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Show 2 Sign Off- Take 1 - Wednesday, May 17, 1989 Act I GM and Toyota join Weber in educating students n -; - n 3 x7-7 0 n r y -: i n 0 ! 0 By Larry Richardson Contributing Writer It takes good heads, good hands and good attitudes to be in Weber State's Automotive and Mechanical Engineering Technology Department. "It used to be the students who couldn't learn who were placed in the automotive classes, but that has changed. Now it takes good heads, good hands, and good attitudes," said Dr. Robert Parker of the Automotive and Mechanical Technology Department. "We need to stress this importance to the high schools." The computerized equipment and hightech skills that are required for servicing the new lines of cars that are breezing off the showroom floors don't lend themselves to just any student. "Weber State offers four programs to its automotive and mechanical technology students," Parker said. Two are two-year programs (one in Automotive Service and the other in Auto Body). "There are roughly 90 to 95 students involved in these first two programs," he said. The other two are four-year programs (one in Mechanical Technology and the other in Automotive Technology). There are around 150 students enrolled in these. Weber students work in close conjunction with General Motors and MATT OBRAY, an auto body student, MIG (metal inert gas) welds a Honda CRX on a Black Hawk bench for perfect allignment. (The Signpost photo: Clark Hurd) Toyota who supply the latest equipment and modern automobiles for the students to work on. Some students even work in a co-op with ' local GM and Toyota dealers. In return, GM and Toyota send some of their mechanics back to school at Weber to learn and update their skills to meet the requirements of new technology. "Some people may disagree with me, but I think that our facilities are the best in Utah," said Parker. "They're as good as you would find anywhere." Students at Weber are trained in all areas of automotive service and repair. "For a project, many of our two-year students purchase cars that have been totaled and work on them here in class," Parker said. "By the time they are finishing their second year here, they drive away in a car that looks like new." The seniors are involved in an event called Mini Baja. For this event the students design and build a mini car, then race it over a baja course. "This gives the students the opportunity to see how their car will hold up under extreme conditions," he said. Students are able to train for a specific company and begin working for that company right out of college. "Weber is the place to come for automotive and mechanical tech training," said Parker. "That's why GM and Toyota are here." o o PI p P1 o o o o r o o o o o ov. Sign Off Editor Lisa Dayton Assistant Editor Christine Stout Photography Clark Hurd Art I Design Doug Clawson James Berghout Production James Berghout Jeannie Thome Ads Manager Debra Luby Ads Production Kathy Mohr P o O: O O o o o o o o o o o o o o JO CAST prepares for second satellite launch By Larry Richardson Contributing Writer Weber aerospace students are looking forward to the launch of their second satellite this October. This has been a year of growth, improvement and development for the students in the Center for AeroSpace Technology (CAST) at Weber. In previous years, Weber's Aerospace program has been a collegiate leader in its production and operation of satellites. In 1985, Weber State was the first U.S. college to send up a satellite. The Space Shuttle Challenger dispatched Northern Utah Satellite 1 (NUSAT1), built here at Weber State, into space and history. CENTER FOR AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY This year the students and faculty have continued their progress toward a second computerized venture into space with the f inalpreparatioHS'On-the-Webersat: Webor-sat-- is being completed in joint cooperation with a non-profit scientific organization called the Amateur Satellite Organization (AMSAT). "Webersat is a 25-pound micro satellite which will be launched from the European Space Agency's Ariane 4 spaceship," said Dr. Robert Twiggs of Weber's Aerospace program. "The satellite will orbit the Earth every 1 00 to 1 20 minutes at an altitude of 500 miles. Webersat's projected operational life is 7-10 years during which it will perform several experiments and functions including mapping the ozone," he said. Weber students worked in cooperation-with engineers from Morton Thiokol and several other companies and corporations to manufacture and assemble the satellite. "We have two main purposes in sending up satellites," Twiggs said. "First, to generate significant, practical and realistic technical experiences for students; and secondly, to contribute to space technology." While Weber aerospace students await the launch of Webersat, they are already preparing and designing Phase 4, their next project. Phase 4 will be a monstrous 1,000 pounds of stress metals and computer components, compared to Webersat's 25 pounds of technology and design. This 12-foot disc-shaped satellite is scheduled for its ' dobubin-spaee-somatimo io.'199-2j.'.....i.i;....,.,..... |