SEDS Rice 2019 Update

Dear Friends of SEDS Rice,

I am proud to share SEDS Rice’s accomplishments for the 2019 year. In this timeframe, club membership grew from 5 to over 40 active members today. Additionally, the team had many accomplishments in both technical and non-technical fields.

In the beginning of 2019, SEDS began a proposal to develop the OwlSat CubeSat, Rice’s first student built nanosatellite designed to analyze the relationship between extreme ultraviolet radiation and satellite drag in Low Earth Orbit. The team entered the Astranis SEDS-Sat 2 national competition sponsored by Astranis, SEDS-USA, and NanoRacks to earn a flight on a launch vehicle. Out of 13 proposals submitted, the Rice University team placed 2nd and tied with the joint team from MIT, Tufts, and Northeastern. In the Fall of 2019, SEDS Rice improved the previous proposal and submitted it to the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative to earn a spot on a launch vehicle to space.

In April of 2019, SEDS Rice hosted the inaugural Owls in Space Symposium with keynote speaker Jim Bridenstine, the 13th NASA Administrator and Rice Alum. The Symposium aims to connect space industry professionals local to Houston with enthusiastic students to build lasting relationships. Over 200 students attended the Symposium which comprised of over 45 space professionals, 3 astronauts, and 11 aerospace companies.

SEDS Rice will be hosting the 2nd Owls in Space Symposium on February 22, 2020 with keynote Mark Geyer, the 12th Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Admission is free for all and the RSVP link is currently open on Eventbrite.

With increasing interest in the space industry, SEDS aims to expand its technical projects and events in the new year. SEDS intends to connect aerospace related fields across Rice in new and innovative ways.

SEDS Rice thanks all of our supporters and sponsors throughout the past year and hopes to continue these relationships throughout 2020. SEDS greatly thanks Dr. David Alexander and the Rice Space Institute team for supporting the program since its founding.

Start 2020 right by connecting with SEDS Rice. Thank you for all of your continued support.

Sincerely,
Ryan Udell
President, SEDS Rice

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *