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THIS ISSUE
Research Haikus
Straits of Mackinac
An Opera for Math
Solar at All Scales
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY / 2020
OCULUS
3…2…1…
Liftoff! Students, alumni, and faculty watched
Oculus launch into space this summer while
continuing work on two new nanosatellites.
Research TABLE OF CONTENTS
aikus for the Trees
10 H
by Jennifer Cumby and Allison Mills
Enjoy a few poems inspired by research at the Ford Center and
Research Forest.
12 Mission(s) Accomplished
by Cyndi Perkins
Oculus-ASR. Stratus. Auris. Student-built nanosatellites take off.
18 R adar and Risk in the Straits of Mackinac
by Kelley Christensen
Deploying high-frequency radar in one of Michigan’s most
turbulent waterways.
22 M ath Sings Its Own Aria
by Allison Mills
Applied mathematics research takes centerstage and sings its own aria.
26 Solar Rising
by Kelley Christensen
From silicon chips to policy decisions: making solar energy affordable
and accessible.
REGULAR FEATURES
06 R ESEARCH IN BRIEF
30 AWARDS
32 BEYOND THE LAB
34 SHARED FACILITIES
RESEARCH CENTERS AND INSTITUTES
Research is published by University Marketing and Communications (UMC) and the
Vice President for Research Office (VPR) at Michigan Technological University,
1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931-1295.
Allison Mills John Lehman David Reed
Managing Editor Vice President for University Vice President for Research
Relations and Enrollment
Nicole Kelly Cathy Jenich
Creative Director Ian Repp Assistant to the Vice
Assistant Vice President for President for Research
Crystal Verran University Marketing
Director of Operations and Communications Jessica Brassard, This crucible is one of the
Natasha Chopp
tools from the campus
Jon Halquist, Mark Wilcox Research Office
Phil Mcleod Writer foundry used to make and
Designers characterize forged materials
Jason Makela
including lightweight
Sarah Atkinson Cover Photo
Photographer aluminum alloys for fuel-
efficient vehicles.
2 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 3
Research TABLE OF CONTENTS
aikus for the Trees
10 H
by Jennifer Cumby and Allison Mills
Enjoy a few poems inspired by research at the Ford Center and
Research Forest.
12 Mission(s) Accomplished
by Cyndi Perkins
Oculus-ASR. Stratus. Auris. Student-built nanosatellites take off.
18 R adar and Risk in the Straits of Mackinac
by Kelley Christensen
Deploying high-frequency radar in one of Michigan’s most
turbulent waterways.
22 M ath Sings Its Own Aria
by Allison Mills
Applied mathematics research takes centerstage and sings its own aria.
26 Solar Rising
by Kelley Christensen
From silicon chips to policy decisions: making solar energy affordable
and accessible.
REGULAR FEATURES
06 R ESEARCH IN BRIEF
30 AWARDS
32 BEYOND THE LAB
34 SHARED FACILITIES
RESEARCH CENTERS AND INSTITUTES
Research is published by University Marketing and Communications (UMC) and the
Vice President for Research Office (VPR) at Michigan Technological University,
1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan, 49931-1295.
Allison Mills John Lehman David Reed
Managing Editor Vice President for University Vice President for Research
Relations and Enrollment
Nicole Kelly Cathy Jenich
Creative Director Ian Repp Assistant to the Vice
Assistant Vice President for President for Research
Crystal Verran University Marketing
Director of Operations and Communications Jessica Brassard, This crucible is one of the
Natasha Chopp
tools from the campus
Jon Halquist, Mark Wilcox Research Office
Phil Mcleod Writer foundry used to make and
Designers characterize forged materials
Jason Makela
including lightweight
Sarah Atkinson Cover Photo
Photographer aluminum alloys for fuel-
efficient vehicles.
2 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 3
Research Statistics
O T H E R | 4% F O R E I G N | 2% 2 018 I N V E N T I O N D I S C L O S U R E S
P E R $ 10 M I L L I O N O F R E S E A R C H
C R O W D F U N D I N G |
Research Statistics
O T H E R | 4% F O R E I G N | 2% 2 018 I N V E N T I O N D I S C L O S U R E S
P E R $ 10 M I L L I O N O F R E S E A R C H
C R O W D F U N D I N G |
Research IN BRIEF
Tana Wood
HEARTFELT TISSUE in matters. Parisa Pour Shahid Saeed Abadi, “We’re trying to simplify the process to answer
assistant professor of mechanical engineering, a highly complex question: How do cells
ENGINEERING takes old petri dish growing methods into three proliferate and grow?” Rao says. “This is our
dimensions. basic building block; this is the two-by-two
2.5 billion. That’s approximately the number of Lego. And you can build whatever you want
times the human heart beats in 70 years. And “On day one we start seeing the effect of the from there.”
sometimes during the course of its unrelenting substrate on the morphology of the cells,”
contractions and relaxations, the heart muscle Abadi says, explaining she uses a process called For Feng Zhao, associate professor of
can no longer bear the strain. photolithography to shape the mold to grow biomedical engineering, better engineering is
heart cells in. “I use microfabrication and inspired by the tissue’s network of tiny veins,
There’s more than one way to fix a broken heart. nanofabrication techniques to tackle problems capillaries, and nutrient-providing microvessels.
For Michigan Tech engineers, the solutions that are challenging for biologists or clinicians
they develop in the lab could help patients to address.” “The significance of microvessel organization
recover from heart attacks. It all comes down to in 3D scaffolds has largely been ignored,”
engineering a tissue that works: from the tissue’s Interdisciplinary work is inherent within health Zhao explains. “Understanding the mechanisms
nutrient availability, to its growth environment, tech development and Smitha Rao, assistant behind microvessel alignment in biomaterials
to biocompatible substrates. professor of biomedical engineering, turns will help us and other biomedical engineers to
to materials science and biochemistry to also create better, more refined implants Rolf O. Peterson Adam Johnson, brockit
If heart muscle cells—cardiomyocytes—could improve ways to grow strong heart muscle cells. and devices.”
be repaired by cells taken from one’s own Her team developed an electrospun nanofiber RED, GRAY, AI FOR SUPREME COURT
body, the patient’s recovery improves. But using a specific polymer blend that creates ideal
manufacturing heart cells requires an exacting conditions for many kinds of cells.
