The Spacer Pipeline: How Expanding Frontiers is Fueling the Future of Space Exploration
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On This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik embarked on a journey to uncover the groundbreaking work of Expanding Frontiers, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting STEM education and entrepreneurship in South Texas. Joined by the organization's Founder & CEO, Dr. Fredrick Jenet, the conversation delves into the heart of building a skilled workforce for the rapidly growing space industry.
Dr. Jenet's passion for space exploration and education is evident from the moment he begins his story. From his humble beginnings working in his father's butcher shop in Jamaica, Queens, to his studies at the prestigious MIT and Caltech, Dr. Jenet's journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the importance of giving back to one's community. "It was something that I got from my dad," he reflects, "the importance of giving back to the community and the fact that the community is, you know, that which supports you."
When Dr. Jenet arrived in Brownsville, Texas, to teach at the University of Texas, he was struck by the untapped potential of the region's students and the need for programs that could help them pursue careers in the space industry. "The community that I saw there was a community that really wanted to become better than it was," he explains. "They understood the value of education; they understood the value of working hard and making things happen."
One of the most exciting developments in South Texas' space industry has been the arrival of SpaceX, which has established a major presence in the region with its Boca Chica facility. Dr. Jenet's team at Expanding Frontiers was instrumental in setting up Stargate, the first building at the site, which served as a command and control center for the company's early operations. "Myself and my colleagues there, we were just in this great position where we could walk up to SpaceX and say, 'Hey, let's do a project together,'" Dr. Jenet recalls.
Expanding Frontiers offers a wide range of programs designed to inspire and empower the next generation of space entrepreneurs. For example, the Space Entrepreneur Summer Academy is a three-week crash course that introduces high school students to everything from Newton's laws to pitching venture capital firms. "It teaches or introduces students everything from Newton's laws to how to pitch a venture capital firm," Dr. Jenet explains. "So, you know, they're learning laws of gravity, and then they're also learning how to put together a pitch deck."
Another exciting initiative is the Space Settlement Design Tournament, which brings together 200 students for a weekend-long industry simulation where they design their own space settlements. "They break into teams of 50, and they have to put together a proposal for a space settlement," Dr. Jenet describes. "Basically, they got to learn how to do that, how to operate, and how to work together with people you've never known before."
For those looking to dive deeper into the technical aspects of space exploration, the Expanding Frontiers' Space Coders internship program offers the chance to work on coding projects for actual space companies. In contrast, the Tech Trek program provides aspiring entrepreneurs the guidance and resources they need to develop their space-related technologies. The organization's annual Space Tech Pitch Competition showcases the incredible talent and innovation coming out of South Texas, with startups presenting their ideas for leveraging NASA technology to solve real-world problems.
As the conversation turns to the future, Dr. Jenet shares Expanding Frontiers' bold vision for the space industry's growth in South Texas. The organization is working to establish a space innovation corridor stretching from Brownsville to Houston, connecting students and entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise of NASA's Johnson Space Center. "We have been working on this concept of an innovation corridor, a space innovation corridor from Brownsville to Houston," Dr. Jenet explains. "It's almost bookends to what could be a very interesting plan for how do we spur innovation in that entire region."
The passion and dedication of Dr. Jenet and his team at Expanding Frontiers are truly inspiring. Through their tireless efforts to promote STEM education and entrepreneurship, they are helping to build a diverse and skilled workforce that will drive the future of space exploration and innovation. As Rod Pyle notes, "It's really great that there's stuff like this out there. When I was of an age where this would have made sense, basically, it was NASA, the prime contractors, and big weapons makers, and the electric lab at my high school. That was kind of it."
To learn more about Expanding Frontiers and their incredible work in South Texas, be sure to listen to the full episode of This Week in Space. With fascinating insights from Dr. Fredrick Jenet and the engaging commentary of hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik, this conversation will leave you inspired and excited about the future of space education and entrepreneurship.
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