Abstract
The 3D Printed Magnetosphere Project is a collaboration between
Aurorasaurus and the NASA STEAM Innovation Lab, both partners of the
NASA Space Science Education Consortium (NSSEC). The Earth’s
magnetosphere is a complex, multifaceted, and intangible system that
poses unique challenges to science communication and education.
Two-dimensional diagrams inherently oversimplify its structure and
processes, leading to misunderstood or incomplete understandings of the
physics involved. In addition, diagrams lack tactile accessibility,
excluding some learners. While three-dimensional tactile models with
nested components are classic tools for illustrating biological and
geophysical concepts, similar models have not yet been created for the
magnetosphere. This project is an effort to create the first physical,
open-source, customizable, three-dimensional, and 3D-printed model of
the magnetosphere. We provide a NASA STEAM Lab Exploration Idea Profile
detailing the current scope and future potential for the product. Our
preliminary model is intended to provide a starting template that
illustrates the following basic structures: the magnetosheath; an
equatorial cross-section; a torus representing the outer radiation belt;
the ring current; and Earth, including the crust, mantles, core, and
aurora. The magnetosheath will be hinged and open on the x-axis like a
case or shell, revealing the other structures nested inside. The
components will be removable, and the radiation belt and Earth will have
the capability of opening to reveal interior structures. The printable
model will be shared with the Maker community, enabling customization to
illustrate specific concepts, add classroom features, and provide
tactile accessibility for learners with low vision. In addition,
crowdsourced expertise from the space physics and Maker communities will
contribute greatly to further refinements. This presentation will
provide an overview of the model and explore its potential applications.
These could include better contextualizing not only physics concepts,
but missions like the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS)
launched in 2015 to study the Earth’s magnetosphere, using four
identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. It is currently
exploring magnetic reconnection, one of the mechanisms that causes
aurora.