Welcome to the Bell Middle Vermicomposting Project website. To find out exactly what we are doing, click the ASSIGNMENTS tab to read the problem statement.
If you would like to contact the communications team, email us at: [email protected]
Daily Blog
5.27.15
Today was the final wrap up of our project. We finalized contingency plans and double checking measurements. This in turn came with packing up all of the materials so they would be ready to be shipped off. The CASIS film team came in to interview a few of us and look at what we're doing here. The engineering structures team are triple checking the boxes measurements and getting spare gortex and foam ready. The mechanical team is cutting back up lexan. Overall, all of the teams are getting spare parts ready in the event of a scrubbed missions.
Today was the final wrap up of our project. We finalized contingency plans and double checking measurements. This in turn came with packing up all of the materials so they would be ready to be shipped off. The CASIS film team came in to interview a few of us and look at what we're doing here. The engineering structures team are triple checking the boxes measurements and getting spare gortex and foam ready. The mechanical team is cutting back up lexan. Overall, all of the teams are getting spare parts ready in the event of a scrubbed missions.
5.20.15
Tonight we had a very successful showcase. All of the groups presented the work they have done since the beginning of the year. During this presentation we thanked all of the people who have helped us throughout this project. Everyone recapped all their hard work. Mrs. Atzmiller and Mr.Swift gave two heartfelt speeches at the end of the showcase about what this project meant to them and all the hard work they had seen everyone put in. At the end Mrs. Atzmiller and Mr. Swift gave out awards to who they felt has worked hard during this project.
Tonight we had a very successful showcase. All of the groups presented the work they have done since the beginning of the year. During this presentation we thanked all of the people who have helped us throughout this project. Everyone recapped all their hard work. Mrs. Atzmiller and Mr.Swift gave two heartfelt speeches at the end of the showcase about what this project meant to them and all the hard work they had seen everyone put in. At the end Mrs. Atzmiller and Mr. Swift gave out awards to who they felt has worked hard during this project.
5.12.15
The Communications group met today to discuss the Red Rocks Community College CASIS Launch Party. We set a plan for this date (June 19th, at 10 AM).
The Communications group met today to discuss the Red Rocks Community College CASIS Launch Party. We set a plan for this date (June 19th, at 10 AM).
2.20.15
The engineering and software teams are continuing to program, solder, and work out the bugs with the camera. Today, some mentors from Mines college came in to help them program and make sure that everything is ready for the ground test which we hope will happen within a month. In addition, they got a new camera with a wider lens that will take better photos.
The engineering and software teams are continuing to program, solder, and work out the bugs with the camera. Today, some mentors from Mines college came in to help them program and make sure that everything is ready for the ground test which we hope will happen within a month. In addition, they got a new camera with a wider lens that will take better photos.
On the biology side of things today, they started a 3 week cold stow test which will end on 3.12.15. Also, the software team started a 24 hour camera test with some of the bugs worked out (they hope).
2.19.15
The worms survived the temperature test but no pictures were taken. The moisture test showed great results, the worms were eating and composting and they all looked healthy. The sponge test showed that the hand wipe sponges didn't work. The worms went under the layers of sponge, only one worm survived, and they caused a lot of mold. The 24 hour camera test went well with some minor things they need to tweak; the camera only took 1 picture every 6 hours instead of 3 and the LED was on the whole time instead of only to take pictures.
The worms survived the temperature test but no pictures were taken. The moisture test showed great results, the worms were eating and composting and they all looked healthy. The sponge test showed that the hand wipe sponges didn't work. The worms went under the layers of sponge, only one worm survived, and they caused a lot of mold. The 24 hour camera test went well with some minor things they need to tweak; the camera only took 1 picture every 6 hours instead of 3 and the LED was on the whole time instead of only to take pictures.
2.18.15
Today, some of the biology team members set up 24 hour temperature, moisture, sponge, and photo tests. The results will be posted soon.
Today, some of the biology team members set up 24 hour temperature, moisture, sponge, and photo tests. The results will be posted soon.
1.14.15 - Keeping files organized
After many issues of handling and keeping track of CAD files, we have started 1 resource for the students to find the structure files they need. Click here for the link to the CASIS CAD site. This resource will be where the MOST CURRENT design will be located.
1.8.15 - Testing The Storage Compartment
Today the biology groups are working on many experiments. Some as Cold stow and Long term Cold stow with our CASIS worms. This will be a test for when the worms are being transported to the launch site and for when they launch. They also are testing different amounts of compost and soil in our box at launch for moisture levels. That brings us to also doing moisture tests with sponges to see how long the moisture will stay, in the worms habitat.
Today the biology groups are working on many experiments. Some as Cold stow and Long term Cold stow with our CASIS worms. This will be a test for when the worms are being transported to the launch site and for when they launch. They also are testing different amounts of compost and soil in our box at launch for moisture levels. That brings us to also doing moisture tests with sponges to see how long the moisture will stay, in the worms habitat.
