Explore the cosmos of connection with aerospace club

Teresa Quinones | Contributor

Students interested in aerospace should join Space Explorers. Zeinab Agbaria | Washtenaw Voice

The Space Explorers Club is a place where students who are interested in the stars and cosmos come together and explore space from the comfort of their homes.

At 6 p.m., on the first Friday of every month, Space Explorers Club members log onto Discord–no cameras, just voices. Club founder, Logan Tanner, a 28-year-old pre-engineering student and business owner, explained that “having cameras on is optional,” so everyone can participate in whatever way they feel most comfortable. Typically, one member presents a research paper or article about anything to do with space, sparking discussion as others raise questions. Sometimes, they reach out to the research paper’s author for answers, which are covered in the next meeting.

Jean-Patrick Selo, 23, a pre-engineering major interested in chemical engineering and dedicated member, has always shown interest in astronomy. “My goal is to present a research paper at every club meeting,” he said.

The club was established last semester by Tanner, who is also the founder of Mage Dynamics, a company focused on space-based nuclear fusion reactor design and manufacturing, combining his interests in aerospace and nuclear engineering. He established the club with the goal of finding other students like Selo to collaborate with about space in general.

Tanner said his goal for this semester is to, “figure out something we can do on campus like setting up a telescope in the Student Center to spread our presence.”

Pre-engineering major and Space Explores Club member, Logan Underwood, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing his goal of bringing more members into the club as well. Underwood joined Space Explorers last semester, “to find a collective of people who are interested in aerospace engineering.”

“A plus is that I can put this on my resume as well,” he added.

As the club continues to grow, Tanner and other club members are especially excited about an upcoming event.

One of Space Explorers’ biggest plans for this semester is to take a trip to the University of Michigan’s Planetarium, located on the first floor of the University’s Natural Museum of History. Tanner said the club is currently coordinating with the university to set up this special event.

Students interested in joining the Space Explorers Club can contact the club president Logan Tanner at lotanner@wccnet.edu. The club meets on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via a Discord voice chat channel.

Those who wish to join the club’s Discord can scan the QR code below or use the following link: https://discord.gg/invite/3uY5SZFnXm.