We started off our discovery term today in the morning by first working a bit on the Motel o’Scope and realized that we were missing the right materials to properly weather seal the corners of the platform.
Next, we heard from Dr. Thankful Cromartie, an Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University and chair of the NANOGrav Pulsar Timing Work Group, on pulsars and how they are used to help observe and better understand the universe. Particularly, we heard a lot about her extensive research on millisecond pulsars, which are very rapidly rotating neutron stars, covering how they have very predictable signals, and that they can be used to help study gravitational waves, a more recent discovery, looking at the universe in a completely different way than the standard electromagnetic spectrum method.
During lunch, Dr. Greenwolfe very generously helped us obtain the missing materials for building the platform, even making the sacrifice of having a late lunch.
After lunch, we heard from Matthew Schricker (’23) on his experience on the American Rocketry 
Competition. He explained his team’s process through their preparations, like how they designed their models in Rocksim, how they tested the aerodynamic properties in virtual wind tunnels to determine the best body shape and fin shape, how they decided on the best engine type for their specific scenario through both looking at their specifications, like thrust and duration, and experimentation, how they controlled the drag through drag flaps, and how the nose cone and parachute are controlled. Finally, we conclude the day by starting to build some model rockets and continuing work on the Motel o’Scope, with all the needed materials (hopefully).
-Haitian Huang (’23)
