Satellite With Indiana Ties Arrives at Destination
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA commercial space satellite involving Taylor University and Upland-based startup NearSpace Launch has reached its target. The successful arrival at the International Space Station is a continuation of several attempts earlier this year to place experimental technology into orbit. July 16, 2014
News Release
UPLAND, Ind. – A commercial satellite from Indiana with Taylor University and Upland connections has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) following a successful launch by NASA from Wallops Island, Virginia, on Sunday, July 13.
The satellite, which will in turn be deployed from the ISS, was developed and is owned by NearSpace Launch (NSL), a start-up company in Upland, Ind., with support from the Kirtland Air Force Base. NSL's Chief Engineer is Mr. Jeff Dailey and the Chief Scientist is Dr. Hank Voss – both members of Taylor University's Department of Physics Engineering.
The Globalstar Experiment And Risk Reduction Satellite (GEARRS) mission is to explore the new Globalstar satellite constellation communication network and the secondary objective is to reduce risk for new satellite technologies. The GEARRS is based on the recent technology demonstrated by the Taylor University and NSL TSAT experiment launched in April into low-earth orbit and the current risk reduction for the ELEO satellite development effort.
According to Voss and Daily, the NearSpace Launch company mission is creation of new technology, service, and education for studying the earth's environment with high-altitude balloon platforms, with Extremely Low Earth Orbit (ELEO) platforms and with microsatellites deeper into our solar system.
Five students at Taylor University are currently working on both a new ELEO satellite final design for a national student competition and the TSAT data analysis; they will be presenting their results in Logan, Utah, August 2-6 at the national AIAA Small Sat Conference. If the Taylor team is successful, their satellite would be launched next year.
Additional funding for student internships and travel has recently been awarded to NSL through the NASA Indiana Space Grant Consortium (INSGC).
Source: Taylor University