Thursday, June 6, 2019

Team 508 CyberPatriot Training Session and Robotics STEM Kit Build

CyberPatriot Training Continues at Team 508


A new CyberPatriot training session has been scheduled for Saturday morning June 15th from 0900 to 1100. We will review lessons learned from the Exhibition Round 1 session from last Saturday, June 1. A number of special topics that came to the forefront during the simulated competition will be the focus of our educational activity. Training will cover both the Windows and Ubuntu operating systems. 

We will also take the opportunity to introduce PacketTracer software used in the Cisco portion of the actual competition. Expertise in Cisco will be important in helping score much needed points when team competition gets underway in the fall.

Robotics STEM Kit Build to follow CyberPatriot Training

Team 508 was fortunate to be awarded a robotics STEM kit in the last round of STEM Kit distribution before the scheduled hiatus until September while the program is redesigned. We recently received two kits that must be assembled before further training in robotics can be undertaken. A software package is included with the kit to train cadets in robotics control from a laptop computer. Build of the kits will be supported after the CyberPatriot training from 1100 until 1300. Necessary tools will be provided.


Monday, June 3, 2019

CyberPatriot XII gets underway in Yuma


Team 508 welcomes CyberPatriot XII to Yuma

Two days ago, on Saturday June 1, Team 508 took its first step to participate in the new CyberPatriot XII competition. Eight cadets, 2 senior members, and our new mentor met in the squadron conference room to work through practice images of Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16 operating systems during Exhibition Round 1. We went through the routine of opening images in VMWARE, checking the readme files, answering the forensic questions, and then working through checklists to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. As always, everyone got a kick out of the points scoring klaxon. In fact, absence of the expected aural prompt was so disturbing that adjustment of the mute setting on my computer was a necessity at the outset.

Our checklists have been updated over the past two years of competition so we were able to earn all the points available on both operating systems. Instructors made the point to the cadets that things start to get more difficult (and educational) from here on as the competition year progresses. I was encouraged by the level of cadet participation in this early round. We have not taken advantage of the Exhibition Rounds in past years. Those attending seemed interested in future training opportunities. I will plan to include more training sessions in our busy schedule. For the first time our video team even took some time to tape activities and record interviews with participants. I hope to be able to provide further information about the video project once the final edit is completed.

We are actively recruiting for our Basic (July 24-26) and Advanced (July 31-August 2) CyberCamps that are scheduled for this summer. This will be the first time that Team 508 has hosted these camps. I have looked through the instructor’s guides for both camps. There is huge educational potential. We will be working with Windows  and Ubuntu images and will introduce Cisco Networking and its associated PacketTracer application. The camps will be a great foundation for the coming competition and for opportunities in computer security further down the line.

Monday, May 27, 2019

Foothills Library Astronomy/Stargazing Schedule

Stargazing Schedule at the Yuma Foothills Library


Thurs. May 30th at 1930
Thurs. June 6th at 2000
Thurs. June 13th at 2000
Saturday June 15th Moon-gazing at 2030


See Foothills Library website-calendar for other astronomy
opportunities including the solar program:
http://yumalibrary.org/library-event-calendars/

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

May Aerospace Education Links


Aerospace Education Links May 2019

Mars InSight lander detects what is likely the first Martian quake identified by seismometers on Mars

SpaceX notches another successful supply mission to the International Space Station

Israel responds to suspected cyberattack with aerial attack on building in Gaza

***Boeing Starliner parachute test a success.

Photos of Phobos, a Martian moon about which almost nothing is known

Federal Government commits more than a billion additional dollars to fund a lunar exploration project that will involve 11 aerospace companies


Lunar madness grabs brewing companies

NASA’s new lunar exploration projects gets a name; plans for project include sending first woman to land on the moon.

Final resting place for an Israeli lunar lander spotted by NASA orbiter

Boeing 737 Max likely to receive new FAA certification by late summer

Jupiter probe Juno discovers that magnetic field of the gas giant planet is changing in a way similar to that of Earth

Black hole vs. neutron star, it is no contest

Women leaders advance in NASA


Monday, May 20, 2019

Agenda for May Aerospace Education Meeting


Aerospace Education Agenda May 22, 2019

1840  Announcements
           CyberPatriot XII- see this year’s schedule at uscyberpatriot.org
           CP Team formation starts now
           CyberPatriot Exhibition Round June 1 CAP hangar 0900-1500
           CyberCamps -sign up in eWing, only 9 slots for each camp
                 Basic Camp July 24-26
                 Advanced Camp July 31-August  
            Advanced Model Rocketry June 1 cancelled
            Passport program
                  Hand out additional passports as needed
                  Please send your topic to me: bobkaye542@yahoo.com
                  Robotics STEM kit approved and should arrive in a couple of weeks

1855  Cadet Talk-C/SrA Mario Guadarrama, Jr.-New innovations in powered flight

1910  Break

1920  Maj. Christopher Eicher-History of Aviation in Yuma

2020  Adjourn


Advanced Model Rocketry Field Trip on June 1 cancelled

Field trip to Holtville for Advanced Model Rocketry


The field trip to Holtville on June 1 has been cancelled. Tripoli model rocketry society in San Diego,the organizer of the event, has cancelled on this date due to low expected participation and warm forcast air temperatures. This field trip will be rescheduled in the fall.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Two CyberCamps to be held in Yuma this July


CyberCamps to be held in Yuma this July
I am pleased to announce that CAP Squadron 508 will be hosting two CyberCamps this summer. These camps help prepare participants for the upcoming CyberPatriot XII competition. This is a special opportunity to begin training before the season gets underway. The Basic Camp is designed for those who have not participated in CyberPatriot in the past. The Advanced Camp curriculum covers concepts beyond the introductory level and introduces the Cisco portion of the competition. Previous experience in CyberPatriot is recommended. Simulated Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16 competition images challenge attendees on the final day of each camp. Enrollment is only available to CAP cadets. Register for the camps on the AZ Wing website, eWing. Each camp is limited to 9 cadets each so do not delay your registration. Tentative schedules are listed below.

CyberCamp Schedules 2019

Standard Camp

Wed. morning, July 24th               0800-1200   Introduction to CyberPatriot
                                                                                    Introduction to Virtual Machines

Wed. afternoon, July 24th             1300-1700   Cyber Ethics

Thurs. morning, July 25th             0800-1200   Windows 10
                                                                                    Security Policies
                                                                                    Account Management
                                                                                    File Protections
                                                                                    Auditing and Monitoring

Thurs. afternoon, July 25th          1300-1700   Ubuntu 16
                                                                                    Terminology & Concepts
                                                                                    Basic User Interface Security
                                                                                    Basic Command Line
                                                                                    Intermediate Security

Friday, July 26th                                                          Competition Day
           


Advanced Camp

Wed. morning, July 31st               0800-1200   Cyber Ethics
                                                                       
Wed. afternoon, July 31st             1300-1700   Windows 10
                                                                                    Graphical Utilities
                                                                                    Command Line
                                                                                    Sysinternals Suite

Thurs. morning, August 1st          0800-1200   Ubuntu 16
                                                                                    Init Systems
                                                                                    Advanced Command Line
                                                                                    Processes and Scheduled Tasks
                                                                                    Security Policies and PAM
                                                                                    Networking

Thurs. afternoon, August 1st       1300-1700     Cisco NetAcad
                                                                                     Modules 1-3

Friday, August 2nd                                                       Competition Day