>>>Read more: AND ISOLATED NANOMATERIALS OF CONCRETE
mtu.news/heart-rao
process tailored specifically to an individual,
and the environment that the cell is grown mtu.news/heart-abadi Islands make gene pools dance. From Isle Royale Faster computers. Longer battery life. Wearable The American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee
mtu.news/heart-zhao in Lake Superior to Galveston Island in the Gulf tech. The power to look deep into the atomic 318 writes the building code for concrete
of Mexico, ecologists in the College of Forest structure of materials for these uses is more construction. In the world of concrete, where life
Resources and Environmental Science examine accessible than ever. But getting a material to safety is at stake, the committee is the Supreme Court,
the interweaving patterns of wolf genetics. the microscope is a long road. What if new establishing the rules that are followed universally in
Smitha Rao's materials could be invented before they’re seen? the US and also in many other countries around the
team makes “Our discovery that red wolf genes have world. The members of Committee 318 often serve
electrospun persisted in Texas—after being declared extinct Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for the rest of their careers and they make important
nanoscaffolds. in the wild—was very surprising,” says Kristin could make it possible. Yoke Khin Yap, professor recommendations for safe design and construction of
Brzeski, assistant professor of wildlife ecology. of physics, is leading a team to model new buildings, which are widely adopted around the globe.
“It introduces both positive opportunities for nanomaterials, then vet, develop, and test them.
additional conservation action and difficult Tess Ahlborn, professor of civil and environmental
policy challenges.” “It is complicated and it will become a very engineering, is Committee 318’s latest addition.
interdisciplinary collaboration between theorists,
Brzeski and her team found that isolation from computer scientists, experimental physicists, Following the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco,
mainland coyotes likely concentrated red wolf and chemists to make the new nanomaterials,” buildings made of concrete reinforced with steel,
genetics within a canid group on Galveston Yap says, adding that coupling AI with known as rebar, spread across the nation and world
Island. Isolation was the downfall, however, for experimentation “brings together all the kinds because of how well they withstand the forces of
the gray wolves on Isle Royale. The National of theory out there and we find there is a subset nature. Today, concrete is the number one building
Park Service worked with regional partners this that potentially more people agree upon.” Yap’s material.
past year to bring new wolves to the remote collaborators are Ranjit Pati and Ravindra
island, now up to 17 wolves. The annual Isle Pandey from physics, Susanta Ghosh from “We think of concrete almost as rock, but a big part
Royale Winter Study, now in its 62nd year and mechanical engineering, and Tim Havens from of it is the steel,” Ahlborn says. “It’s a steel frame
led by researchers John Vucetich, Sarah Hoy, computing. encased in concrete. And people the world over need
and Rolf Peterson, will continue to document to know, ‘How do I design with it?’ and ‘How does it
the island’s predator-prey dynamics. >>>Read more: mtu.news/ai-nano behave?’ The code has happened with over 100 years
of research.”
>>>Read more: mtu.news/redwolf
mtu.news/isleroyale-graywolf >>>Read more: mtu.news/concretecourt
6 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 7
Research IN BRIEF
Tana Wood
HEARTFELT TISSUE in matters. Parisa Pour Shahid Saeed Abadi, “We’re trying to simplify the process to answer
assistant professor of mechanical engineering, a highly complex question: How do cells
ENGINEERING takes old petri dish growing methods into three proliferate and grow?” Rao says. “This is our
dimensions. basic building block; this is the two-by-two
2.5 billion. That’s approximately the number of Lego. And you can build whatever you want
times the human heart beats in 70 years. And “On day one we start seeing the effect of the from there.”
sometimes during the course of its unrelenting substrate on the morphology of the cells,”
contractions and relaxations, the heart muscle Abadi says, explaining she uses a process called For Feng Zhao, associate professor of
can no longer bear the strain. photolithography to shape the mold to grow biomedical engineering, better engineering is
heart cells in. “I use microfabrication and inspired by the tissue’s network of tiny veins,
There’s more than one way to fix a broken heart. nanofabrication techniques to tackle problems capillaries, and nutrient-providing microvessels.
For Michigan Tech engineers, the solutions that are challenging for biologists or clinicians
they develop in the lab could help patients to address.” “The significance of microvessel organization
recover from heart attacks. It all comes down to in 3D scaffolds has largely been ignored,”
engineering a tissue that works: from the tissue’s Interdisciplinary work is inherent within health Zhao explains. “Understanding the mechanisms
nutrient availability, to its growth environment, tech development and Smitha Rao, assistant behind microvessel alignment in biomaterials
to biocompatible substrates. professor of biomedical engineering, turns will help us and other biomedical engineers to
to materials science and biochemistry to also create better, more refined implants Rolf O. Peterson Adam Johnson, brockit
If heart muscle cells—cardiomyocytes—could improve ways to grow strong heart muscle cells. and devices.”
be repaired by cells taken from one’s own Her team developed an electrospun nanofiber RED, GRAY, AI FOR SUPREME COURT
body, the patient’s recovery improves. But using a specific polymer blend that creates ideal
manufacturing heart cells requires an exacting conditions for many kinds of cells.
>>>Read more: AND ISOLATED NANOMATERIALS OF CONCRETE
mtu.news/heart-rao
process tailored specifically to an individual,
and the environment that the cell is grown mtu.news/heart-abadi Islands make gene pools dance. From Isle Royale Faster computers. Longer battery life. Wearable The American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee
mtu.news/heart-zhao in Lake Superior to Galveston Island in the Gulf tech. The power to look deep into the atomic 318 writes the building code for concrete
of Mexico, ecologists in the College of Forest structure of materials for these uses is more construction. In the world of concrete, where life
Resources and Environmental Science examine accessible than ever. But getting a material to safety is at stake, the committee is the Supreme Court,
the interweaving patterns of wolf genetics. the microscope is a long road. What if new establishing the rules that are followed universally in
Smitha Rao's materials could be invented before they’re seen? the US and also in many other countries around the
team makes “Our discovery that red wolf genes have world. The members of Committee 318 often serve
electrospun persisted in Texas—after being declared extinct Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for the rest of their careers and they make important
nanoscaffolds. in the wild—was very surprising,” says Kristin could make it possible. Yoke Khin Yap, professor recommendations for safe design and construction of
Brzeski, assistant professor of wildlife ecology. of physics, is leading a team to model new buildings, which are widely adopted around the globe.
“It introduces both positive opportunities for nanomaterials, then vet, develop, and test them.
additional conservation action and difficult Tess Ahlborn, professor of civil and environmental
policy challenges.” “It is complicated and it will become a very engineering, is Committee 318’s latest addition.
interdisciplinary collaboration between theorists,
Brzeski and her team found that isolation from computer scientists, experimental physicists, Following the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco,
mainland coyotes likely concentrated red wolf and chemists to make the new nanomaterials,” buildings made of concrete reinforced with steel,
genetics within a canid group on Galveston Yap says, adding that coupling AI with known as rebar, spread across the nation and world
Island. Isolation was the downfall, however, for experimentation “brings together all the kinds because of how well they withstand the forces of
the gray wolves on Isle Royale. The National of theory out there and we find there is a subset nature. Today, concrete is the number one building
Park Service worked with regional partners this that potentially more people agree upon.” Yap’s material.
past year to bring new wolves to the remote collaborators are Ranjit Pati and Ravindra
island, now up to 17 wolves. The annual Isle Pandey from physics, Susanta Ghosh from “We think of concrete almost as rock, but a big part
Royale Winter Study, now in its 62nd year and mechanical engineering, and Tim Havens from of it is the steel,” Ahlborn says. “It’s a steel frame
led by researchers John Vucetich, Sarah Hoy, computing. encased in concrete. And people the world over need
and Rolf Peterson, will continue to document to know, ‘How do I design with it?’ and ‘How does it
the island’s predator-prey dynamics. >>>Read more: mtu.news/ai-nano behave?’ The code has happened with over 100 years
of research.”
