History
The following is an excerpt from the paper "Roots of the SSOL" by Dr. Bill Byrd, ISGC Director and former director of the SSOL.
The SSOL (Spacecraft Systems and Operations Lab) began as a dream in the fall of 1991. At that time, ISU had never conceived, designed, built, tested, and flown a piece of space hardware. There was no facility for faculty or students to conduct such a project. However, a small group of student space enthusiasts was determined to change all that.
Early in 1992, a plan developed to build and operate a small spacecraft for the State of Iowa. The project was called "ISAT" for the Iowa SATellite. Thanks to Dr. Leverne Severiske, work was done in the senior design course, in summer scholarship projects, and in other work supported by the NASA-sponsored, Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC). Since no space was available on campus, an office was rented in Boone, Iowa in the fall of 1992. The students quickly took to the lab and the SSOL name evolved.
The vision for the SSOL was that it become the centerplace for students and faculty who share an interest in space systems. In addition to the required tools for spacecraft design, construction, testing, and operation; the lab was to be a place for students to experience actual space systems before they moved into industry. And so it began.
Unfortunately, the ISAT project was never funded. However, through the work of the original student team, components of the SSOL were found, computers were purchased, parts were donated. Even the City of Boone helped to get things going. Eventually, an opportunity came along to fly an experiment on board the Space Shuttle. One of the old ISAT experiments formed the basis for the development of a new project called IJEMS (Iowa Joint Experiment in Microgravity Solidification). In true ISGC-style, the project involved ISU, the University of Iowa, the Ames Laboratory, the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, Rockwell International, and Space Industries Incorporated. After only four months, the IJEMS flew successfully on STS-69 in September 1995.
In the space of fours, the ISU capability to build spacecraft went from zero to a flight article. The SSOL went from a dream to a hub of activity visited by the likes of University Presidents, Members of Congress, and countless students. More importantly, it was all done by the students themselves. Many of the original students were not around when IJEMS flew on board the Space Shuttle, but it was their work that set the foundation for the successful IJEMS flight.
Read more about this topic: Spacecraft Systems And Controls Lab
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