‘LOW EARTH ORBIT’ SHORT COURSE TO BE OFFERED AT UTSI IN OCTOBER

A short course dealing with solving space simulation problems in ground-based facilities is being offered for the first time at The University of Tennessee Space Institute this fall.

Dr. Frank G. Collins of Tullahoma, professor emeritus of Aerospace Engineering, is director of the course entitled “Ground-Based Low Earth Orbit Space Simulation” scheduled for Oct. 23-27.

“Dr. Collins has more than 40 years of experience in the simulation of the low Earth orbit environment,” said Becky Stines, director of Continuing Education at UTSI. “His course is designed to assist engineers, physicists, and chemists in dealing with space simulation problems. Techniques for simulating low Earth orbit (100 to 1000 kilometers) will be emphasized.”

Fee for the course is $995. Reservations may be made by contacting Director Stines, MS 15, B.H. Goethert Parkway, Tullahoma, Tenn., 37388-9700, (931) 393-7276. Faxes may be sent to her at (931) 393-7327. Her email address is bstines@utsi.edu.

Collins, who received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, joined the Space Institute’s faculty in 1974 and retired July 1, 2003.

His background is in rarefied and physical gas dynamics. He has frequently taught academic courses and supervised students in these subjects.

Collins’ research has included the measurement of low energy neutral gas collision cross sections and development of a free-molecule heat transfer probe used to measure the upstream flow from the exhaust of an under-expanded supersonic nozzle. He also has taught numerous courses on the design and operation of ultrahigh vacuum systems and has led other courses on space simulation.

Certificates of Continuing Education Units will be presented to those attending the course, Stines said.

Writer: Weldon Payne (931) 393-7222
wpayne@utsi.edu