are placed an inch or two apart. They have the dame rotational axis and all the grids are parallel. The light beam
comes in and hits the imaging telescope. The light going out of it hits a diffusion screen (translucent plastic) and then continues, diffused into the back-projection telescope. Polaroid film and a modified
Polaroid camera sum the back-projection data. The camera is modified by removing the front focusing lens, replacing it with a 4-inch lens creating a shutter system using layered cardboard and gluing the shutter
system to the front of the camera. The shutter system is opened and the film exposed through the complete rotation of the model HESSI Telescope. To our students' amazement a back projection was successfully
obtained on the print!
The HESSI Telescope Demonstration project provides the impetus for students to stretch their mental boundaries. This project promotes the goals of "learn one, do one,
teach one": 1) Learn one: students must research the field and subject mater for the telescope; 2) Do one: By designing, developing and implementing their project, they are in essence performing valid research,
which is the end result of all scientific inquiries; 3) Teach one: By incorporating both written and oral presentations of their projects and through interaction with a scientist and/or engineering mentor, students are
given the unique opportunity to experience the peer review process that all scientists and engineers must undergo.
We would like to thank the HESSI team of NASA Goddard Space Flight Canter for their
on-going support of our students' project
