U.S. Space Command gets taste of Weber State’s role in aerospace innovation
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University engineering students demonstrated the progress of their senior capstone project to U.S. Space Command official Thomas A. Lockhart as he toured WSU’s Miller Advanced Research & Solutions Center on June 26.
Lockhart is a member of the Senior Executive Service and the Director of the Capability and Resource Integration Directorate at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. 
As part of his visit, Lockhart learned about the MARS Center’s ongoing materials and additive manufacturing projects with local aerospace partners, and proposed layout changes to the facility that will accommodate additional high-tech equipment.
To showcase the real-world studies conducted at MARS, WSU graduates joined mechanical engineering professors Dustin Birch and Spencer Peterson and current students to test the heat tolerance of a carbon composite rocket nozzle under extremely high temperatures.
The team said they’re testing materials and technologies never before used for rocket nozzles. Ren Fisher, who works as a research engineer and served as project manager for the capstone project, said their research can ultimately help cut time, labor and cost for organizations working with rockets.
“Our testing platform makes it easy for us to try out different combinations, and collect data about how they perform, so future projects can trust that their rocket is the best it can be,” Fisher said.
Several of the recent Weber State grads now work at the MARS Center, located near Hill Air Force Base. Opened in August 2022, MARS gives WSU students and faculty opportunities to research and apply innovative solutions to problems in aerospace and national defense.
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu