THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
NEWS
》 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
3A
Student scientists design zero-gravity experiments for NASA
BY NATE MCGINNIS
Contributed Photo
The KU Microgravity Team submitted three proposals to test a propulsion system for a small satellite, a docking mechanism and a lunar rover to a program sponsored by NASA.
Three teams of engineering students are submitting self-designed experiments to NASA for a chance to test them in zero gravity at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The teams, collectively known as the KU Microgravity Team, are submitting proposals to test a propulsion system for a small satellite, a docking mechanism and a lunar rover.
The teams will submit the experiments to the Reduced Gravity Flight Program sponsored by NASA. If selected, they would spend two weeks next summer testing their experiments in zero gravity.
Ben Parrott, Overland Park senior, participated in the program last summer and helped organize the teams for this year's proposals. His team last year designed and tested a cold gas propulsion system for a small satellite using compressed air and nitrogen.
Parrott said his team spent the first week of the program fine-tuning the experiment and preparing it to fly on the aircraft. The second week consisted of testing the experiments on an airplane in zero gravity.
To test their experiments in zero gravity, the team flew aboard a government research vehicle nicknamed
the "weightless wonder," a C-9 style aircraft that simulates a zero gravity environment.
The plane creates a zero gravity environment by flying in a parabola pattern. The planes follows a parabola pattern, and the steep descent creates a negative G-force and simulates a zero-gravity environment for about 30 seconds, and the pattern is then repeated.
The day before the experiments flew on the plane, Parrott said a team of NASA engineers, insurance observers and flight directors asked them questions and approved the project for flight.
Trevor Sorensen, associate professor of aerospace engineering and the team's faculty adviser, said the group originally proposed and had their experiment accepted by NASA in 2004, but didn't test it in the summer of 2005 because of problems with the zero gravity aircraft NASA used in the program.
Sorensen said this year's proposal was designed to overcome problems from last summer's experiments. He said the test plane interfered with the satellite's wireless controls and the team didn't get the full results they wanted from the experiment.
Aaron Terrell, Auburn, Ala.,
senior, is working on a different
proposal to create a space shuttle
Terrell said shape memory alloy was a combination of metals that can change shape, stiffness or position by stimulation from an electrical field or heat.
The molecular structure of the shape metal alloy is set in a certain shape, such as a straight bar. The alloy can then be bent out of its original shape, distorting the original molecular structure. When the alloy is exposed to an electrical current, it undergoes a molecular change that rearranges the alloy back into its original shape.
Terrell said the team designed a docking mechanism to use two different pieces of the alloy. One of the pieces would start out straight and then be coiled. When a space shuttle needed to dock, an electrical current would stimulate this piece, causing the metal to expand outwards towards the shuttle. Once the mechanism is attached to the shuttle, another piece of shape memory alloy, which was designed to do the exact opposite, will contract and pull the shuttle back towards the space station for docking.
The third proposal would test the capabilities of a lunar rover in reduced gravity. The lunar rover is the same idea in theory as the Mars Rover, but must be designed to function on the moon which is about one-sixth of Earth's gravity, where as martian gravity is about one-third.
Terrell said none of the team members receive class credit for the projects and all the work is done solely for the experience. Parrott said if not all of the proposals are accepted, the team members will be redistributed so everyone can participate in the program.
Kansan staff writer Nate McGinnis can be contacted at nmcginnis@ kansan.com.
Even more than having the right motivation, though, Beck said he had to convince the two journalists that this story couldn't be written in days or weeks. It turned out, the story couldn't be written in months, either. What started as a story idea on Veterans Day 2004 finally saw print on Veterans Day 2005.
Getting that much time is not
possible for the average reporter, Temple suggested. Sheeler had that much time because he had earned it with his other stories and he had built trust with his editors, Temple said.
For the team — Heisler, Sheeler,
Temple and Beck — the story was
never just a story and never a quest
for a Pultizer Prize, they said. The
two journalists have continued to
follow the families they profiled — including documenting the birth of a child whose Marine father had died in Iraq — and invited the families to the newsroom, on the day the Pulitzer Prizes were announced. The families spoke after the Pulitzer victory was announced and brought most in the newsroom to tears. Temple said.
reasons.
EDITORS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
As Sheeler read aloud from his article at Kansas Editors Day, many
Mallory Curry, Overland Park sophomore, said the speakers made her see the human side of the story.
in the audience openly sobbed or quietly studied the floor.
Kansan staff writer Kim Lynch can be contacted at klynch@kansan.com.
— Edited by Kate Shipley
VIOLATIONS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"We knew there was a chance something could happen," men's basketball coach Bill Self said of the lost scholarship. "But to be real candid, we did not anticipate that would occur."
to the men's basketball program.
"The breakdown in communications and the failure of the compliance office to meet its responsibilities — coupled with the thendirector of athletics ignoring the need to upgrade the compliance
Bohl, as well as former Athletics Director Bob Frederick, left vacant positions in the compliance department throughout their tenures, despite funding being budgeted for those positions. Throughout their tenures, numerous secondary violations were found by the department, but not reported to the conference office or to the NCAA.
Gene Marsh, chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which determined the sanctions Kansas would face, gave tremendous credit to Perkins for enhancing the climate of compliance in the department and for discovering the previous violations. Marsh alluded to the fact that the Perkins hire may have lessened the sanctions Kansas faces.
effort — are clear indicators of a lack of institutional control," the NCAA wrote in its press release.
