The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Undergrads crash NASA satellite

Last Monday, undergraduate students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, participated in the decommissioning of a NASA satellite, causing it to crash into the atmosphere. Remnants of the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat, plunged into the Barants Sea north of Norway and Russia, but most of the 2,000-pound orbiter burned up in the atmosphere.

Students in CU-Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics worked closely with professionals seven days a week to calculate re-entry and satellite positions, as well as to determine a landing site for any remaining debris that would minimize collateral damage. This is the first student-run decommissioning of a satellite; the last one in 2002 was run by NASA personnel.

-compiled by Lani Hossain

Local Savings

Comments

Puzzles
Hoos Spelling
Latest Video

Latest Podcast

Since the Contemplative Commons opening April 4, the building has hosted events for the University community. Sam Cole, Commons’ Assistant Director of Student Engagement, discusses how the Contemplative Sciences Center is molding itself to meet students’ needs and provide a wide range of opportunities for students to discover contemplative practices that can help them thrive at the University.