The past few months have been an especially exciting time for space-related activities at the Academy, and for the AOG Space Group. With FalconSAT-3 going fully operational, after resolving a few technical problems, and preparations for FalconLAUNCH V underway, the Academy and the graduate community are getting significant space operational experience. Moreover, work on FalconSATs-4 and -5 is providing a strong basis of engineering expertise for the Wing. USAFA grads have helped bring these programs along.
National awareness of the importance of space operations and the contribution of space capabilities to national security continues to grow. Members of the Space Group heard reports on USAFA space activities at the National Space Symposium, held in the Springs in April, and participated at the Academy's Forum on Space and Defense Studies, conducted by the USAFA Center for Space and Defense Studies earlier this year. Both these events highlighted new space expertise at the Academy. In addition, cadets participated in the Space Grant Symposium in Boulder and won several awards. The Space Group continues to support and encourage cadet participation in such activities.
Communication among space-interested grads continues to improve. Zoomienation has been one path that has significantly increased the level of interaction between the Space Group and the faculty. Astro Department head Col Marty France has been especially active in promoting stronger ties with the graduate community through this link. We are also continuing to develop joint activities with other AOG chapters.
The Space Group wants to offer our sincere thanks to Tina Visco ('92) for her long service to the Group as Secretary. Her continuous efforts held the group together provided the hub for communications among our virtual chapter. Tina's role has been taken by Lawrence Cooper ('86), and we thank him in advance for helping find new ways to make the Space Group even more successful. One potential project is improvement to the Group's web site (usafaspace.tripod.com). Please check it out for more information about our activities and plans, as well as for information about how to join this effort to promote and strengthen space-related activities at the Academy.
Stan Rosen '69