239 The best aspect of this course was the hands-on experiments that didn’t come with any pre-lab or post-lab assignments. Students completed al their experiments in class and did not have to do any work outside of the classroom. The worst aspects of the course included the unclear lab guidelines, ineffective teaching assistants, and lengthy labs that students often had a difficult time completing. The course would improve if the students were provided with clearer lab instructions, effective teaching assistants and more structured lab experiments, in order to prevent the experiments from being rushed and not well-correlated with the subject matter. Prospective students should be prepared to use statistics and Microsoft Excel in the lab. Those who want to be successful should read the labs beforehand and pace themselves to complete them in the al otted three hours.

The professors were some of the best aspects of this course. Both were very approachable, engaging lecturers who were willing to explain the complex concepts and made the class more interesting with very concrete examples. Many of the students found the group projects difficult, which they believed was outside of the scope of the class. Suggestions included toning down or breaking up the project into smaller, easier to complete sections. Students also wanted more feedback on their homework, and more time to discuss some of the concepts in depth. Prospective students should know math, physics, and basic engineering to succeed in this course, and be prepared to spend a lot of time and effort on the group project.

Students in this course praised it for having a relaxed atmosphere and instructors who seemed both knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter. Students perceived various issues with the course. Many students disliked the course’s focus on group work with several students saying there was no way to hold people accountable if they failed to complete their assigned work. Other students thought the lectures, particularly the ones that centered on the organizational and administrative side of space exploration, could be boring. Suggestions for improvement centered on a sense among multiple students that group participation could be improved by making students’ assigned work groups smal er. Prospective students should know that students found the course had a reasonable workload; however, students warned that the course involves a good amount of group work and students that are saddled with group members who are not as productive may have to take on additional work in order to compensate for them.