: Alumnew 5 { a7 . The 8 Development. sate Shee The Hmong............ ata a Presidential Awards 5-6 Reflections....... aE gh SDONS 82s EA Satellite Project State College. WSC will be the first U.S. college or university to launch a satellite from a “Get-Away-Special” cannister, and to use a GAS cannister with a lid that can be electrically opened. The project itself is a first attempt to calibrate air traffic radar from a satellite —* — in- to NASA at the Goddard Space Center," said John Boyer. faculty advisor from ms gestions, een see Finda the engineering technology department at WSC. "They made a few sug- with what we've done. Now were in but were basically pleased BGDeE the process of incorporating their suggestions into the design and getting ER acinar Atl ready to build the actual flight model." Bob Twiggs, faculty advisor from a Ce the electronics department, said, “Electronically, 95 percent of the project is working in the prototype stage. 1 Now we need to get it packaged and — were ready to go." Completion date has been set for the first part of August this year, although an actual launch date has not yet been set. There are many sources of help, time and materials outside WSC on Sas, this project. Included in that list are Utah State University, New Mexico State University, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), MortonThiokol, TRW, Rockwell International, Apple Computers, Boeing, Consolidated Air Freight, Flameco, Sperry _Univac, Pacific Chromalox, Ogden Iron Works; National Semi Conductor, Microtec Incorporated and Hill Air Force Base. Se ee The project began in the fall of 1982 when Gil Moore of Morton Thiokol donated the Get-Away-Special cannister to WSC for the purpose of building and launching a satellite. "Charlie Bonsall of the FAA and Rex Megill of Utah State have been in- strumental in developing the whole idea of a radar calibration satellite," said Boyer. The radar antennas used by air traf: fic controllers in monitoring air traf- fic have to be aimed at a precise angle in order to "see" an airplane as it comes over the horizon. The process of adjusting the antenna now in- eiinteasdia arene volves using the sun as an electronic "Signal source. The disadvantages of this are that the radar must be shut down periodically while the sun is rising or setting over the horizon. Also, radar can only be evaluated to the east or west because the sun doen't ever rise or set in the north or south. Twiggs compared anal to a flashlight the radar signal beam. As the light NIT beam travels, it spreads out and loses intensity. So does radar. Patterns in a light beam can be seen when the beam hits a wall. The intensity of the Le oe Utah Stead of the sun. “We've had the mock-up down continued on page 11 Weber State College COMMENT. June 1984. page 2 I allee cen enemies n Northern (NUSAT) is well under way at Weber old y eens Pashley Shown above is a model of the Norther n Utah Satellite Project (Nusat) on an ejection platform. This will be the first satellite launched from a “Get-Away-Special” cannister carried aboard the space shuttle. COMMENT Comments Editor's note: There was an incorrect listing in the “In Memorium" column of the April 1984 issue of Comment The listing for Stephen G. Denkers should read Harold G. Denkers. Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoy the Alumni newspaper. I certainly hope that “you" are able to sustain the efforts necessary to continue its publication. I was especially interested in the recent article about life in the dormitory. When I first came to Weber in 1968, Promontory Tower was just beginning to take shape. I have fond memories of Wasatch Hall. When Promontory was finished they put all of us football players on the same floor (4th). That was really neat! My memories of college are very pleasant. I do hope that the “powers” can reestablish dorm life as a positive experience. There is no comparison of the seeming freedom of offcampus housing to the memories of dorm life--a life, a community--in itself. I'm now finishing my 11th year of teaching in California high school. My wife attended Weber for a year and that's where we met. Perhaps that too endears my memories of WSC. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Darcy Wingo class of 1970 What a great College! It was 1922-23 when I tried, with the help of many, to steer Weber onward. An honor to be Pres. of the Assoc. Students of Weber College. Lucille, my wife, and my family have had our residence in Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado and Idaho. At each location we took “time out" to enjoy the outdoors--The flora and fauna, the bird life, the water and earth of every location. Now at 84 years, still active and quite healthy and the outdoors remains exciting. To all then, 1984, “A year of Big Victories." Melbourne P. Douglas Laketown, Utah class of 1923 We would like to make a comment in regards to your front page picture of Promontory Tower. The caption states “Currently the second, third, and fourth floors of “P.T." are being used as office space for the department of Continuing Education." Sorry, but the second floor is not Continuing Education. However, it is inhabited by the Army ROTC, Emergency Care and Rescue Program and the Air Force ROTC. Thanks from the gang on the second floor. (no signature included) — 1 || In this issue:|| SAtellite project nears completion — a i