1.7.15 - Software and Hardware
The hardware and software teams have been hard at work with the sensors and testing the code.
The hardware and software teams have been hard at work with the sensors and testing the code.
12. 2.14 - Christmas Parade
Today we confirmed that we are going to be participating in one of Golden's Christmas parades. We will be telling others about the work we are doing through walking in the parade. We also are encouraging the iSTEM students involved in the project to come and walk with us. There may be a video during Goldies which is about the parade.
Today we confirmed that we are going to be participating in one of Golden's Christmas parades. We will be telling others about the work we are doing through walking in the parade. We also are encouraging the iSTEM students involved in the project to come and walk with us. There may be a video during Goldies which is about the parade.
11.18.14 - LAUNCH DATE CHANGED
Some important news has been passed onto the CASIS teams. The set launch date of April 6th, 2015, has been changed. Then new launch date is now set for sometime in June. The exact date is not yet determined. As far as we know, the teams will continue to work through April on safety reviews which will also be starting earlier around January and February. The teams are aware that the launch date may be changed again and could be earlier than June.
Some important news has been passed onto the CASIS teams. The set launch date of April 6th, 2015, has been changed. Then new launch date is now set for sometime in June. The exact date is not yet determined. As far as we know, the teams will continue to work through April on safety reviews which will also be starting earlier around January and February. The teams are aware that the launch date may be changed again and could be earlier than June.
11.14.14 - CDR Presentation
11.10.14 - Creating Presentation
Today the teams had an interesting day. We were all in the Engineering room, but we still worked on normal classwork and CASIS. The people in the picture below are a couple of students that are working on our presentation for later in the week. They are working so hard and they are doing a great job for the whole iSTEM team.
Today the teams had an interesting day. We were all in the Engineering room, but we still worked on normal classwork and CASIS. The people in the picture below are a couple of students that are working on our presentation for later in the week. They are working so hard and they are doing a great job for the whole iSTEM team.
11.5.14 - 3D Printed Prototype
Today the Engineering teams finalized their most recent prototype. They 3D printed it on our very own 3D printer in our Engineering classroom.
Today the Engineering teams finalized their most recent prototype. They 3D printed it on our very own 3D printer in our Engineering classroom.
11.4.14 - Testing Agar Continued
Today the Biology teams continued their Agar experiment. They created more Agar and continued the tests of with worms and not, for vibration.
Today the Biology teams continued their Agar experiment. They created more Agar and continued the tests of with worms and not, for vibration.
11.3.14 - Testing Agar
Today the Biology Compost team worked with Agar. They used the Agar to test with vibration. They did this experiment with and without worms. They also did this to test if the Agar would stay in tact under the vibration.
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10.31.14 - Mission Patch
Here is the final mission patch design from the Art Group. Please click on the link link to download a .png or .jpg of artwork.
Today the Biology Compost team worked with Agar. They used the Agar to test with vibration. They did this experiment with and without worms. They also did this to test if the Agar would stay in tact under the vibration.
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10.31.14 - Mission Patch
Here is the final mission patch design from the Art Group. Please click on the link link to download a .png or .jpg of artwork.
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10/29/14
Today the biology teams worked with a mentor from the school of Mines. The engineering teams also worked with a mentor from the school of mines. Most of today was used to plan experiments. With the aftermath of the crashed rocket last night we had to face the possibility that the same could happen to our rocket seeing as there were CASIS experiments on that flight.
10/29/14
Today the biology teams worked with a mentor from the school of Mines. The engineering teams also worked with a mentor from the school of mines. Most of today was used to plan experiments. With the aftermath of the crashed rocket last night we had to face the possibility that the same could happen to our rocket seeing as there were CASIS experiments on that flight.
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10/28/14
Today the teams worked to finish the designs and plans for the box that we will be sending the worms up in.
10/28/14
Today the teams worked to finish the designs and plans for the box that we will be sending the worms up in.
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10/24/14
This is the first image that the software team was able to get with the camera that will be in the box. There are still a few things to work through with the focusing and zoom issues. However, it was a successful day!
10/24/14
This is the first image that the software team was able to get with the camera that will be in the box. There are still a few things to work through with the focusing and zoom issues. However, it was a successful day!
10/13/14
Today, our CASIS teams are in the middle of finalizing their material lists and experimental procedures
Today, our CASIS teams are in the middle of finalizing their material lists and experimental procedures
10/7/14
Welcome to our first blog post. Today we had a team leader meeting. The leaders discussed what each group is doing and took notes on the status of the project.
Welcome to our first blog post. Today we had a team leader meeting. The leaders discussed what each group is doing and took notes on the status of the project.