>>>Read more: mtu.news/redwolf
mtu.news/isleroyale-graywolf >>>Read more: mtu.news/concretecourt
6 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 7
Research IN BRIEF
DROUGHT AND IRES El Salvador
MOBILITY IS THE MOVEMENT MICHIGAN TECH RESEARCH NANOTECH IN • Led by John Gierke, chair of the
Department of Geological and Mining
OF GOODS, PEOPLE, AND AROUND THE WORLD EL SALVADOR, Engineering and Sciences, with the
INFORMATION. DENMARK,SINGAPORE Consortium of Universities for the
Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences,
The National Science Foundation’s International Inc. (CUAHSI) and Lutheran World
TRANSPORTATION IS MORE
DISASTER RELIEF Research Experience for Students (IRES) dives into Relief (LWR)
THAN STARTING THE IGNITION. IN INDIA interdisciplinary research. • Three cohorts: 2020-2022
• Collaborators: Luke Bowman, geology;
IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, IRES Denmark and IRES Singapore Kari Henquinet, Pavlis Honors College;
India is in a unique position with climate
BRIDGES ARE A CHALLENGE. • Led by Caryn Heldt, director of the Health Angela Carter, social sciences; Frank Liu,
change. It’s a densely populated country
Research Institute and the James and Lorna Mack forestry; David Watkins and Alex Mayer,
that is prone to geohazards like earthquakes,
Chair in Bioengineering, and Erin Smith, director civil and environmental engineering;
tsunamis, landslides, and floods. Because
of the Humanities Digital Media Zone researchers at the University of El
of that density, one disaster can hurt a lot
In the latest American Road and Transportation • Three cohorts: 2017-2019 Salvador FMP in San Vicente; CUAHSI
of people, as happened last August when a
Builders Association report, more than 47,000 • Collaborators: Aarhus University in Denmark and and LWR professional staff
mudslide in southern India killed 66 people
bridges in the US are structurally deficient the National University of Singapore • The teams seek to understand the
and flash floods displaced at least 360,000.
and need repairs. Across Michigan, 75 percent impacts of drought and extreme
• The teams examined biomedical applications
of highway bridges are at least 40 years old. weather on water use in rural agriculture
Mumbai alone has a population of 19 million of nanotechnology for detecting and treating
The Michigan Department of Transportation communities in the Central American
people, but only one university there, the Tata viral diseases.
(MDOT) has partnered with research scientists Dry Corridor and explore adaptation
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), offers a • A communications student also joined the team each
at Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) strategies to improve water access.
degree in disaster management and mitigation. summer to produce a short documentary and help
and Michigan Tech engineers. the STEM-focused members learn effective social
>>>Learn more: cuahsi.org/projects/ires
“This is a pressing need,” says Thomas media and outreach tools.
Oommen, associate professor of geological
and mining engineering sciences and affiliated >>>Learn more: iressingapore.mtu.edu
3DOBS BRIDGE 3D BRIDGE APP CONNECTED VEHICLES associate professor of civil and environmental
DECK ASSESSMENT engineering at Michigan Tech. “Technologies
Drones make bridge inspections safer and easier “Connected vehicle technologies also have the potential used today in disaster management need to
3DOBS is a cinema-quality camera attached to document. A complementary 3D bridge app to optimize traffic, reduce congested areas, and promote be taught to students so they can be ready for
to a pole braced on a vehicle trailer hitch that developed by MTRI also streamlines defect reduced fuel consumption,” says Aurenice Oliveira, when a disaster hits a community this large.”
rises up nine feet above the ground. The RED records. There is no replacing people in the associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
8K camera captures up to 60 frames per second assessment—human eyes and judgement are Oommen was given a grant from the US
and picks up details as small as millimeter-wide necessary—but technology can speed up and Newer cars are most likely connected: GPS navigation, Consulate General in Mumbai to travel there,
cracks in the pavement as the truck drives over make bridge inspections safer, helping set aside infotainment panel, wireless network—they’re all along with Tim Frazier from Georgetown
the bridge deck. 3DOBS is one way to ensure more time and money to fix structurally deficient ways for a vehicle to provide information, whether to University and Himanshu Grover from the
timely bridge monitoring. bridges. give directions, ping other vehicles, or check in with University of Washington, to meet with
infrastructure like traffic signals, signs, or bridges. faculty and administration from TISS as well
As team leader and MTRI research scientist “We need to know if we can get from point A as Indian officials. For two weeks in August
Rick Dobson puts it, “On any vehicle with to point B,” says MTRI research scientist Colin All of this data creates the potential for connected cars to 2019, they worked to identify gaps in the TISS
a standard trailer hitch, you can mount the Brooks. “An important component of mobility help transportation planners. program and develop a state-of-the-art disaster
camera and go.” is being able to understand whether or not the management curriculum to be implemented
transportation system you’re looking at can Kuilin Zhang, associate professor of civil and at TISS. They continue to meet via an online
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-camera effectively move goods and people based on the environmental engineering and affiliated associate portal every month to continue work on the
condition of the infrastructure.” professor of computer science, fills in the data gaps by curriculum, which they hope can then be
reconstructing a vehicle’s missing location-duration-path replicated at universities across India to train
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-drone choices. more people to handle the disasters to come.
