Phoenix Aerospace Launch Systems: Project Legacy – High Powered Rocket

This project’s objective is to provide an alternative launch system that could potentially replace the high-altitude balloon launch system (typically carrying scientific payloads) used in the Experimental Space Systems class at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona. Senior capstone design group, Phoenix Aerospace Launch Systems (PALS), will provide a high-powered rocket as the alternative launch system called Legacy. PALS has conducted research on similar projects and weighed the risks and benefits that involve a high-powered rocket. Initial research was conducted in the fall 2015 semester, calculations and analysis was done to finalize a design for Legacy. Legacy is in currently under the fabrication process and will be completed by March 16th, 2016. Once Legacy has completely fabricated, tests will be conducted in order to validate that all subsystems and system will satisfy mission requirements. Poster Presentation IGNITE GRANT AWAR

Muscle strength and its relationship with skeletal muscle mass indices as determined by segmental bio-impedance analysis

Purpose: Despite increasing interest in bio-impedance analysis (BIA) for estimation of segmental skeletal muscle mass (SMM), published results have not been entirely convincing. Furthermore, a better understanding of the relationship between muscle strength and SMM will be useful in interpreting outcomes of physical/training interventions particularly in groups with diverse body sizes (e.g. men vs women). This study aimed to measure SMM in the upper body (upper extremity and torso), to determine its correlation with muscle strength and to examine the effects of gender on muscle strength–muscle mass relationship. Methods: Segmental (upper extremity and torso) SMM and muscle strength in five distinct shoulder planes (forward flexion, abduction in scapular plane, abduction in coronal plane, internal and external rotation) were measured in 45 healthy participants (22 males, 23 females) with mean age 30.3 years. Statistical analysis included independent t tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Men and women differed significantly in body mass (BMI: 25.9 ± 4.3 vs 23 ± 3.6) and SMM (p < 0.01). A strong relationship correlation was found between the five shoulder strength measurements and upper extremity SMM (r = 0.66–0.80, p < 0.01), which was not affected by gender. There was a significant gender difference (p < 0.01) in absolute shoulder strength, but not after normalisation to the SMM. Conclusion: BIA-estimated SMM of upper extremity and torso was highly correlated with upper extremity (shoulder) strength independent of gender. SMM may, therefore, be useful for the normalisation of muscle strength allowing size-independent comparisons of muscle strength in individuals with diverse physical characteristics