Dragonfly Educator Workshop, June 16-18, 2026

NASA's Dragonfly Mission is a premier, New Frontiers-class rotorcraft lander designed to explore Saturn's moon Titan, scheduled to launch in July 2028 and arrive in 2034. As a nuclear-powered octocopter, it will fly to multiple locations to analyze prebiotic chemistry and habitability, exploring a world with a thick atmosphere and organic chemistry similar to early Earth.

Fairmont State University's SciTech Education Resource Center (ERC)  is managing a multi-year grant funded by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) to develop and test activities, host educator workshops, and promote the mission at numerous Aerial Drone Competition championship events across the country. 

Educator Workshop: A limited number of spots are available for the first Dragonfly Educator Workshop to be held at Fairmont State University June 16-18, 2026.  We are targeting middle school, but welcome upper elementary and secondary educators who have the flexibility to teach hands-on lessons about this exciting mission to Titan!  

The workshop will begin at 9 am on Tuesday, June 16th at the Engineering Technology Building on the Fairmont State Campus where we will be introduced to Titan and the science of the Dragonfly Mission from scientists at JHUAPL.  You will receive training, equipment, and all materials to teach your own students: how far Titan is, the chemistry of Titan, how multi-roto crafts work through engineering challenges, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS), 3D printing of Dragonfly models, educational drone piloting and programming, the Aerial Drone Competition, and more.  

What is Provided:  Each educator will receive a $300 stipend, a CoDrone EDU,  all educational materials, lodging at Fairmont State's newest dormitory (University Terrace), and all meals at our dining hall.  Questions can be send to Todd.Ensign@FairmontState.edu or by calling 304-685-3146.

REGISTER HERE