Liftoff

Building better space situational awareness

Marcus Holzinger is investigating ways to track objects in orbit, and his team is taking full advantage of the new aerospace engineering sciences building to do it.

“This building is world class, and I was hired before the blueprints were finalized, so they were able to add something—pouring an extra thick concrete pad on the roof in one area to add an 18-foot dome for telescopes,” Holzinger said.

Holzinger, an associate professor and Smead faculty fellow, researches space situational awareness (SSA), which involves monitoring satellites and debris orbiting the Earth.

It’s a field that got a boost in public awareness from the film Gravity, in which debris from a destroyed satellite sets off a chain reaction of crashes and failures.

While Gravity was fiction, the principle behind it is not. The risk of a cascade failure in orbit has been a concern of space scientists since the late ’70s.

Today, the Air Force and NASA maintain tracking networks, keeping tabs on everything in orbit larger than a grapefruit. Holzinger’s work is about improving those tracking systems and designing systems so satellites can avoid obstacles autonomously.

The dome Holzinger is placing on the roof will house three robotic telescopes that focus on nearby space-based objects.

Aerospace walk of fame

A special outdoor feature at the new building was created to illustrate the state’s bright and active aerospace industry in a concrete way—literally.

The brick walkway leading to the northeast entrance of the building has engraved pavers with the names of every aerospace company that has operations in or calls Colorado home.

“There are 462 companies named,” said Doug Smith, associate dean for programs and engagement. “We did fairly serious research internally and with the Colorado Space Coalition to make the list. We wanted to include everyone.”

Colorado has the second-largest aerospace economy in the country, employing more than 190,000 people in space-related jobs.

#2

Colorado is the second largest
aerospace econoomy in the U.S.

Donation will further fuel aerospace initiatives

K.D. Wood
Karl Dawson “K.D.” Wood; Credit: Carnegie Library for Local; History/Boulder Daily Camera Collection

An anonymous alumnus is providing $1 million to endow two funds for project-based learning: The K.D. Wood Student Scholar Fund and the K.D. Wood Projects Scholar Award.

Karl Dawson “K.D.” Wood was a pioneer in plane and spacecraft design who founded the aeronautical engineering department at CU Boulder in 1946 and served as the department’s first chair.

As a professor, he emphasized project-based learning, which had a lifelong impact on the donor, said Erin Gage, director of development in the Office of Advancement.

“This alumnus thrived in that environment, and it’s what he’s done in his career. As a donor, his intention from the beginning was to honor Professor Wood,” Gage said.

Wood died in 1995 at age 96. His son, Bob, an aerospace engineer who graduated from CU Boulder, said the gift is a fitting honor.

“My father always stressed the importance of doing things hands-on. That’s how he learned while working for the airplane companies, and so he taught the same way to students,” Wood said.

K.D. Wood officially retired from CU Boulder in 1967, but remained an active instructor in the department, continuing to teach into his 80s.

The Student Scholar Fund will support scholarships for graduate students interested in industry careers. The Projects Scholar Award will be used to recruit additional industry professionals to serve on the faculty.

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Liftoff

In the year 2071

Building better space situational awareness

Aerospace walk of fame

Donation will further fuel aerospace initiatives