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-cv and Gov't of Kerala, India
mtu.news/houghtontrafficsignals
8 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 9
Research IN BRIEF
DROUGHT AND IRES El Salvador
MOBILITY IS THE MOVEMENT MICHIGAN TECH RESEARCH NANOTECH IN • Led by John Gierke, chair of the
Department of Geological and Mining
OF GOODS, PEOPLE, AND AROUND THE WORLD EL SALVADOR, Engineering and Sciences, with the
INFORMATION. DENMARK,SINGAPORE Consortium of Universities for the
Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences,
The National Science Foundation’s International Inc. (CUAHSI) and Lutheran World
TRANSPORTATION IS MORE
DISASTER RELIEF Research Experience for Students (IRES) dives into Relief (LWR)
THAN STARTING THE IGNITION. IN INDIA interdisciplinary research. • Three cohorts: 2020-2022
• Collaborators: Luke Bowman, geology;
IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, IRES Denmark and IRES Singapore Kari Henquinet, Pavlis Honors College;
India is in a unique position with climate
BRIDGES ARE A CHALLENGE. • Led by Caryn Heldt, director of the Health Angela Carter, social sciences; Frank Liu,
change. It’s a densely populated country
Research Institute and the James and Lorna Mack forestry; David Watkins and Alex Mayer,
that is prone to geohazards like earthquakes,
Chair in Bioengineering, and Erin Smith, director civil and environmental engineering;
tsunamis, landslides, and floods. Because
of the Humanities Digital Media Zone researchers at the University of El
of that density, one disaster can hurt a lot
In the latest American Road and Transportation • Three cohorts: 2017-2019 Salvador FMP in San Vicente; CUAHSI
of people, as happened last August when a
Builders Association report, more than 47,000 • Collaborators: Aarhus University in Denmark and and LWR professional staff
mudslide in southern India killed 66 people
bridges in the US are structurally deficient the National University of Singapore • The teams seek to understand the
and flash floods displaced at least 360,000.
and need repairs. Across Michigan, 75 percent impacts of drought and extreme
• The teams examined biomedical applications
of highway bridges are at least 40 years old. weather on water use in rural agriculture
Mumbai alone has a population of 19 million of nanotechnology for detecting and treating
The Michigan Department of Transportation communities in the Central American
people, but only one university there, the Tata viral diseases.
(MDOT) has partnered with research scientists Dry Corridor and explore adaptation
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), offers a • A communications student also joined the team each
at Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) strategies to improve water access.
degree in disaster management and mitigation. summer to produce a short documentary and help
and Michigan Tech engineers. the STEM-focused members learn effective social
>>>Learn more: cuahsi.org/projects/ires
“This is a pressing need,” says Thomas media and outreach tools.
Oommen, associate professor of geological
and mining engineering sciences and affiliated >>>Learn more: iressingapore.mtu.edu
3DOBS BRIDGE 3D BRIDGE APP CONNECTED VEHICLES associate professor of civil and environmental
DECK ASSESSMENT engineering at Michigan Tech. “Technologies
Drones make bridge inspections safer and easier “Connected vehicle technologies also have the potential used today in disaster management need to
3DOBS is a cinema-quality camera attached to document. A complementary 3D bridge app to optimize traffic, reduce congested areas, and promote be taught to students so they can be ready for
to a pole braced on a vehicle trailer hitch that developed by MTRI also streamlines defect reduced fuel consumption,” says Aurenice Oliveira, when a disaster hits a community this large.”
rises up nine feet above the ground. The RED records. There is no replacing people in the associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
8K camera captures up to 60 frames per second assessment—human eyes and judgement are Oommen was given a grant from the US
and picks up details as small as millimeter-wide necessary—but technology can speed up and Newer cars are most likely connected: GPS navigation, Consulate General in Mumbai to travel there,
cracks in the pavement as the truck drives over make bridge inspections safer, helping set aside infotainment panel, wireless network—they’re all along with Tim Frazier from Georgetown
the bridge deck. 3DOBS is one way to ensure more time and money to fix structurally deficient ways for a vehicle to provide information, whether to University and Himanshu Grover from the
timely bridge monitoring. bridges. give directions, ping other vehicles, or check in with University of Washington, to meet with
infrastructure like traffic signals, signs, or bridges. faculty and administration from TISS as well
As team leader and MTRI research scientist “We need to know if we can get from point A as Indian officials. For two weeks in August
Rick Dobson puts it, “On any vehicle with to point B,” says MTRI research scientist Colin All of this data creates the potential for connected cars to 2019, they worked to identify gaps in the TISS
a standard trailer hitch, you can mount the Brooks. “An important component of mobility help transportation planners. program and develop a state-of-the-art disaster
camera and go.” is being able to understand whether or not the management curriculum to be implemented
transportation system you’re looking at can Kuilin Zhang, associate professor of civil and at TISS. They continue to meet via an online
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-camera effectively move goods and people based on the environmental engineering and affiliated associate portal every month to continue work on the
condition of the infrastructure.” professor of computer science, fills in the data gaps by curriculum, which they hope can then be
reconstructing a vehicle’s missing location-duration-path replicated at universities across India to train
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-drone choices. more people to handle the disasters to come.
>>>Read more: mtu.news/bridge-cv and Gov't of Kerala, India
mtu.news/houghtontrafficsignals
8 RESEARCH 2020 2020 RESEARCH 9
WOODS WOODS
HAIKUS FOR THE Bird Banding
nets like gossamer
TREES snare the subjects for banding
released, again, wings
Enjoy a few poems inspired by research at the Ford Center
and Research Forest. Lead researchers: Jared Wolfe and Kristin Brzeski
What: Bird banding station; small, metal bands help ecologists track
bird populations
Funding: USDA McIntire-Stennis, MTU start-up, MTU Ecosystem
Science Center
What is a research forest?
A space to observe the natural environment. A place to modify key
variables. A laboratory that lives and breathes without walls around it.
At Michigan Tech, we have 5,866 acres of research forest within 50 miles
of campus. That means our researchers have a spacious, all-natural lab
close at hand to study invasive species, climate change, silviculture, and
wildlife behavior.
“ G I VEN OU R C HANGI NG WO RLD, Small Mammal Traps Forest Road Surfaces
W E WORK T O ADDRES S THE milk cartons hold mice run off challenges
like unbooked Airbnbs pumped and powered sprinklers mist
CH ALLEN G ES I N NATURAL RES O URC E
weights and vitals, please geogrid forest
S USTA IN A BILITY THRO UGH E DUCAT ION
A N D T RA IN IN G, RES EARCH, Lead researchers: Kristin Brzeski and Jared Wolfe Lead researcher: Matt Kelly
IN NOVA T ION , AND O UTREACH. ” What: The smallest creatures reveal big impacts on What: Controlling the rain is no easy feat, but
forest ecosystems necessary to study runoff
— AND R EW S TORER Funding: USDA McIntire-Stennis, MTU start-up, Funding: USDA-NRCS CIG, MTU start-up
D EAN , CFRES MTU Ecosystem Science Center
One particular site, the Ford Center and Research Forest in Alberta, Harvesting Forests
Michigan, is a hub for faculty research, student research, and at 3,700
take only the top
acres, is Michigan Tech’s biggest classroom. It’s part of the reason the
University’s forestry program ranks in the top five in the nation; it’s
can logging be like growing Climate Oaks
where students from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental broccoli at home? brought from as far South
Sciences (CFRES) come each year for the annual Fall Camp; it’s where as deep West Virginia
they conduct senior design projects alongside faculty and industry acorns tell stories
partners. Overall, more than $2 million of federal and state funding has Lead researchers: Yvette Dickinson, Robert Froese,
supported dozens of active research projects at the Ford Center. and Chris Webster
What: Whole-tree logging and modern
Lead researcher: Carsten Külheim
A research forest—both organically beautiful and carefully measured— silviculture to protect trees
What: Oaks from around the country
can be hard to capture in words. But there is a reason that nature has Funding: NCASI, Weyerhaeuser Company, NHSEED,
could aid Upper Peninsula forest
inspired haiku poems for hundreds of years. So, here are a few research- USDA McIntire-Stennis, USDA-NIFA, USFS,
resiliency
inspired haikus about some of the CFRES projects happening at the MTU start-up, MTU Ecosystem Science Center
Funding: Superior Ideas,
mtu.edu/forest USDA-NIFA, MTU start-up,
MTU Ecosystem Science Center
10 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 11WOODS WOODS
HAIKUS FOR THE Bird Banding
nets like gossamer
TREES snare the subjects for banding
released, again, wings
Enjoy a few poems inspired by research at the Ford Center
and Research Forest. Lead researchers: Jared Wolfe and Kristin Brzeski
What: Bird banding station; small, metal bands help ecologists track
bird populations
Funding: USDA McIntire-Stennis, MTU start-up, MTU Ecosystem
Science Center
What is a research forest?
