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MetroCon 2003 |
Keynote Address |
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Planetary Exploration with Spacecraft- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Beyond William W. Ward,
PhD, PE |
Abstract: Dramatic pictures of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, their rings, and their satellites were transmitted to earth by the spacecraft Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11 (1973-1979) and Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 (1979-1989). They were the culmination of one of the greatest scientific and engineering efforts of our time. In this presentation, we not only see some of these awe inspiring images, but we go behind the pictures to see how they came to be; to learn how such spacecraft are created and what makes them tick.
During this presentation, we will build these spacecraft, launch them, and marvel at the wonders they reveal. We ask the question, "What does it all signify?" Is winning the race to space worth the concentrated investment of resources, including those of our brightest and best minds? Will it give our nation a competitive edge in the new millennium? Ultimately we may conclude that these missions embody far more than just advances in science and technology. Our observations may in fact lead us to understand that every area of human activity stands in intimate relationship to them.
Biography: Dr. Ward retired from Lincoln Laboratory after 42 years of distinguished service where he led or participated in many projects, such as development of the Lincoln Experimental Satellite Operations Center (LESOC). He is currently an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.
Federally-funded, MIT Lincoln Laboratory's fundamental mission is to apply science and advanced technology to critical problems of national security. The scope of its projects includes space surveillance, missile defense, battlefield surveillance and identification, communications, and air traffic control. The Millstone Hill facility was the first radar to detect and track the Soviet Sputnik satellites. The Lab continues to be a primary source of technological innovation for military electronic systems. (source http://www.ll.mit.edu/about/history.html)
Dr. Ward's projects included airborne-early-warning and ground-based surveillance radars, space tracking and range instrumentation for NASA's Project Mercury, and ballistic-missile testing. He developed solutions to problems of reliable and secure satellite communication for both military and civilian customers. He helped design, build, test and operate in orbit Lincoln Experimental Satellites (LES) 5 and 6. He served as Associate Project Leader for LES 8 and 9. He also participated in the development of the Extremely High Frequency Packages carried by FLT Satellites 7 and 8, and in the creation of their Satellite Operations Centers.
Dr. Ward holds a BSEE from Texas A&M, an MSEE from Caltech, and a PhD (EE, Physics and Math) from Caltech. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi, a Senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Life Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics engineers. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a Member of the Massachusetts and the National Societies of Professional Engineers, and of the Order of the Engineer.