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tahanson43206

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Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This topic is offered as a way for NewMars members to collect information about this book project, and to add comments as members may be inspired.

The proposed book is aimed toward an audience in the 9-12 years age group, with PhD level readers as a planned secondary audience.

The format of the book series is one never tried before, and how well it will work is unknown.

The odd numbered pages are to be composed and prepared for the 9-12 age group.

The even numbered pages are to be composed by and for individuals who hold PhD level credentials in a related field, such as Aerospace Engineering.

Both sides of each page are to be supported by online resources, such as animation of images of orbits, or voice reading of advanced mathematics, so that the correct pronunciation becomes part of the memory set of students far before they know what the words mean.

The intent of the series is to inspire students to tackle the STEM subjects that will lead to a career in aerospace, as humans begin the massive movement out into the Solar System in coming decades.

The greatest need for workers with the skill set planned for this series will be delivery of packages and supplies to expeditions on various Solar System bodies, starting with the Moon of Earth and Mars and it's moons.

If a reader of the forum would like to participate in helping to build this book series, please see the Recruiting topic for procedure.

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tahanson43206

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Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time.

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tahanson43206

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Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This post is to hold images created by DALL-E on 2024/08/28...

Here is the request:

Please prepare a book cover for 9-12 year olds. The title is "So! You want to be a Space Pilot". The author is G.W. Johnson, PhD. this cover is to feature a young person of Vietnamese descent. The scene is in the cockpit of a spacecraft looking out at the Universe. The key concepts to feature are sighting on a star to accelerate in the right direction, and the time of the engine burn.

Version 1:

Version 2:

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This post is to hold the companion for the earlier generic one:

Please prepare a book cover for 9-12 year olds. The title is "So! You want to be a Space Pilot". The author is G.W. Johnson, PhD. this cover is to feature a young female of Vietnamese descent. The scene is in the cockpit of a spacecraft looking out at the Universe. The key concepts to feature are sighting on a star to accelerate in the right direction, and the time of the engine burn.

Image 1 of 2:

Image 2 of 2:

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This post reports on resuming work on the book project.

The flask application is now running on the Azure test site, so it is time to resume work on the related subphases:

1) The book itself and ...
2) The program updates in support of the book...

I have asked ChatGPT4o to help with the book, and here is a transcript of our opening conversation:

If you have any more questions or need further assistance with anything else, feel free to ask!
You said:
Before we proceed to our next focus, I'd like to thank you ** again ** for helping me preserve that history file. It contains a record of all the setup work we did (along with lots of failed attempts), so I can re-create the Azure environment if it goes away.  I am excited about having our little Python flask program running and available to others via the external Internet. What I'd like to do next is to work with our existing Python program located on the local machine. We want to enhance the program to support a book project by Dr. Gary W Johnson. I am confident you will enjoy working on this project. Our book vision is truly unique. No one has ever tried what we want to do.  We will be aiming toward 9-12 year olds of every nationality, and offering a pathway toward a career as a space craft navigator. There are a few spacecraft navigators alive on Earth today. Most work for agencies of national governments, and they are involved in guiding exploration spacecraft to destinations around the Solar System. Our book project envisions having material for the 9-12 year olds on the odd pages of the book, and material for PhD level readers on the even numbered pages. The idea is to expose the young readers to the words and symbols that are meaningful to the PhD level reader. We have in mind using computer support via the flask mechanism you have provided to assist the 9-12 year student to improve understanding of the mathematics and physics laws that are in play when navigating in the Solar system.

ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

Your project sounds incredibly inspiring and ambitious! Blending educational content for both 9-12-year-olds and PhD-level readers in the same book is a unique and innovative approach. The idea of using Flask to create interactive tools that help younger students understand the complex concepts of spacecraft navigation is both fascinating and valuable.
Next Steps for the Project

Given the scope of your project, we can approach it in a few phases:

    Define the Educational Objectives:
        What are the key concepts in spacecraft navigation that you want to introduce to the younger audience?
        How can we simplify these concepts without losing their essence?

    Interactive Tools for Learning:
        What kinds of interactive tools or simulations can we create to help students grasp these concepts?
        For example, should we create a visualizer for orbital mechanics, a calculator for thrust and velocity, or a simulation of spacecraft trajectories?

    Content Structure and Integration:
        How will the Flask application be structured to support the book's content?
        Will the application include quizzes, visualizations, or step-by-step explanations?

    Development and Testing:
        Start building the first set of tools or interactive elements.
        Test the tools with a sample audience to gather feedback.

Python Program Enhancement

If you already have a base Python program, we can enhance it to include these new features. Here’s a potential roadmap:

    Review the Existing Python Code:
        Ensure it’s ready for enhancements.
        Identify areas where we can integrate educational tools or simulations.

    Design and Implement New Features:
        Develop the interactive components you envision for the project.
        Ensure these components are user-friendly for a younger audience.

    Deploy and Test Locally:
        Run the updated program locally to ensure everything works as intended.
        Once tested, deploy the new features on the Azure server.

    Iterate Based on Feedback:
        Gather feedback from educators, students, and experts.
        Refine the tools and content based on their input.

