JSRI space design competitions: Education and outreach for emerging space countries

Abstract

As countries around the world are racing towards realizing the common dream of humans creating long-term habitats in space, emerging space countries like Jordan, with no established space agency, are struggling to participate in the development of research and projects in the field. Additionally, due to the deteriorating economical situation in Jordan, students now seek professions with higher market demands and payment rates to ensure a safe career path. This led Jordanian students to overlook emerging fields of study like space. From here arises the need to conduct proper outreach to spread awareness on space research and its benefits, and to incorporate space studies in the Jordanian educational system in order to build a strong base of human resources in the field. Since Jordan is lacking in both educational and theoretical, as well as professional and practical sides, students mostly turn to completing their studies and gaining professional experience in the space field abroad. Therefore, before establishing Jordanian-targeted education programs and initiatives for space studies, there is the need for the establishment of local space institutes, projects, and programs which ensure that students will have access to training programs and practical experience as well as securing future job opportunities, thereby making space careers a viable option. In 2020, under the Moon Village Association's Participation of Emerging Space Countries program, a roadmap for Jordan’s contribution to lunar exploration and the Jordan Space Research Initiative (JSRI) were created. This 20-year roadmap focuses on establishing an analog R&D facility in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert, aiming to support the emerging space field in Jordan, while contributing to its national priorities and sustainable development goals. Beginning with the outreach element to foster space education, JSRI launched two space design competitions in 2021 to engage students and professionals interested in the field. These competitions allowed the participants to learn about spacesuit and rover design, as well as develop their own prototypes in a hands-on educational exercise. By providing funding and expert support, JSRI ensured that a diverse group of Jordanians was able to participate, regardless of their backgrounds. This approach proved to be successful in enabling the participation of various segments of the Jordanian society, and has shown that people with a passion for space can thrive through educational initiatives such as these competitions. Building on this success, future partnerships and educational initiatives are being established, aiding in the formation of a space network in Jordan