Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation (DASEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting aerospace education in the State of Delaware
. DASEF educates students of all ages in the areas of math, science, technology, and aerospace through the use of academies, presentations, symposia, professional development, and the Innovation Technology Exploration Center (ITEC).
DASEF's programs are supported by many partners that include Delaware's institutions of higher learning, Delaware Space Grant Consortium, Delaware Air National Guard
, Dover Air Force Base
, Department of Transportation, Delaware Parks and Recreation
, corporate sponsors, and the Civil Air Patrol
.
is located in Smyrna, Delaware
, shared with Big Oak County Park. Construction began in 2003 in four phases. The Environmental Outpost was completed first. It hosts Mountjoy observatory , the second-largest telescope
in the State of Delaware. Currently, the rest of ITEC is still under construction. The building is LEED certified through its implementation of solar panels and other energy efficient technologies. ITEC hosts the bi-annual Family Day for the public to enjoy.
. Programs are staggered from late-June to mid-July. Destinations Ocean and Dinosaur, the newest programs, are day camps held at the Environmental Outpost in [Smyrma, Delaware]. Destinations Sky & Beyond, Space, Flight and Orbit are day camps held in June at the University of Delaware. Destinations Moon and Mars, overnight camps at the University of Delaware, present older cadets with additional challenges regarding aerospace topics. Similar to those in the military, all students are called "cadets." Each academy is structured with four wings, composed of 10 cadets per wing.
Common activities include trips to Dover Air Force Base
and launching model rockets.
into a mock Space Shuttle
orbiter vehicle. The vehicle has realistic tail and wings that extend for student simulation and retract for transportation on public highways.
launch at Cape Henlopen State Park
. Rockets range from water rocket
s to model rockets to high-power rocketry.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to promoting aerospace education in the State of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. DASEF educates students of all ages in the areas of math, science, technology, and aerospace through the use of academies, presentations, symposia, professional development, and the Innovation Technology Exploration Center (ITEC).
History
DASEF was founded in 1989 by its President and CEO Dr. Stephanie M.G. Wright. DASEF first began with Destination Orbit, and quickly expanded to its current 8 academies. Originally, Destinations Orbit, Moon, and Mars were named as Level I, II, and III respectively. In addition, Destinations Sky & Beyond and Space were half day academies.Mission
The DASEF mission isDASEF's programs are supported by many partners that include Delaware's institutions of higher learning, Delaware Space Grant Consortium, Delaware Air National Guard
Delaware Air National Guard
The Delaware Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is, along with the Delaware Army National Guard, an element of the Delaware National Guard...
, Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
, Department of Transportation, Delaware Parks and Recreation
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control of the state of Delaware is the primary body concerned with the governance of public land, natural resources, and environmental regulations for the state. DNREC is composed of several Divisions that have correlates in other U.S...
, corporate sponsors, and the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
.
Innovation Technology Exploration Center
The 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) ITEC site in northern Kent CountyKent County, Delaware
Kent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
is located in Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, shared with Big Oak County Park. Construction began in 2003 in four phases. The Environmental Outpost was completed first. It hosts Mountjoy observatory , the second-largest telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
in the State of Delaware. Currently, the rest of ITEC is still under construction. The building is LEED certified through its implementation of solar panels and other energy efficient technologies. ITEC hosts the bi-annual Family Day for the public to enjoy.
Programs
DASEF hosts programs open to the public for the Delaware valley citizens. Most notably, the Delaware Aerospace Academy, Launching a Dream, and Rockets for Delaware programs instruct the general public with a great appreciation of aeronautics.Delaware Aerospace Academy
The Delaware Aerospace Academy (DAA) is a week-long academy for students entering 1st through 10th grade. The academy comprises eight full-day and overnight programs, called "Destinations," held at the Environmental Outpost or the University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
. Programs are staggered from late-June to mid-July. Destinations Ocean and Dinosaur, the newest programs, are day camps held at the Environmental Outpost in [Smyrma, Delaware]. Destinations Sky & Beyond, Space, Flight and Orbit are day camps held in June at the University of Delaware. Destinations Moon and Mars, overnight camps at the University of Delaware, present older cadets with additional challenges regarding aerospace topics. Similar to those in the military, all students are called "cadets." Each academy is structured with four wings, composed of 10 cadets per wing.
Common activities include trips to Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
and launching model rockets.
| Destination | Grade | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Destination Ocean | Entering 1st or 2nd grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Dinosaur | Entering 2nd or 3rd grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Sky and Beyond | Entering 3rd or 4th grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Space | Entering 4th or 5th grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Flight | Entering 5th or 6th grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Orbit | Entering 6th to 8th grade | Full Day Academy |
| Destination Moon | Entering 7th to 9th grade | Overnight Academy |
| Destination Mars | Entering 8th to 10th grade | Overnight Academy |
Launching a Dream
Launching a Dream is an annual program for elementary school students to learn about space. Most notably, this program features a converted school busSchool bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
into a mock Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
orbiter vehicle. The vehicle has realistic tail and wings that extend for student simulation and retract for transportation on public highways.
Rockets for Delaware
Rockets for Delaware is an annual May model rocketModel rocket
A model rocket is a small rocket that is commonly advertised as being able to be launched by anybody, to, in general, low altitudes and recovered by a variety of means....
launch at Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park is a Delaware state park on on Cape Henlopen in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. William Penn made the beaches of Cape Henlopen one of the first public lands established in what has become the United States in 1682 with the declaration that Cape Henlopen...
. Rockets range from water rocket
Water rocket
A water rocket is a type of model rocket using water as its reaction mass. The pressure vessel—the engine of the rocket—is usually a used plastic soft drink bottle. The water is forced out by a pressurized gas, typically compressed air...
s to model rockets to high-power rocketry.