During the second semester, students will follow one of four science based tracks – Space Science, Earth Science, UAVs, & Rockets. Students will design and execute a plan of their choice in each of the tracks. Below are possible projects within each track.

Space Science

1. Make a minute physics style video
2. Complete problem sets
3. Do video reflections
4. Build a model of space-time
5. Do an experiment in a vacuum
6. Take a picture of the moon
7. Do a photo essay of the lunar cycle
8. Complete a study of the sun
9. Complete a model of the solar system
10. Figure out a method for doing planetary imaging
11. Take a picture of a planet
12. Take a picture of a nebula
13. Take a picture of a globular cluster
14. Take a picture of an open cluster
15. Take a picture of another galaxy
16. Analyze the light for a star
17. Find an exoplanet using the light analysis from a star

Earth Science

1. Do a minute physics style video
2. Complete Problem sets
3. Do video reflections
4. Build a model of an earth system
5. Chemically analyze water
6. Complete a model of life on earth
7. Make a short film showing different earth ecosystems near San Diego
8. Complete a model of the different epochs of earth history
9. Do a microscopy study of life
10. Do a microscopy study of rocks
11. Use rocks/gems to make jewelry
12. Use wood, plants, etc to make a scent
13. Do aerial photography of an earth system
14. Launch a weather balloon to the upper atmosphere
15. Do an experiment on a weather balloon in the upper atmosphere
16. Make a film with the video footage of the weather balloon launch
17. Build a communications system for the balloon package

UAV

1. Do a minute physics style video
2. Complete problem sets
3. Do a video reflection
4. Build a UAV from a kit
5. Become a certified UAV pilot
6. Program the UAV with a flight path
7. Make a movie with Aerial Photography
8. Design a body for a UAV and have it manufactured
9. Design a gimbal for a UAV
10. Fly a UAV for other students who need video footage

Rocket

1. Do a minute physics style video
2. Complete problem sets
3. Do a video reflection
4. Build an air rocket as a study of the rocket body
5. Build a rocket from a kit to understand the rocket system
6. Scratch build a rocket, building the body, the chemical engine and launch it.
7. Design a rocket that can go to space and pitch it to a team building a this type of rocket
8. Make a movie of a rocket launch

During the first few weeks of the second semester, you will be responsible for creating a How To video on either Space Science, Earth Science, Rocketry or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The topics for the How To videos are listed below:

How To Video Topics

Astronomy/Astrophysics

1. How does a reflecting telescope work?
2. How does a refracting telescope work?
3. How does a GoTo telescope mount work?
4. How does sidereal motion work?
5. How does retrograde motion work?
6. How does the iOptron Skytracker work?
7. How do the eyepieces work?
8. How does an autoguider work?
9. How does gravitational lensing work?
10. How do atmospheric conditions impact deep space visibility?

Photography

1. How do digital cameras work?
2. How does f-stop work?
3. How do camera lenses and focal length work?
4. How does ISO work?
5. How does shutter speed work?
6. How does the skystacking software work?

Earth Science

1. How do microscopes work?
2. How do weather balloons work?
3. How does a GPS work?
4. How does the atmosphere work?
5. How does the magnetosphere work?
6. How does weather work?

Flight

1. How does flight work?
2. How do aerodynamics work?
3. How do roll, pitch and yaw work?

UAV

1. How do electric motors work?
2. How do quadcopter props work to create motion?
3. How do RC controllers work?
4. How do batteries work?
5. How does the drone “brain” work?

Rockets

1. How do rocket motors work?
2. How does combustion work?
3. How does rocket science work?
4. How does chemical energy power rockets?
5. How do orbital mechanics work?
6. How does a gravitational assist work?