Argus

Kyiv | Discovering Science Connections

Unexpected relations

High-Level Project Summary

We have developed a program that allows you to explore existing links between sciences and NASA capabilities, as well as to establish new connections. The program is a familiar and easy to use slot machine. Instead of symbols on its disks there are titles of sciences, NASA capabilities and result of synthesis from a science and a proper NASA capability. Our solution is distinct from others as the complex task is simplified to a game form. It is accessible to anyone, even to a child. The descriptive part of the program mentions many interesting facts from the history of space exploration, there are a lot of links to the NASA pages and other space agencies.

Link to Project "Demo"

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hpgUhbSMeHRdga-urHtKeY0bSQz8OI6L/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105633989807082873532&rtpof=true&sd=true

Link to Final Project

https://radutny.github.io/unexpected-relations/index.html

Detailed Project Description

Our program allows you to get acquainted with the existing interdisciplinary links and establish new ones in the form of a game. Using the program is very simple: it is a slot machine in essence. The control is performed by one button, which starts and stops the wheels rotation, and then returns them to their original position.

The titles of sciences are written on the first wheel. The second wheel contains capabilities that NASA can provide. On the third one - the results of combining science with the capabilities of NASA. A text appearing in the field under the wheels describes the result more detailed, containing links to other resources.

For example, if the first wheel shows "Materials Science" and the second "Weightlessness", the result will be "New Materials", and a detailed description of methods how to obtain new materials in weightlessness will appear in the text box.

The program contains not only descriptions of experiments that have already been performed, but also suggests experiments which could be performed.

According to some results, the authors of the program have no ideas, so the user is invited to think in this direction.

Now the program has about 50 pairing results. Authors are going to refine the program up to 150-200 results, to make a website and release a mobile application with multi-language interface.

The program is written in HTML and Javascript, being hosted at Github repository.

Space Agency Data

Information about SDO from sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov, James Webb telescope from www.jwst.nasa.gov, about Hubble from more pages of NASA site, description of the experiment with materials in open space from www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/MISSE.htm, about experiments with plants and microbes, about crystall growing on ICS from https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/crystal-clear-observing-crystal-growth-on-the-space-station-0 etc.

Hackathon Journey

We didn’t realize that these interdisciplinary connections are so important. The hackathon showed their importance and inspired us to create a software product that has good prospects.

During the work on the product, we learned a lot about space, about the programmes of NASA and other space agencies, about the already conducted and planned space experiments.