UA Students Place First in Aeronautics Competition

Lori Stiles
Sept. 9, 1999


Contact:
Barry B. Goeree
goeree@u.arizona.edu

Brian Shucker
bshucker@u.arizona.edu

Ernest Fasse
520-626-9032
fasse@u.arizona.edu


University of Arizona doctoral student Barry B. Goeree and UA senior Brian
Shucker placed first in the student paper competition at the 13th Annual
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics/ Utah State University
Conference on Small Satellites held Aug. 23-26 in Logan, Utah.

Goeree and Shucker won a $7,000 cash prize for their paper entitled:
"Geometric Attitude Control of a Small Satellite for Ground Tracking
Maneuvers." This paper is about the written software for pointing the
telescope so it receives laser communication signals as it passes over the
ground station.

Both said they were very honored to receive this award. "Being an
undergraduate, it was exciting just for me just to show up (to the
conference). Having the chance to present was an honor, and winning first
place was a complete surprise," stated Shucker.

"Of course, there are others who deserve much of the credit. It_s impossible
to thank Barry, Dr.(Ernest) Fasse, and the rest of the team enough," Shucker
also said. "It felt great to win the award. It is a recognition of the
quality of the work done by the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Team over
the past two years," Goeree said.

"Both Barry and Brian worked hard on the project. I am glad that their
efforts were recognized. This should open some doors for them career wise. I
hope this will motivate other students on the project to keep working hard,
do neat things and have some fun along the way," said team mentor and UA
assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering Ernest Fasse.

About 500 representatives from universities, industry, government agencies
and labs in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada gathered at the
annual international conference to discuss recent successes, explore new
directions, and introduce emerging technologies in small spacecraft
development, according to Fasse.

The work was financially supported by the UA aeronautics and mechanical
engineering department, the Carinoso Foundation, the College of Arts and
Sciences, the College of Engineering and Mines, the Honors College and the
NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Internship Program. Goeree, Shucker
and Fasse said they also are grateful for technical support from the
Dynacon, Honeywell, and Motorola companies.

The UA Student Satellite Project began in late fall of 1996 when physics
Professor K.C. "John" Hsieh formed a team with colleagues who have expertise
in designing and building satellites and other researchers who wanted to see
their instruments in orbit. The SSP first attracted over 70 students from
two colleges at the UA.

"They (Goree and Shucker) have given the Student Satellite Project as a
whole great prestige by winning this award, and even found time while
winning first place to bring back some great contact information for other
teams in the project," said Jon Alberding, SSP project manager.

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Related links:
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~goeree/utah99.pdf
http://uasat.arizona.edu
http://uasat.arizona.edu/gnc

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