The Hunch Project

NASA Stennis Space Center has selected Gulfport High School to work with NASA engineers to plan, design, and model hardware for the Ares launch vehicle. The High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) project provides work world experiences to inspire career technology and engineer focused students to pursue careers in science, technology, or engineering fields. Students will collaborate with peers and NASA mentors via NASA's Digital Learning Network (DLN) videoconferencing and Skype-conferencing, and through on-site work. HUNCH teams will have access to a 3-D plotter for integration of parts and materials, and Siemens PLM Software's sponsorship will provide Solid Edge Software for 1 year at no cost.

The major responsibility of the HUNCH team will be CAD designers who will use computer-aided designs to draft working models of products that will meet the design parameters. One student will be selected as project manger that will ensure that all deadlines and duties are met. Additional responsibilities of team members will be marketing and public relations of the benefits of the HUNCH project. The marketing department will develop contacts with any necessary businesses outside the school, provide general research, and create a webpage on the progress of the project for the public and team members. The public relations department will be responsible for recording and documenting the HUNCH project, act as a spokesperson for the organization, co-ordinate special events with other schools, and prepare any necessary reports. Starting in January 2010 monthly reports along with necessary CAD drawings will be sent to NASA for review. Gulfport’s HUNCH team will develop a working 3-D model of their solution to the upper stage design of the ARES 1 rocket. The model will be used as a working table top prototype for engineers to use for discussion and review. A detailed presentation with accompanying multimedia displays will be given to the NASA engineers at Stennis Space Center in April 2010. The progression of the HUNCH program can be found at the HUNCH link on Gulfport High School’s web page at http://www.gulfporthighschool.com/.