A space to observe the natural environment. A place to modify key
variables. A laboratory that lives and breathes without walls around it.
At Michigan Tech, we have 5,866 acres of research forest within 50 miles
of campus. That means our researchers have a spacious, all-natural lab
close at hand to study invasive species, climate change, silviculture, and
wildlife behavior.
“ G I VEN OU R C HANGI NG WO RLD, Small Mammal Traps Forest Road Surfaces
W E WORK T O ADDRES S THE milk cartons hold mice run off challenges
like unbooked Airbnbs pumped and powered sprinklers mist
CH ALLEN G ES I N NATURAL RES O URC E
weights and vitals, please geogrid forest
S USTA IN A BILITY THRO UGH E DUCAT ION
A N D T RA IN IN G, RES EARCH, Lead researchers: Kristin Brzeski and Jared Wolfe Lead researcher: Matt Kelly
IN NOVA T ION , AND O UTREACH. ” What: The smallest creatures reveal big impacts on What: Controlling the rain is no easy feat, but
forest ecosystems necessary to study runoff
— AND R EW S TORER Funding: USDA McIntire-Stennis, MTU start-up, Funding: USDA-NRCS CIG, MTU start-up
D EAN , CFRES MTU Ecosystem Science Center
One particular site, the Ford Center and Research Forest in Alberta, Harvesting Forests
Michigan, is a hub for faculty research, student research, and at 3,700
take only the top
acres, is Michigan Tech’s biggest classroom. It’s part of the reason the
University’s forestry program ranks in the top five in the nation; it’s
can logging be like growing Climate Oaks
where students from the College of Forest Resources and Environmental broccoli at home? brought from as far South
Sciences (CFRES) come each year for the annual Fall Camp; it’s where as deep West Virginia
they conduct senior design projects alongside faculty and industry acorns tell stories
partners. Overall, more than $2 million of federal and state funding has Lead researchers: Yvette Dickinson, Robert Froese,
supported dozens of active research projects at the Ford Center. and Chris Webster
What: Whole-tree logging and modern
Lead researcher: Carsten Külheim
A research forest—both organically beautiful and carefully measured— silviculture to protect trees
What: Oaks from around the country
can be hard to capture in words. But there is a reason that nature has Funding: NCASI, Weyerhaeuser Company, NHSEED,
could aid Upper Peninsula forest
inspired haiku poems for hundreds of years. So, here are a few research- USDA McIntire-Stennis, USDA-NIFA, USFS,
resiliency
inspired haikus about some of the CFRES projects happening at the MTU start-up, MTU Ecosystem Science Center
Funding: Superior Ideas,
mtu.edu/forest USDA-NIFA, MTU start-up,
MTU Ecosystem Science Center
10 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 11NANOSAT
MISSION(S) ACCOMPLISHED The mission kicked into high gear
with winning the University Nanosat
6 competition in 2011. This netted the
At 2:30 a.m. on June 25, 2019, Michigan Tech’s student-built Oculus-ASR team the Air Force Office of Scientific
Research (AFOSR) contract to launch
nanosatellite rode the SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Cape Canaveral Pad 39A into
Oculus under the guidance of the
orbit. It’s a University first, but by no means the last. University Nanosatellite Program (UNP)
for the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL). Graduate Jesse Olson ’17 ,
who started building rockets when he
was 12 years old and served as the chief
engineer for Oculus as a student, now
heads the UNP.
The new space race is driven by months, as can diving deep into what
commercialization, tech miniaturization, has worked and what hasn’t. Be it with
“I knew I was going to join the
and cost optimization. Space is easier a military branch, National Aeronautics
team before I even got to Michigan
and cheaper to reach than ever before. and Space Agency (NASA), or private
Tech because I knew I wanted to
However, there’s still nothing simple entity, the team is tasked with creating a
do aerospace. When I came into
about building a satellite. compliant proposal that meets all criteria.
the process, the whole satellite was
In the assembly, integration, and test
completely designed. A lot of the people
At 90-plus current members with more phase, the spacecraft comes together,
who designed it had already graduated,”
than 800 alumni, one satellite in orbit, employing both off-the-shelf and custom
Olson says. “There was a learning curve
and two more missions in the works, components created in-house. In the
to catch up. Debugging, fixing, trying
Michigan Tech’s Aerospace Enterprise environmental test phase, the satellite is
to understand why designers made the
team has worked through the challenges shipped for bake out, thermal cycling
choices they did.
and experienced the triumphs. It’s one and vacuum, and vibration testing—a
of the largest and most successful teams violent process commonly referred to
“That’s one of the biggest challenges
in Michigan Tech’s 20-year Enterprise as shake-and-bake that simulates the
across all UNP and university projects,”
Program. Started at the request of rigors of launch and orbit in the space
he notes. “Teams working through
students roughly 18 years ago, it’s also environment. These steps all lead to the
multi-year projects have to come up
one of the oldest. Nearly two decades of coveted launch and missions operations
with ways to combat that through
training in small-satellite development, phase.
documentation and training.”
from concept to launch-ready, has
positioned students among the next Read more about the nuts and bolts of
Olson now guides a new generation of
generation of aerospace leaders. Here’s the Aerospace Enterprise missions on
Aerospace Enterprise students through
how they got their first nanosatellite, the University research blog Unscripted:
the very program that resulted in the
Oculus-ASR, into space last summer and mtu.news/aerospace
successful Oculus launch. In its 20-year
their plans for two new missions, Auris
history, UNP has worked with 38
and Stratus. MISSION: OCULUS-
universities and has 15 satellites and
ASR
seven launches under its belt. Olson is
“We have an established presence in Oculus-ASR is fittingly named for its currently working with 12 universities
the field,” says current team program role to help the US Department of on 14 missions.
manager Marcello Guadagno. “You’re Defense (DoD) improve its vision when
working on something that until very monitoring satellites; the ASR stands Working on the Oculus project as
recently was in the domain of large for attitude and shape recognition. Its an undergrad showed Olson the
corporations and governments. You get mission is one of the first dedicated inherent give-and-take of the effective
to see your work in space; people don’t to providing a cooperative target for mentoring techniques he uses today.
get to see that too often.” ground observatories as a means to help “I’m always getting advice from other
Oculus-ASR rides telescopes gauge imaging capabilities. people. This is not a one-man show,”
NOT YOUR PARENT’S Six months into its nine-month mission,
the Falcon Heavy Olson says. “And while I don’t see him
SPUTNIK the 150-pound satellite now orbits
rocket into orbit as often as I used to, I still regard Dr.
