A new $3 million partnership鈥攐ne of many between global aerospace industry leader Lockheed Martin and CU Boulder鈥攊s establishing academic programs in aerospace and electrical engineering aimed at cultivating the next generation of space engineers.
The Lockheed Martin Radio Frequency (RF) Space Systems Research Center will boost engineering expertise at the college and create curricula to fill in-demand skills in the space sector. Spread over four years, the sponsorship establishes academic programs focused on radio frequency systems. RF fields address commercial, civil and military needs for communications, radar and photonics. Engineers in this field will develop innovative approaches for tracking, navigation and spacecraft control as well as next-generation global navigation technologies.
Lockheed Martin Chief Technology Officer Keoki Jackson met with several students working on Lockheed Martin-supported research projects. From left to right: Keoki Jackson, Andrew Wylde, Lt. Col. Diana Loucks, Caitlyn Cooke and Paige Anderson Arthur.
Students and graduates will be able to take advantage of the RF Payload Center of Excellence at Lockheed Martin鈥檚 Waterton Canyon site. Six students so far have learned the intricacies of satellite radio development. Among them is Andrew Wylde, a concurrent bachelor鈥檚/master鈥檚 student in electrical, computer and energy engineering.
During his internship in the microelectronics assembly area of the RF Payload Center of Excellence, Wylde was able to tune a low-noise amplifier in only six hours. Tuning can take about two days to complete, but as the hybrid assembly process improved, he was able to tune the hybrid in a fraction of that time.
鈥淭he RF Payload Center of Excellence on Space Systems鈥� campus and its manufacturing line is a full-building, cross-team effort, and nothing here can be accomplished without the person next to you,鈥� Wylde said.聽
Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin鈥檚 chief technology officer, announced the partnership during a day of meetings, presentations and tours of campus research laboratories.
鈥淓ach person depends on RF technology in one way or another, from television and radio, to phone communications, to GPS navigation,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淎s the complexity of our satellite systems and national security solutions grows, so does our demand for world-class talent. This partnership ensures that University of Colorado graduates have the skills they need to build the systems of the future while also advancing Lockheed Martin鈥檚 ability to develop revolutionary and relevant innovation.鈥