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Physics Colloquium: “Engineering the Complex: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope”

November 2, 2021 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Daniel Porpora

Ball Aerospace

Abstract: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest, most complex, space telescope undertaken in NASA’s history. But why is it so? This talk will discuss why JWST is being built and how the ambitious science goals for it have led to such a unique and massive system. And we’ll dive down into the some of the many nuances that were involved in designing, integrating, and testing JWST ahead of its highly anticipated launch in December of 2021.

Biography: Daniel Porpora is the program manager for the Microwave Instrument (MWI) on the Weather System Follow-on – Microwave (WSF-M) mission at Ball Aerospace. This mission will provide critical weather data to protect the nation’s warfighters and improve weather forecasting. Dan is responsible for supporting a team of world-class engineers and technicians as they develop the space instrument, and ensure that Ball Aerospace delivers the government’s data on-time and on-budget. Prior to Ball Aerospace, Dan served as an engineering aide and independent researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO. His primary research topics were the measurement of magnetic fields in nanoscale dots using micro-cantilevers and the magnetic manipulation of individual strands of lambda-phage DNA. Daniel received a B.S. in engineering physics and an M.E. in microelectronic materials engineering, both from the Colorado School of Mines. he also holds professional certifications in Systems Engineering (CSEP) and Project Management (PMP). Outside of work, Daniel spends much of his time with his wife, Laura, and their two young boys. Having spent the last 20-plus years living in Colorado, he considers himself a native, much to the chagrin of his wife, who was actually born here.

Unless otherwise specified, all lectures will take place in CoorsTek 140/150, located at 1523 Illinois Street, Golden, CO

Details

Date:
November 2, 2021
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Category:
Event Tags:
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Website:
https://physics.mines.edu/colloquia/

Venue

CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering
1523 Illinois St.
Golden, CO 80401 United States
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Other

Room Number
140