Clarkson University’s popular Design of Aircraft Structures class continues this semester with two additional partners.
In past semesters, Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Craig Merrett has enlisted nearly a dozen aircraft museums across the United States and Canada to participate in the students’ group projects with each offering an aircraft from their collection for analysis.
This semester, the San Diego Air & Space Museum is virtually providing their Apollo 9 command module for the students to analyze in the context of the upcoming Artemis moon-landing missions.
The Apollo 9 spacecraft, nicknamed “Gumdrop” by its crew, due to its shape, resides in the museum’s rotunda, where visitors can get a close look at this piece of American space flight history.
“The San Diego Air & Space Museum is proud to support and partner with Clarkson University on this exciting project,” says Becky Gould, the museum’s education director. “Our mission to preserve, inspire, educate and celebrate achievements in aviation and space exploration technologies, innovations and accomplishments is a natural fit for Clarkson’s programs and curriculum.”
The National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, the class’s other new partner, is adding valuable new resources about the historical figures that the students have been studying.
“The mission of the National Aviation Hall of Fame is to honor the people who have dreamed, imagined and impacted aviation with their lives’ work,” says Amy Spowart, president and CEO. “We are thrilled that Dr. Merrett identified the value in combining the science of the field with the people who made it all happen. It is especially meaningful to recognize the remarkable influencers who, until recently, didn’t always get the elevated status they have so earned. It’s our honor to partner with Clarkson University for this fantastic program.”
Merrett is pleased to have both organizations on board.
“We’re excited to have San Diego Air & Space Museum, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame join us this semester for the aircraft structures project,” he says. “The addition of Apollo 9 allows the students to further study actual spacecraft and gain insight into the upcoming Artemis missions. The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a museum about people, and has graciously provided a number of resources to further my students’ understanding of the pioneering individuals that they are studying.”
The class, which started in January, continues until May, with in-person classes and virtual sessions with the museums and other partners.