment on STS-76, 1995
Box 1 Folder 10
Security policy and memorandum, 1995
Box 1 Folder 11
Space Communications - Lectures by Ron Henry, 1995
Box 1 Folder 12
Status reports, 1994-1995

Teams

Box 1 Folder 13
Command and Data Team, 1995
Box 1 Folder 14
Management Team, 1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 15
Student Mission Operations Center (SMOC) Team, 1995
Box 1 Folder 16
Student Mission Operations Center (SMOC) Team - Workshop, 1995

KidSat Critical Design Review

Box 1 Folder 17
Cargo Integration Review (STS-76), 1995 July
Box 2 Folder 1
Critical Design Review Team meeting - Mission overview, 1995 May

Elements

Box 2 Folder 2
Data Systems Element, 1995 August
Box 2 Folder 3
Education Element, 1995
Box 2 Folder 4
Education Element - John Hopkins University Institute for the Academic Advancement of Youth, 1996
Box 2 Folder 5
Space Element, 1995 September
Box 2 Folder 6
KidSat Mission Operations Critical Design Review Data Package, 1995 September

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Scope and Contents of Series

Series 2) HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE: Includes equipment and program specifications. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 2 Folder 7
Audiovisual equipment list, undated
Box 2 Folder 8
Circuit diagrams, 1996
Box 2 Folder 9
Electronic Still Camr-II (ESC-II), undated
Box 2 Folder 10
Flight Software (FSW) - Command format specifications, 1995
Box 2 Folder 11
IBM Thinkpad 755C - Hardware specifications, 1995
Box 2 Folder 12
KidSat Mission Control Gateway at UCSD - Generated Annotations (GA) format software specifications, 1996
Box 2 Folder 13-14
KidSat Mission Control Gateway at UCSD - Systems Operations software information, 1996

Mission Scenario Software - Function Definitions and Interface Control Documents

Box 3 Folder 1
KidSat Mission Control Gateway at UCSD, 1995
Box 3 Folder 2
School Mission Operations Center (SMOC), 1995

Includes annotated drafts.

Box 3 Folder 3
Space Shuttle Orbiter, 1995
Box 3 Folder 4
NASA High Resolution Digital Still Camera - Acceptance Test Plan, 1994 November
Box 3 Folder 5
NASA High Resolution Digital Still Camera - Manual, 1995
Box 3 Folder 6
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) - Hardware specifications, 1993-1994
Box 3 Folder 7
Routers - Hardware specifications, 1995 March
Box 3 Folder 8
Shuttle Color Television Camera - Training handout, 1995

MANUALS

Scope and Contents of Series

Series 3) MANUALS: Arranged alphabetically.

KidSat Mission Control Gateway at UCSD

Box 3 Folder 9
Chief Procedure Manual, 1996
Box 3 Folder 10
Communications - Procedure manual, 1996
Box 3 Folder 11
Communications requirements, 1996
Box 3 Folder 12
Environment Monitor (CLOUD) - Procedure manual, 1996
Box 3 Folder 13
Jet Propulsion Laboratory - KidSat Function Requirement Document (FRD), 1995 June
Box 4 Folder 1
KidSat Voice Interaction System (K-VIS) - Final review packet, 1995 December
Box 4 Folder 2
Mission Control Gateway Operations Manual, 1995
Box 4 Folder 3
Mission Operations Scheduler (MOoS) - Procedure manual, 1996
Box 4 Folder 4
Orbit Propagator - Procedure manual, 1996
Box 4 Folder 5
Payload Monitor - Procedure manual, 1996
Box 4 Folder 6
Shuttle Monitor, STS-76 - Log book and procedures, 1996

NASA

Box 4 Folder 7
A Guide to Capabilities Provided by the NASA Office of Space Communications (OSC), 1993 December
Box 4 Folder 8
Johnson Space Center KidSat Representatives Procedure Manual, 1996

NASA Mission Operations Directorate

Box 4 Folder 9
Ku-Band Operations 2102 Training Manual, 1992 April
Box 4 Folder 10
Operations Division - Flight Plan, STS-76, 1996 February
Box 4 Folder 11
Operations Division - Joint Operations Interface Procedures, STS-76, 1996 February
Box 4 Folder 12
Phase I overview, 1994
Box 5 Folder 1
Systems Division. Photo / TV Checklist, STS-76 Flight Supplement, 1995 November
Box 5 Folder 2
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System Training Manual (TDRSS 2102A), 1991 April

REPORTS

Scope and Contents of Series

Series 3) REPORTS: Arranged alphabetically.

KidSat Mission Control Gateway at UCSD

Box 5 Folder 3
Chief's Log, undated
Box 5 Folder 4
Communications - Log books, 1996
Box 5 Folder 5
Environment Monitor (CLOUD) - Log book, 1996
Box 5 Folder 6
Mission Control Gateway - Log book, 1996
Box 5 Folder 7
Mission Operations Scheduler (MOoS) - Log book, 1996
Box 5 Folder 8
Orbit Propagator - Log book, 1996
Box 5 Folder 9
Payload Monitor - Log books, 1996
Box 5 Folder 10
Shuttle Monitor, STS-76 - Log book, 1996

Student Mission Operation Centers (SMOC)

Box 5 Folder 11
Review Item Disposition reports, 1995
Box 5 Folder 12
School Coordinator - Log book, 1996
Box 5 Folder 13
Simulation questionnaire responses, 1996