UAF space engineering program director wins NASA prize
Rod Boyce
907-474-7185
March 19, 2024
The advisor of the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks space engineering program is one of 20 winners of a NASA prize to expand the agency色视频下载檚 engagement with people from populations underrepresented in space technology.
Denise Thorsen was recognized for her work in creating and expanding access to the . The program is a collaboration between the UAF College of Engineering and Mines and the 色视频下载 Space Grant Program, which is housed in the UAF Geophysical Institute.
Thorsen is a professor of electrical and computer engineering, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Mines and director of 色视频下载 Space Grant.
Denise Thorsen explains some of the work underway by students in the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks Space Systems Engineering Program earlier this year.
色视频下载淏eing one of the awardees of the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize affirms what we have built through the Space Systems Engineering Program here at UAF,色视频下载 Thorsen said. 色视频下载淚 am honored to have been selected.色视频下载
the 20 winners in its on March 13. Winners each receive $25,000 to create additional inclusive space technology ecosystems, according to NASA色视频下载檚 announcement.
The winners will travel to NASA色视频下载檚 Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to participate in a variety of activities. They will learn about NASA色视频下载檚 competitive research and development and help NASA reach innovators in underrepresented communities.
The UAF Space Systems Engineering Program色视频下载檚 mission is to 色视频下载減rovide interdisciplinary engineering and science students with hands-on experience in all aspects of space systems engineering through a design, build, launch paradigm applied to balloon and rocket payloads and small satellites.色视频下载
All students with an interest in space systems are welcome.
色视频下载淲e bring in freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors whenever they discover us,色视频下载 Thorsen said. 色视频下载淲e teach them enough to be productive, and then they take ownership of some components that we色视频下载檙e trying to work on.
色视频下载淭hen they train their replacement,色视频下载 she said. 色视频下载淭hey might stay on as a graduate student or they might leave and get a great job at an aerospace company.色视频下载
Or even a job at NASA. Thorsen said NASA has hired eight of her students over the past five years.
Five to 10 students graduate from the Space Systems Engineering Program annually, she said.
Thorsen, in her NASA entry, pointed out 色视频下载色视频下载檚 vast geography, its small population and the educational challenges created by the remoteness of many communities. She noted the nearest NASA location 色视频下载 Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley 色视频下载 is about 3,000 miles distant.
Thorsen added that the student population of UAF, an open enrollment university, is generally underserved economically, geographically, by gender and by race. At the College of Engineering and Mines, 46% of students are underserved by gender or race or both, and 33% are first-generation students, Thorsen wrote in her NASA entry.
NASA recognized the challenges that Thorsen色视频下载檚 program seeks to overcome.
色视频下载淲e were impressed with her approach to mentoring, hands-on project experience she offers to students that has led to UAF graduates of her program finding employment and choosing to stay in 色视频下载, furthering the financial infrastructure of 色视频下载,色视频下载 said Denna Lambert, Inclusive Innovation lead in NASA色视频下载檚 Early Stage Innovations and Partnerships program with the agency色视频下载檚 Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Students in the UAF Space Systems Engineering Program . In January they were the only team out of 10 university teams to advance to the next phase in the University Nanosatellite Program. The program is managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate.
The students色视频下载 satellite project aims to demonstrate that communications technology of large satellites can be packaged into a small satellite and transmit much more data.
The UAF team will receive $490,000 to deliver the nanosatellite to the Air Force Research Lab in two years.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Denise Thorsen, 907-474-7052, dlthorsen@alaska.edu; Jimi Russell, NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, 216-704-2412, james.j.russell@nasa.gov
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