What is the China Youth Space Academy?

It is a cross-cultural educational experience that lets U.S. and Chinese students to work together and learn about space exploration and discovery.

Who are the organizers?

Arizona State University, the Chinese government-run Web site, China.com.cn, and Flying Spirit International Ad (Beijing) Co.

When did the China Youth Space Academy start?

It began with discussions between ASU and Chinese partners in early 2007. This is the first year for the project.

What's the idea behind the China Youth Space Academy?

The project grew out of joint collaborations between Arizona State University and several of its academic partners in China. At ASU, the person in charge is Jennie Si, Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. Si is also is director of ASU's China initiatives and special projects in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs.
 

The person overseeing the students' scientific activities is Philip Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences in the  School of Earth and Space Exploration in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He is the director of ASU's Mars Space Flight Facility and the designer of the THEMIS instrument on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft that the student teams will use to study Mars.

How were the Chinese students chosen?

Chinese high school students interested in competing registered to take an online test of their knowledge of space science and exploration. More than 12,000 students registered; the 40 semi-finalists from the online test traveled to Beijing for the  final round , Nov. 17-18, 2007. The 16 winners of that academic challenge are traveling to Arizona State University in January 2008.

How were the Nogales (Ariz.) High School students chosen?

Students from Nogales (Ariz.) High School were chosen because the China Youth Space Academy is designed to offer a cross-cultural learning experience with a group of U.S. high school students. The ASU Mars Education Program has worked with students from Nogales High School for many years, and they have demonstrated a strong interest in space exploration.

 
Students from Nogales High School have helped teach other students throughout the area about space exploration and science. In addition, Nogales students were selected to teach the Mars imaging to Sen. John McCain and then NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe during a visit to ASU.

What will the students be doing while at ASU?

Even before the U.S. and Chinese students meet in person, they have already begun, though online collaboration, to learn about Mars and its geological mysteries. When the students come together on campus, they will combine into teams and decide on Mars geological problems to solve.

 
The teams will then command the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, which is currently in orbit around the Red Planet, to take images and data to solve the problems. In the final step, the student teams will analyze their data and report on their findings, just as working scientists do.

What else will the students do while they are here?

Both groups of students will visit some of the schools and institutes at ASU to become familiar with the research and programs. They will also meet with professors and students engaged in the exploration of Earth, the solar system, and the universe.

 
To enhance the students' learning experience, while in Arizona they will go on field trips to the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, and Lowell Observatory.