School presentation for ages 8 to 12 years, describing Mechanical Engineering and example of a Space Station Drive-Lock mechanism, including conceptualization, design, analysis, design, production, and operation in-orbit.

1. for outer space
I make things
Mr. Nurre
Mechanical Engineer
Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Company

2. I like to make things that move
• The Space Station has big machines that make
parts turn.
• I designed those machines.
Center parts
flies straight
flies straight turns
turns
Outer parts
turn

3. Early thought: how to make gears fit ?
• and (so things have some “give”)
• Crank (push into place
This was 1985
I was thinking “what if”?

4. Designers got stuck making gears fit
1994 (nine years later)
I went back to help
link
gear
lock
• Good start: tilt (with link) to engage gear or lock
• Problem: hang-up will break gear, or lock, or link

5. Could I stop things from breaking?
I look for ideas—
Can I limit loads?
(Can I keep things from breaking?)

6. I look for ideas
I read
My first tries
don’t work,
But I keep trying

7. I use math
I invent
add
divide
multiply
subtract
I guess a little
I sketch
The design
comes to life
(that’s a cube root)

8. I draw it exactly
I find experts

9. I talk with
other people
I explain
my idea

10. Here it’s getting ready for launch

11. My design in orbit

12. The space station has eight of my
“EDM” mechanisms
I can look up and watch it go by
You can be a
space nerd, too