Students from the aerospace engineering department are taking their space interest to the next level. As the aerospace engineering program at The University of Alabama is commonly associated with only aeronautics, students have started a University chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.

According to the group’s website, SEDS “believes in a space-faring civilization and that focusing the enthusiasm of young people is the key to our future in space.”

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Students in the aerospace engineering department started a SEDS chapter at the University to foster cooperation and space interest across departments, project teams and majors. Dylan Stapp, president of SEDS and a junior majoring in aerospace engineering and astrophysics, began planning for the chapter with his CanSat teammates as they worked on building a satellite for the national CanSat competition.

“A big part of what we’re doing is to provide an outlet for all of the space-related project teams to network and resource with each other,” Stapp said. “We want to have a space day where project teams can showcase their space-related projects.”

The group also plans to have movie nights, a Yuri’s Day celebration, telescope nights and trips to the Marshall Space Flight Center and U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Eric McVay, vice president of SEDS and a junior majoring in aerospace and physics, said the club invites suggestions and participation from its members across campus.

“It’s more of a forum and less of a lecture,” McVay said. “We want everyone to be involved and not just show up to hear a guest speaker. We get enough of that in classes.”

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Stapp said an academic benefit of the club is that students from all disciplines can help each other with space-related projects, assignments and interests. He said his project team for CanSat needs help with robotics and electronics that could be found in students on other teams and in other colleges.

“No one is working together, so all that potential is just sitting there in its own group,” Stapp said. “We’re trying to get that where everybody can learn from it, and everybody can work together. To be a successful group, we’re going to need everyone, business and other majors too.”

The push for space interest is spearheaded by John Baker, the SEDS faculty advisor and department head of aerospace engineering. Baker is helping SEDS and aerospace students get the rest of the University involved in the celestial aspects of aerospace engineering, Stapp said.

“It’s called aerospace and not aeronautics because there is a space component, but on this campus there’s no way to know that because there’s nothing going on yet,” Stapp said.

The group’s current goal is to build a space community at the University, and the long-term goal is to promote space exploration and study throughout Tuscaloosa. The group is open to all UA students and community members outside of the school.

“If you’re interested in space, if you’re excited about space, or if you think you might be, come check us out,” McVay said.

For more information about joining the chapter and upcoming meetings, email Dylan Stapp at [email protected]. The first public meeting will be held Thursday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in 112 Hardaway Hall.

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