USU students aim for space flight
One mile up and a mile back.
The short flight was a precursor of a much longer one many Utah State University mechanical and aerospace engineering students hope to be a part of someday.
The students recently sent a reusable rocket into the sky and brought it back with enough prowess that it turned some heads at NASA's University Student Launch Initiative, winning them the grand prize for the second year in a row.
The 27-member USU rocket team took home $5,000 from ATK and guaranteed invitations to a space-shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida this fall.
The competition itself is extremely demanding, said USU faculty mentor Stephen A. Whitmore. The students build a rocket with a guidance system that is as complex as that of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The rocket fires off, disappears into the sky, and 20 seconds later, as just a visible speck, it turns the corner and hits within 22 inches of the targeted one-mile altitude.
"That's like throwing a basketball from Old Main to the Spectrum and hitting nothing but net," Whitmore said.
Students sacrificed free time and worked extra hours, including over the Christmas holiday and spring break, to prepare for the competition.
"When working with people on a project that takes all your life, there is no award that could ever reflect the true depths of that effort," said Heather Williams, a USU team member.
Utah State students beat out 18 other American college and university teams in the annual competition sponsored by ATK Space Systems of Magna, including Arizona State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Vanderbilt University.
"It was amazing to see the level of talent that participated in the competition," said Jim Halsell, ATK vice president of Space Exploration Systems and former NASA astronaut. "If these students pursue careers in engineering and science, America will have a tremendous future in space exploration as we return to the moon and journey out into the far reaches of the solar system."
This prestigious team win, Whitmore says, is due partly to last-year's "well-documented legacy for this year's team to build on."
"These wins give the USU engineering program tremendous exposure on the national stage," the former NASA employee said, adding that at the ceremony, "there wasn't a person involved who mixed up who the rocket experts in Utah are — Utah State University — and they all put that 'State' part in the name."
Recent comments
This is the reason why I'm a USU student.
TheWiz | June 11, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.
Way to go Aggies!!! It is always a pleasure to read about the...
Proud to be an Aggie | June 11, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
- A haven for his work 12:16 p.m.
- Should your walls go black? 11:34 a.m.
- Insulation before new windows 11:32 a.m.
- Living with children 11:17 a.m.
- Murder-suicide in West Jordan 11:08 a.m.
- Stand-in for traditional cranberr 11:04 a.m.
- Family physician cuts out middlemen 11:02 a.m.
- Church leaders visit southernmost city 10:59 a.m.
- Memo out again tonight for Jazz 10:47 a.m.
- Health care bill faces a crucial vote 10:33 a.m.
- Mailman's nomination delivered
- 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
- Can BYU throw vs. Air Force?
- Cougars cruise to victory in Hawaii
- U. professor dies after fall from bus
- Unga's status 'a game-time decision'
- Huntsman blasts media over trip
- TCU still has a chance
- Orem man acquitted in tot's death
- Christian leaders not backing down
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
184 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
169 - BYU, Utah struck gold in coaches
124 - Lies shatter Utah family
123 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
117 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
100 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
98 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
96 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
86
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
will break the record. Then the next BYU chucker will break the record....
You betcha'
Liberals are interested in personal vices, not personal freedom, they just...
re: ROTFLOL at UTES! Hehehe. I also find BYU fans hilarious. Did you try...
I am also going to blame your hearing or a technical error...We were singing...
Goll, byu is way better than Air Force.
All behavior in question takes place behind closed doors. It takes a...
prevent defense anyone. put 8 guys in the endzone prior to the snap. not...
If more people used birth control there'd be less need for abortions.
Until you become omniscient like God, please spare us the tired old "I...

