May Explores 'Rocket Science' November 26

Salisbury, MD---Sharing her adventures from the world’s largest land-based rocket launching range in Alaska, software engineer Linda May speaks at Salisbury University on Monday, November 26.  Her talk, “Rocket Science Through the Eyes of a Software Engineer,” is 4 p.m. in Henson Hall, Room 243.

Dedicated to the launch of sounding rockets for atmospheric research, the Poker Flat Research Range is located some 30 miles north of Fairbanks, AK.  It’s the only collegiate-owned rocket launching facility.

Operated by the University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute through a contract with NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia, the range’s scientists have launched more than 1,500 meteorological missiles and 230 high-altitude sounding rockets.  In addition to studying the arctic atmosphere, they have researched the aurora, ozone layer and ultraviolet radiation.

May, who works for Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. on its Near Earth Networks Services project, is based at the Wallops Flight Facility.  When one of their rockets was being launched into the aurora at the Poker Flat Range, she took the opportunity to travel there for research.

Sponsored by the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology as part of its seminar series, the talk is free and the public is invited.  Refreshments are served at 3:50 p.m., prior to the lecture. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.