Move Over NASA, Here Comes Mat-Su College
Contributed by Nick McDermott
How do you figure out how big something is if it’s the size of a planet? Thanks to students at Mat-Su College and the University of Alaska Anchorage, we have the answer and method that will be used by NASA to train future astronauts and rocket scientists.
The team, made up of Justice Darby, Kenny Sparks, Walter Nagle, and advised by Dr. Dan Nichols, Associate Professor of Physics at Mat-Su College, created an experiment that was launched into space at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2025. Dr. Nichols joined Darby and Sparks at the launch site at Wallops Flight Facility.
Dr. Nichols says, “I had the honor of watching my students grow into highly capable engineers through their work on this eight-month project. They combined their skills in electronics, sensor integration, software development, and data analysis to design and execute a successful experiment.”
The scientific community already has a generally accepted number for the mass of our planet; in fact, it is 5.972 × 10^24 kg. What's special about this project is that the team got the right answer with their own method and a new sophisticated computer program to analyze all the data collected as the rocket raced out of our atmosphere.
Dr. Nichols says, “The analysis software developed by these students will be used by future generations of students working on rocketry experiments, forming a foundation for continued innovation and learning.” Analysis of the data gathered from the flight is still ongoing, with results expected by the end of July.
These engineering students sure proved they have the right stuff, and if you search for it, you can find a video of the rocket launch online.
For more information about programs at Mat-Su College, visit matsu.alaska.edu.