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Lab: 1-Hour Build

The "1-Hour Space Build"

Applied Agentic Workflow: From Prompt to Product.

Mission Briefing

You have exactly 60 minutes. Your Goal: Use your AI Pair Programmer (Copilot/Gemini) to build a functioning Space-Themed Python application. You are the Architect; the AI is the Builder. You must direct it clearly.

Choose Your Mission Profile

🛰️ Option A: The Earth Observer (Web Mapping)

Goal: Build an interactive map tracking satellite ground tracks or environmental data.

Stack: Python + Streamlit + Folium.

Prompt Strategy:

"Act as a Python expert. Write a Streamlit app that uses Folium to display a map of Iowa. Overlay a mock Sentinel-2 satellite path using a red line. Add a sidebar to toggle the layer."

🌌 Option B: The Orbital Architect (Physics Sim)

Goal: Visualization of orbital mechanics.

Stack: Python + Matplotlib + Skyfield.

Prompt Strategy:

"I want to visualize a Molniya orbit. Use the Skyfield library to calculate the position of a satellite with high eccentricity over 24 hours. Plot the Ground Track on a world map."

🚀 Option C: The Rocket Designer (Engineering)

Goal: A Delta-V calculator for multi-stage systems.

Stack: Python + Streamlit.

Prompt Strategy:

"Create a Streamlit calculator for the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation. Allow the user to add multiple stages dynamically. For each stage, ask for Wet Mass, Dry Mass, and ISP. Calculate the total Delta-V to Mars."

Execution Protocol

  1. Initialize: Create a new folder space_app. Open it in VS Code.
  2. Environment: Create a virtual environment: python -m venv venv.
  3. Prompting: Open `app.py` and start typing your comment prompt or use the Chat Sidebar.
  4. Debug Loop: When errors occur (and they will), paste the error back into the Chat and ask "Fix this."