Space missions are getting more complex − lessons from Amazon and FedEx can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit
By: Wesley Marshall, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver Most space mission systems historically have used one spacecraft designed to complete an entire mission independently. Whether it was a weather satellite or a human-crewed module like Apollo, nearly every spacecraft was deployed and performed its one-off mission completely on its own. But […]
Coastal economies rely on NOAA, from Maine to Florida, Texas and Alaska – even if they don’t realize it
By: Wesley Marshall, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver Healthy coastal ecosystems play crucial roles in the U.S. economy, from supporting multibillion-dollar fisheries and tourism industries to protecting coastlines from storms. They’re also difficult to manage, requiring specialized knowledge and technology. That’s why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the […]
Traffic engineers build roads that invite crashes because they rely on outdated research and faulty data
By: Wesley Marshall, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver “Can you name the truck with four-wheel drive, smells like a steak, and seats 35?” Back in 1998, “The Simpsons” joked about the Canyonero, an SUV so big that they were obviously kidding. At that time, it was preposterous to think anyone would […]