Perkins has increased the compliance staff to five employees since being hired in 2003.
When he arrived at Kansas, the compliance department included half a worker, Perkins said, because that person's duties were split between two departments.
"I did think it was unusual for a school this size to basically have a half person and we took immediate action to rectify that," Perkins said.
And Perkins was able to keep a smile on his face.
"He's made all the right moves since taking the job and he's helped the school a great deal in its compliance effort," Marsh said.
And instead of dropping its iron fists and possibly penalizing Kansas with post-season or TV bans, the NCAA chose to firmly slap Kansas on the wrist.
Kansan staff writer C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@ kansan.com.
Edited by Catherine Odson
CALL FOR SPECIALS 785-841-8400 www.sunriseapartments.com
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
October 16,2006
Presents.
KU Young Democrats
funded by:
STREAKT
SENATE
Lt. Gov.Candidate Mark Parkison
PAID FOR BY KU
When Tomorrow Night, 7:30pm
Where: Alderson Auditorium Kansas Union 4th Floor
KU Habitat for Humanity
Want to connect with new people?
Want to make a difference?
Joel Fulton for Humanity
Collaborate Challenge for
an alternative spring break
experience
Student Tuition for Literacy (SYL) helps native and non-native English speaking youth and adults obtain their CHD, learn English as a second language, read their book, or fill out a job application.
Over one and a half million people have been displaced into camps and over 25,000 children have been abducted to be used as soldiers and sex slaves. This film is the story of Uganda, her stolen children, and the fight to be free.
Email ml@hnu.edu if you are interested
For two decades, the Achioli people of Northern Uganda have been caught in a civil war between a rebel group whose main objective is inhumane terror and a government whose military response has often increased misery and suffering.
Center for Community Outreach
Opportunity, Education, Engagement
International Meeting
Tongui, China
Atk Thien Lehbay
Focus upon
One week to
change a life, one
week to change
your own.
Interested in tutoring kids and adults? Volunteers are needed for Students Tutoring for Literacy Programs are available with groups or one-on-one throughout the Lawrence Community.
Students Tutoring for Literacy CCO
Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board
This Wednesday, Noun
Metros Room, 6th Floor Kansas Union
Speaker Jind King, National Democratic Policies mkp
"From John Kennedy to John Kerry
Walking the Line, Whose and How
Should Courts Override Legislations?
Dale Institute of Politics
Student Advisory Board
Place and Politics
Tuesday, 7:30pm
Dale Institute of Politics
Richard Epstein
Black Student Union
Acquire & Acququire Data Acquired
Dear to highest esteem,
They will be a fashion show once
beauty business place for female en-
thusiasm curd.
Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Calendar of Events
Monday, October 16th
o Interactive Resource Table, 11:00 a.m. --1:00 p.m.
Wescoe Beach
o Guest speakers (Breast Cancer Survivors & Lawrence Memorial Hospital
(LMH) Staff): 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Bake With
Nancy Hawkins
Amy Laughlin
Maggie Osburn (LMH staff)
Sarah Watts
Gadget Room 1st Floor Bury
Gridiron Room, 1st Floor Burge Union
o Interactive Resource Table 11:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m.
Javahawk Walk, 4th floor Kansas Union
Tuesday, October 17th
o Interactive Resource Table, 11:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m.
Jayhawk Walk, 4th floor Kansas Union
Wednesday, October 18th
Thursday, October 19th
o Interactive Resource Table, 11:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m.
Wescoe Beach
January, October 2017
o National Mammography Day
o Interactive Resource Table, 11:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m.
Wescoe Beach
Friday. October 20th
Sunday, October 22nd
Sunday, October 22nd
o Run/Walkathon around the KU campus, 4:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
Route 1, start and end at Burge Union, 5K
$2.00 donation requested to participate
*All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Greater Kansas City Affiliate.
*Programs sponsored by Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, Watkins Health Center, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Signa Lama Gamma, and Panhellenic.
KU Anime Club カンザス大学のアニメクラブ
Tonight at 6:30 Smith Hall Room 100
www.ku.equ/~kuanime
Come Volunteer with Us!
Meetings Thurs. 6:30pm 144 JRP upcoming events: Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, park clean-up, helping at an art festival
JAYWALK!
Have you ever felt unsafe walking alone at night on campus? Wish someone could walk with you? Jaywalk can help!
What is JayWalk?
JayWalk is a service available to all students who want a JayWalk volunteer to WALK them to their residence hall or car, or to wait with them for the Night Campus Express Bus or SafeRide.
Where is JayWalk?
The JayWalk station and volunteers are located in Anschutz Library.
When is the service available?
JayWalk runs Sunday through Thursday from 8pm to midnight.
Who walks with me?
One male and one female will escort you to a specific location.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR JayWalk?
Call us at: 864-3222
JayWalk is giving away an IPOD Nano!
JayWalk is giving away an iD Nairobi Every time you use our service or volunteer with JayWalk, you get your name in the drawing, which will be in December!
Volunteers are greatly needed and appreciated! While you are assisting KU students you can also study and do homework! Pick up forms in room 410 in the Kansas Union! If you have any questions regarding the service or about volunteering, please email Safety@ku.edu
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