Houston. Cape Canaveral. Pasadena. Upland.

By Rachel Kipp
Published July 11, 2006
Chronicle-Tribune

UPLAND- Remote-controlled air-craft, a high-altitude balloon launch and speakers from NSAA and the Air Force all have a role in a conference on aerospace and space science technology coming to Taylor University this month.

More than 35 organizations will be represented July 24 as researchers, technologists and managers gather to learn about what is happening in the industry, make contacts and share their findings.

“We’re looking into the future and the more we can develop collaborations with the people that are our neighbors, the better off we’ll be,” said Adam Bennett, assistant director of Taylor’s Center for Research and Innovation. “It will be much easier if we’re wanting to pursue research funding from, let’s say, NASA, to have a team of solid experts that are nationally known to work together as a team to go after these major research grants instead of trying to work with someone who’s on the other side of the nation.”

The conference is sponsored by Access Technology Across Indiana, a statewide alliance of universities, research institutions and businesses. “ATAIN’s goal is focused on promoting high technology with-in the state and making sure various experts in the state gather together around various instructional areas,” Bennett said. “So they have hosted sever conferences around the state on everything from advanced manufacturing to communications.”

Keynote speakers will be Purdue University President Martin Jischke, who has a PH.D. in aeronautics and astronautics, and Daniel L. Dumbocher, Deputy director of the Exploration Launch office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center , Huntsville, Ala.

Taylor students and faculty will present research they’re doing in the fields of small satellite technology and instrumentation at the conference. After the conference ends, the university-grown company StratoStar Systems LLC will launch a high-altitude balloon.

Attached to the balloon are instruments designed to collect data on “near space,” between 65,000 and 300,000 feet off the ground. StratoStar has two products using this technology one is intended as an educational tool for college students and another that can be used by researchers or government applications.

A team on the ground can communicate with the experiments as long as the balloon stays with-in 300 mile radius, said Jason Krueger, one of the partners in StratoStar and a recent Taylor graduate.

“We have launched 28 and recovered 28,” Krueger said. “I’m really excited (about the conference) because it’s a chance to network and talk with other space-related businesses and institutions. From a business standpoint, I hope to make some sales and from an Indiana perspective, find out how to get my business on the right track.”

The conference is also a chance for Taylor and other Indiana entities with interest and knowledge about the aerospace industry to come together, Bennett said. “Indiana as a whole has never been known as one of the top aerospace states, but yet we have pockets of talent and expertise through-out the state,” he said. “We’re wanting to highlight that and have everyone come together so everyone knows who everyone is and can determine how to work together to develop this whole industry.”

For those with more recreational interest the subject ,the Muncie based National Model Aviation Museum is presenting a display and air show. The show will be on the lawn behind the dinning commons, said Taylor student Alex Pera, who is helping to coordinate the conference.

There will be a lot of remote controlled airplanes and helicopters,” Pera said. “And that day, many camps will be on the campus and there will be different sessions where the kids can learn to make there own airplanes and be able to fly them.”