June 25, 2019 at In the system concept and critical design in Low Earth Orbit (LEO is 99 to Brad King as a mentor.”
Cape Canaveral. review phase, research is paramount. 1,200 miles above the planet’s surface)
The initial step, deciding what you want changing shape and performing complex
your satellite to do and how that aligns maneuvers to present an ever-shifting
Zoe Thacker
with a funding agency’s mission, can take target for ground telescopes.
12 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 13NANOSAT
MISSION(S) ACCOMPLISHED The mission kicked into high gear
with winning the University Nanosat
6 competition in 2011. This netted the
At 2:30 a.m. on June 25, 2019, Michigan Tech’s student-built Oculus-ASR team the Air Force Office of Scientific
Research (AFOSR) contract to launch
nanosatellite rode the SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Cape Canaveral Pad 39A into
Oculus under the guidance of the
orbit. It’s a University first, but by no means the last. University Nanosatellite Program (UNP)
for the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL). Graduate Jesse Olson ’17 ,
who started building rockets when he
was 12 years old and served as the chief
engineer for Oculus as a student, now
heads the UNP.
The new space race is driven by months, as can diving deep into what
commercialization, tech miniaturization, has worked and what hasn’t. Be it with
“I knew I was going to join the
and cost optimization. Space is easier a military branch, National Aeronautics
team before I even got to Michigan
and cheaper to reach than ever before. and Space Agency (NASA), or private
Tech because I knew I wanted to
However, there’s still nothing simple entity, the team is tasked with creating a
do aerospace. When I came into
about building a satellite. compliant proposal that meets all criteria.
the process, the whole satellite was
In the assembly, integration, and test
completely designed. A lot of the people
At 90-plus current members with more phase, the spacecraft comes together,
who designed it had already graduated,”
than 800 alumni, one satellite in orbit, employing both off-the-shelf and custom
Olson says. “There was a learning curve
and two more missions in the works, components created in-house. In the
to catch up. Debugging, fixing, trying
Michigan Tech’s Aerospace Enterprise environmental test phase, the satellite is
to understand why designers made the
team has worked through the challenges shipped for bake out, thermal cycling
choices they did.
and experienced the triumphs. It’s one and vacuum, and vibration testing—a
of the largest and most successful teams violent process commonly referred to
“That’s one of the biggest challenges
in Michigan Tech’s 20-year Enterprise as shake-and-bake that simulates the
across all UNP and university projects,”
Program. Started at the request of rigors of launch and orbit in the space
he notes. “Teams working through
students roughly 18 years ago, it’s also environment. These steps all lead to the
multi-year projects have to come up
one of the oldest. Nearly two decades of coveted launch and missions operations
with ways to combat that through
training in small-satellite development, phase.
documentation and training.”
from concept to launch-ready, has
positioned students among the next Read more about the nuts and bolts of
Olson now guides a new generation of
generation of aerospace leaders. Here’s the Aerospace Enterprise missions on
Aerospace Enterprise students through
how they got their first nanosatellite, the University research blog Unscripted:
the very program that resulted in the
Oculus-ASR, into space last summer and mtu.news/aerospace
successful Oculus launch. In its 20-year
their plans for two new missions, Auris
history, UNP has worked with 38
and Stratus. MISSION: OCULUS-
universities and has 15 satellites and
ASR
seven launches under its belt. Olson is
“We have an established presence in Oculus-ASR is fittingly named for its currently working with 12 universities
the field,” says current team program role to help the US Department of on 14 missions.
manager Marcello Guadagno. “You’re Defense (DoD) improve its vision when
working on something that until very monitoring satellites; the ASR stands Working on the Oculus project as
recently was in the domain of large for attitude and shape recognition. Its an undergrad showed Olson the
corporations and governments. You get mission is one of the first dedicated inherent give-and-take of the effective
to see your work in space; people don’t to providing a cooperative target for mentoring techniques he uses today.
get to see that too often.” ground observatories as a means to help “I’m always getting advice from other
Oculus-ASR rides telescopes gauge imaging capabilities. people. This is not a one-man show,”
NOT YOUR PARENT’S Six months into its nine-month mission,
the Falcon Heavy Olson says. “And while I don’t see him
SPUTNIK the 150-pound satellite now orbits
rocket into orbit as often as I used to, I still regard Dr.
June 25, 2019 at In the system concept and critical design in Low Earth Orbit (LEO is 99 to Brad King as a mentor.”
Cape Canaveral. review phase, research is paramount. 1,200 miles above the planet’s surface)
The initial step, deciding what you want changing shape and performing complex
your satellite to do and how that aligns maneuvers to present an ever-shifting
Zoe Thacker
with a funding agency’s mission, can take target for ground telescopes.
12 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 13NANOSAT NANOSAT
King, the Henes Endowed Professor in Delayed by a ground hydraulics system Falcon Heavy blasted into the sky. The lagoon gleamed, Falcon Heavy waits
Space Systems, has been the Aerospace issue, liftoff took place three hours into the briefly illuminated brighter than day then returning to on iconic launch
Enterprise team advisor since the group four-hour launch window. darkness as the flash of the rocket flare was swallowed in pad 39A, where the
formed. Over the years students have made the low horizon of billowing steam rising from the launch Apollo missions
their mark in the industry—and also left pad. lifted off.
their mark in laboratory work spaces. King
shows a scribbled piece of paper that reads, “W H E N TH E L A UN C H Their eyes were on Oculus.
“Oculus means family—and that means
nobody goes home.”
DATE F IN A L L Y C A M E , “It’s difficult to describe,” says Guadagno. His phone
C U R R E N T A N D FO R M E R video captures the elation of the moment—bright
“That perfectly captures the perseverance voices in the dark—as the rocket carrying a milestone
of the team,” King says. There were many S TU D E N TS T R A V E L E D accomplishment for so many steadily ascends toward the
moments when the end-goal seemed stratosphere, encouraged every step of the way: “Here we
AC R OS S TH E C O UN T R Y
doubtful. “The number of near-failures go!” “Yes!” “Go, baby, go, baby, go!” There was applause
are too numerous to list. I can’t count TO B E TOGE T HE R A GA I N as the boosters separated and fell to Earth accompanied
how many times we were on the brink of by four sonic booms.
