Summary:
Dawn Southard's article, "Hawaii, We Have Liftoff," describes two different programs at the University of Hawaii that have the potential to launch into orbit the first satellite from Hawaii. In 2006, an attempt was made to launch satellites from Russia, Egypt, Belarus, and Italy, but was aborted when the engine failed and crashed. The crash also lost "a payload of fourteen CubeSats, tiny satellites designed and built by students at universities around the world, including the University of Hawaii at Manoa" (Web Article, p. 1). Since this first attempt did not result in the Hawaii CubeSat going in to orbit, the claim of "first Hawaii-built satellite to go into orbit" is still up for grabs.
The first program of students call their CubeSat Ho'oponopono, which translates into "to make things right," and is set to launch with NASA out of Cape Canaveral. In this satellite program, the students are allowed to select the satellite's mission as well as "design, build, test and manage the satellite" (Web Article, p. 1). This program argues that CubeSat is not only for educational purposes, but is also an inexpensive way for scientists to conduct further research.
The second program of students are located in the Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) and are building their own satellite called HawaiiSat 1. This program was able to receive support from the Air Force's Space and Missile System Center's Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS), due to a project known as LEONIDAS, the Low Earth Orbit Nano-Satellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System. LEONIDAS is "an ambitious plan to make UH the only university in the world with the capability to design, build and launch spacecraft. HawaiiSat 1 will be the guinea pig" (Web Article, p. 2). The HSFL program is similar to Ho'oponopono in that they promote the use of smaller satellites as an inexpensive way to collect data as well as giving students a very hands on approach. However, the HSFL program's LEONIDAS gives them an advantage to launch their own spacecraft instead of catching a ride with another launch, like Ho'oponopono will be doing. If all goes according to plan, this fall, HawaiiSat 1 will be launched from the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range on Kaua'i. The HSFL hopes that by launching their own satellite, they may be able to generate more money for the program to set future launches and also to possible create more space science programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Reaction:
I think it's great that UH Manoa could potentially be launching not one, but two Hawaii-built satellites into orbit. It also creates somewhat of a competition between the two groups which the author makes clear when she says, "it will be something of a race to see who wins bragging rights over the first Hawaii satellite in orbit" (Web Article, p. 2). I think it must be so exciting for the students to be making history and representing Hawaii in such a positive way.
I also liked how the article spoke of specific students who shined in these programs, which I didn't discuss in the summary because I felt like they were more minor details than major details. For example, when Southard writes of speaking with the chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Wayne Shiroma about a systems engineer Nick Fisher. Shiroma says that Nick, "didn't have the best grades in traditional classes. But then we put him in charge as the systems engineer -- the chief engineer. All of a sudden there was a whole paradigm shift because now he knows he's in charge of a team...he's not just learning engineering; he's actually doing engineering" (Web Article, p. 1). There was also another example given of a student in the HSFL program named Jeremy Chan, who "was a high school dropout who worked as a computer geek for several years before getting his GED and going to Kapiolani Community College" (Web Article, p. 2). Now, because of the HSFL program, Chan is now paid to work as a sensor and communications expert. I think it's great that programs such as these help Hawaii students to excel in things that they are passionate about.
I feel that it's a win-win for the University of Hawaii and their science department as far as which of these teams gets to be the first official Hawaii-built satellite into orbit. This is a great accomplishment and achievement for the students and faculty of these programs. It's always amazing to see hard work payoff, and for these programs, they will definitely be able to rejoice in their success once these satellites have launched.