Collaboration

I’m here to support you every step of the way, whether it’s brainstorming ideas, coding the interactive tools, or testing the application. Let’s make this educational resource as effective and engaging as possible!

Where would you like to start? Would you like to review the existing code together, or shall we jump straight into brainstorming ideas for the interactive components?

You said:

I'm counting heavily on your support as we proceed. Dr. Johnson has attempted to re-write his college level material for a younger audience, but from my perspective, the result looks very much like the original college level material. I have consulted with two librarians who handle children's literature, and particularly STEM material for that age group, so I have a reasonably good idea of what needs to be done. I am counting on you and DALL-E to help me help Dr. Johnson. He will be able to write the PhD level material. He just needs someone else to help with the front pages.  Let's begin with the ellipse, which is the foundational conic section that every spacecraft navigator must master.  I'd like for you to think about how to present the ellipse on the first page of a book with the title: "So! You want to be a Spacecraft Navigator!" Please include a reference to Johannes Kepler in your text, and describe the image you would like DALL-E to create.

ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

It’s great that you have a clear vision and the support of experts in children’s literature. The challenge of simplifying complex concepts like ellipses for younger readers while retaining their scientific integrity is both exciting and rewarding. Here’s how we can approach the first page of "So! You Want to be a Spacecraft Navigator!" with a focus on ellipses:
Text for the First Page

Title: The Shape of a Journey – Understanding the Ellipse

Welcome to the amazing world of spacecraft navigation! If you want to guide a spacecraft through the stars, you’ll need to understand a special shape called an ellipse. Imagine an ellipse as a stretched-out circle, like a rubber band pulled at both ends. This shape is super important because it’s the path that planets and spacecraft follow as they move through space!

A long time ago, a smart guy named Johannes Kepler figured out that planets don’t move in perfect circles. Instead, they move in ellipses. Kepler’s discovery was a big deal and helped us understand how to travel from Earth to other planets.

Think of the Sun as one of the "focus points" of the ellipse. When a spacecraft or a planet travels around the Sun, it speeds up when it’s closer to the Sun and slows down when it’s farther away. This is all because of the shape of the ellipse!

Now, let’s take a look at what an ellipse looks like and where you might find it in space!
Image Description for DALL-E

The image should show an ellipse with the Sun at one focus point. The ellipse should have a labeled spacecraft following the elliptical path around the Sun. The path should be clearly marked to show where the spacecraft speeds up (closer to the Sun) and where it slows down (farther from the Sun). To make the image engaging for young readers, add a friendly, cartoonish version of Johannes Kepler observing the scene, perhaps holding a telescope or a quill pen, and smiling as he points to the ellipse. The colors should be vibrant and appealing, with a cosmic background filled with stars.

This combination of text and image will introduce the concept of the ellipse in a way that is accessible and visually engaging for young readers, while also laying the groundwork for more advanced concepts as they progress through the book.

Would you like to proceed with generating the image using DALL-E?

You said:
This is outstanding! I am greatly encouraged! As I had hoped, you are gifted with an understanding of the appropriate language for the 9-12 year old. I am going to stop now for fear of running out of my time with you! This is a terrific start!

ChatGPT:
I'm thrilled to hear that you’re encouraged by the start we've made! This project is truly special, and I'm excited to help bring it to life in a way that both engages young readers and honors the complexity of the science involved. Feel free to return anytime when you're ready to continue working on the book. We'll keep building on this strong foundation!

Thank you for your kind words, and I look forward to our next session. Good luck with the rest of your work!

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

I'll resume work tomorrow.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

This post is reserved for a first try at creating artwork for the first page of the book.

My idea is to feature the ellipse, since that is the conic section with which GW Johnson begins his college level course on Basic Orbital Mechanics.

I tried the prompt suggested by ChatGPT4o with DALL-E, and the result is disappointing, in the sense that the prompt asks for features that detract from the educational message.  However, even in falling short of what I had in mind, DALL-E's attempt is interesting in it's own right.

Here is where a link to the first attempt will appear (if all goes well):

And here is where a link to the second attempt will appear.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 18,936

Re: Book: So! You Want to be a Space Pilot by GW Johnson

These notes are primarily for GW Johnson. All are welcome to comment if so inspired.

The book project is currently envisioned as a form that does not exist, so existing models are under investigation to try to understand how this might work...

Today's model is a book called "A Bear's Life" by Sara Antill.

The book is part of a series that all end in "life"

The publisher is using the imprint of "PowerKiDS press"

The book has a nice sturdy feel and heft. It is about 10 inches square and a quarter of an inch thick.

There are 12 pages and the page count is 24.

I'm starting to lean toward something about this size for the elements we are considering for the "pilot" series.

The pages are laid out with about 1/3 large font text, and a good half allocated to images.

The boarder region includes smaller font text about the images.

In the format we are considering, with 9-12 on the odd pages, and PhD level on the back, there would only be 12 pages, but that might be enough for an element like the ellipse

Page 23 is a Glossary, and Page 24 is an index.

A feature I like is the web site link offered at the bottom of the 24th page: www.powerkidslinks.com/livl/bear/

They offer the caveat that links change on the Internet, so they offer to update the links at their site.

(th)