AN D W ATC H T HE I R
Brad King missing a key deadline, or we were out
of funds with no clear path forward, or S ATE L L ITE HE A D O FF T O Back at the Space Center, King watched the video
we damaged an irreplaceable component livestream. Oculus was scheduled for release 13 minutes
during testing. Somehow they always found DO ITS JOB .” into the mission. Seconds before deployment the video
Olson, King, and
an alternative path.” — B R AD K I NG stream cut out as the rocket passed beyond line-of-sight
King’s son savor the
from ground control. Another antenna picked up the feed
historic occasion.
The hardest decisions involved descoping a few minutes later.
critical components or functions to reduce
budget or meet a government deadline. “So much energy and anticipation, and “When the video stream came back, Oculus was gone!”
“These decisions involved abandoning now we had to cool our heels for a few King says. “While it was frustrating to miss seeing her
something that part of the team spent hours,” says King, who watched with his release, it was striking to notice the empty spot where she
years developing, in order to ensure success son from a balcony at the Operations used to be located.”
of the core mission,” says King. “In the Support Building II located next to the
end, all of the decisions proved to be Space Center’s iconic Vehicle Assembly The celebration, including a group photo and high-fives,
justified and correct.” Building. continued at Banana Creek.
LAUNCH: OCULUS-ASR Roughly five miles away, about 40 “It was so much fun!” says 2018 graduate Sarah Wade,
In spring 2019, SpaceX announced a Aerospace alumni played the waiting game an electrical engineer with Space Dynamics Laboratory
June 24 launch window beginning at at the Banana Creek Launch Viewing in Utah. The launch wasn’t her first Oculus-induced
11:30 p.m. for the DoD Space Test Area, situated on a lagoon overlooking the adrenaline rush.
Program-2 mission, managed by the launch site. The live broadcast announced
US Air Force Space and Missile Systems 30 seconds. Then 15. Several years earlier, Wade, a double major in electrical
Center. The mission would deliver 24 and computer engineering, was among the small group
satellites to space with Oculus first off the “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,” alumni that worked tirelessly to get the nanosatellite shipshape
rocket. Nearly 40 alumni and their advisor counted down together, “five, four, three, when the call for environmental testing at Kirtland Air
headed to Cape Canaveral. two, one, zero … Wooooo!” Force Base came unexpectedly in summer 2017: After six
years of development and hundreds of undergraduate
The five-year wait was R&D hours, it was go time.
over. Almost.
The deadline: four weeks to reassemble, test, and ship
the nanosatellite. Olson, who would go out to Kirtland
himself not long after, remembers the pressure as well as
the satisfaction of accomplishing the goal. The team was
short on members—most had already left campus for the
summer—but powered through in one intense week.
Oculus-ASR was first
off the SpaceX payload “There were six of us. It was like six 16-hour days in a
at approximately 315 row. We made it—got it on the truck in time!” Olson says.
kilometers altitude. Shipping, in a truck with a driver likely not accustomed
to transporting spacecraft, was more nerve-wracking than Jesse Olson
shake-and-bake.
14 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 15NANOSAT NANOSAT
King, the Henes Endowed Professor in Delayed by a ground hydraulics system Falcon Heavy blasted into the sky. The lagoon gleamed, Falcon Heavy waits
Space Systems, has been the Aerospace issue, liftoff took place three hours into the briefly illuminated brighter than day then returning to on iconic launch
Enterprise team advisor since the group four-hour launch window. darkness as the flash of the rocket flare was swallowed in pad 39A, where the
formed. Over the years students have made the low horizon of billowing steam rising from the launch Apollo missions
their mark in the industry—and also left pad. lifted off.
their mark in laboratory work spaces. King
shows a scribbled piece of paper that reads, “W H E N TH E L A UN C H Their eyes were on Oculus.
“Oculus means family—and that means
nobody goes home.”
DATE F IN A L L Y C A M E , “It’s difficult to describe,” says Guadagno. His phone
C U R R E N T A N D FO R M E R video captures the elation of the moment—bright
“That perfectly captures the perseverance voices in the dark—as the rocket carrying a milestone
of the team,” King says. There were many S TU D E N TS T R A V E L E D accomplishment for so many steadily ascends toward the
moments when the end-goal seemed stratosphere, encouraged every step of the way: “Here we
AC R OS S TH E C O UN T R Y
doubtful. “The number of near-failures go!” “Yes!” “Go, baby, go, baby, go!” There was applause
are too numerous to list. I can’t count TO B E TOGE T HE R A GA I N as the boosters separated and fell to Earth accompanied
how many times we were on the brink of by four sonic booms.
AN D W ATC H T HE I R
Brad King missing a key deadline, or we were out
of funds with no clear path forward, or S ATE L L ITE HE A D O FF T O Back at the Space Center, King watched the video
we damaged an irreplaceable component livestream. Oculus was scheduled for release 13 minutes
during testing. Somehow they always found DO ITS JOB .” into the mission. Seconds before deployment the video
Olson, King, and
an alternative path.” — B R AD K I NG stream cut out as the rocket passed beyond line-of-sight
King’s son savor the
from ground control. Another antenna picked up the feed
historic occasion.
The hardest decisions involved descoping a few minutes later.
critical components or functions to reduce
budget or meet a government deadline. “So much energy and anticipation, and “When the video stream came back, Oculus was gone!”
“These decisions involved abandoning now we had to cool our heels for a few King says. “While it was frustrating to miss seeing her
something that part of the team spent hours,” says King, who watched with his release, it was striking to notice the empty spot where she
years developing, in order to ensure success son from a balcony at the Operations used to be located.”
of the core mission,” says King. “In the Support Building II located next to the
end, all of the decisions proved to be Space Center’s iconic Vehicle Assembly The celebration, including a group photo and high-fives,
justified and correct.” Building. continued at Banana Creek.
LAUNCH: OCULUS-ASR Roughly five miles away, about 40 “It was so much fun!” says 2018 graduate Sarah Wade,
In spring 2019, SpaceX announced a Aerospace alumni played the waiting game an electrical engineer with Space Dynamics Laboratory
June 24 launch window beginning at at the Banana Creek Launch Viewing in Utah. The launch wasn’t her first Oculus-induced
11:30 p.m. for the DoD Space Test Area, situated on a lagoon overlooking the adrenaline rush.
Program-2 mission, managed by the launch site. The live broadcast announced
US Air Force Space and Missile Systems 30 seconds. Then 15. Several years earlier, Wade, a double major in electrical
Center. The mission would deliver 24 and computer engineering, was among the small group
satellites to space with Oculus first off the “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,” alumni that worked tirelessly to get the nanosatellite shipshape
rocket. Nearly 40 alumni and their advisor counted down together, “five, four, three, when the call for environmental testing at Kirtland Air
headed to Cape Canaveral. two, one, zero … Wooooo!” Force Base came unexpectedly in summer 2017: After six
years of development and hundreds of undergraduate
The five-year wait was R&D hours, it was go time.
over. Almost.
The deadline: four weeks to reassemble, test, and ship
the nanosatellite. Olson, who would go out to Kirtland
himself not long after, remembers the pressure as well as
the satisfaction of accomplishing the goal. The team was
short on members—most had already left campus for the
summer—but powered through in one intense week.
Oculus-ASR was first
off the SpaceX payload “There were six of us. It was like six 16-hour days in a
at approximately 315 row. We made it—got it on the truck in time!” Olson says.
kilometers altitude. Shipping, in a truck with a driver likely not accustomed
to transporting spacecraft, was more nerve-wracking than Jesse Olson
shake-and-bake.
14 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 15NANOSAT NANOSAT
“Even though we do beat the satellites up [at radiated from high- on to system integration in preparation for an LAUNCH: ENTERPRISE FOR
AFRL], these are very controlled environments, frequency emissions upcoming launch.” STUDENT SUCCESS
conducted with the proper equipment and trained of spacecraft in high There are many moving parts to business ventures as well
personnel,” says Olson, adding that the hurry- orbit to determine Stratus is currently on track for completion as satellites. Like all Enterprise teams, Aerospace Enterprise
up-and-wait syndrome continues with securing a how it impacts ground in December 2020. Its payload subteam has operates as a real business.
launch vehicle. “We were launch-ready for several receivers. integrated with the software subteam; full
months. Oculus was isolated from the world, first satellite functionality tests are underway in the “During the early years, I played an active role in creating our
in a clean room, then in a shipping container Olson and a team clean room. design processes, management structure, and overall culture,”
under a nitrogen purge.” of fellow engineers says long-time team advisor King. “Working together with
from AFRL came to Sietsema interned as a multidisciplinary students, and also mentors from AFRL and NASA, we created
campus in December systems engineering intern at Space Dynamics a systems engineering infrastructure that’s become a skeleton
for preliminary design Laboratory in Logan, Utah, in summer 2019. for all of our design projects.”
“ T H E A EROSPACE review. Additional “My success in that position can be wholly
reviewers participated attributed to my work with the Enterprise.
E N TERPRISE HAS The system defines and tracks requirements. It gives team
remotely in the eight-to- The Aerospace Enterprise has not only leaders templates to manage the schedule and budget of
HE L PED ME IDE NTI F Y 10-hour series of team shaped the form of my future career, it is a large team. It includes a self-sustaining leadership and
presentations. the foundation upon which it will be built,” management hierarchy.
W HA T I W AN T TO DO I N he says. “Working as the chief engineer on
M Y CA REER, AND I AM “A satellite has value for both Stratus and Auris has given me a unique “With this system in place, the Aerospace Enterprise is now
the research and science it can do; it needs to be insight into spacecraft design, large-scale run entirely by the students,” says King. Current leaders
E VER G RA T EFUL F O R compliant [with the requirements for its mission]. A CAD model of collaborative projects, and the importance mentor their successors, providing year-to-year continuity.
The feedback from formal design reviews helps microsatellite Auris, of systems engineering as a tool to structure
T H E OPPORT UNI TY TO A prototype of Stratus, A peer-evaluation system provides feedback and promotes
guide students,” Olson says. which underwent the CubeSat destined complex systems. When I first joined the advancement within the team, and King says the Enterprise
W O RK ON SU CH A TE AM . preliminary design for launch from Enterprise, I had only a vague idea what each has taken on a life of its own. So much so that his role is now
Aerospace Enterprise team chief engineer review in December the International of those are; now, I look forward to a career
P LU S, WE G ET TO PUT more of an outside evaluator, observing the team’s activities
Matthew Sietsema, a double major in electrical Space Station dealing exclusively in those areas.” and trying to forecast upcoming problems that perhaps are
S T UFF IN SPA C E!” and computer engineering, says the group was not on their radar.
looking forward to demonstrating the maturity of
— MATTH EW SI ETSEM A the project and the progress made since the last “The students have created an institution that is resilient,”
review. King says, “and can endure the inevitable personnel changes
of a school environment while still tackling and solving major
Olson is among those who have been keeping MISSION: STRATUS engineering challenges.”
an eye on Oculus since the launch. “We had Stratus, named for its cloud-imaging mission, is
successful sphere deployment, and the ground funded through NASA’s Undergraduate Student As the Aerospace Enterprise’s software team leader Dante
telescopes collected some light curves as Oculus Instrument Program and the CubeSat Launch Paglia puts it: “All of us joined not knowing how to write
flew overhead,” he says. Data coming in continues Initiative. Sietsema says there are no specifics on a software for a satellite. It’s not taught in classes. You get to say
to indicate that Oculus is doing its job. “So far timeline yet, but that Stratus will be launched from your code is in space. Not every undergrad can say that.”
everything seems to be functioning as expected.” the International Space Station.
With two more spacecraft in process and ever-expanding
MISSION: AURIS The 10-by-10-by-30-centimeter and 4.4-kilogram opportunities on the horizon, the Aerospace Enterprise team
The microsatellite Auris is one of 10 in Phase A CubeSat (named for its cube-like configuration) is continues to design, build, and launch both satellites and
of the four-phase AFRL UNP process. Huskies a three-axis-stabilized thermal infrared telescope careers. The thrill of the first success remains and Olson
have already cleared one hurdle in this preliminary designed to provide a low-cost solution to imaging says the coolest part of his job so far was watching Oculus
phase: the system concept review to help the team atmospheric clouds. Cloud fraction, top wind, launch. “That was incredible. The Falcon Heavy is currently
develop mission objectives and goals. and top height data are used to reconcile climate the most powerful operational rocket in the world. Seeing it
models. If all goes as planned, more Stratus launch, feeling it, was all around an amazing experience.”
Stratus, Auris, and Oculus are all nanosatellites. spacecraft could be deployed to gather hyper-local
But at 10-by-20-by-30 centimeters with a weather data.
preliminary estimated mass of 15 kilograms,
Auris is a much smaller satellite than Oculus- The CubeSat underwent and passed its critical
ASR, which has been compared to a mini-fridge. design review by a NASA-Goddard Spaceflight
Auris, Latin for ear, will monitor communications Center team in December 2018. “While we
emissions from geostationary satellites. Listening, suffered a few nicks and dings from the event
in an increasingly congested space environment, [as is common during CDR],” King wrote in an
will allow researchers to spatially map the power Aerospace blog, “we passed and can now move
16 R E S E A R C H 2 0 2 0 2020 RESEARCH 17You can also read
