38 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST In October 2023, NASA launched its Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) mission with a laser transmitter aboard a spacecraft traveling to the asteroid Psyche, which resides in the solar system’s asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The project is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and would not have been possible without engineers that include James Dailey ’01 ’09 Ph.D., a principal optical systems engineer at CACI International, Inc. The new laser technology allows for significantly higher bandwidth communications over solar system scale distances as the spacecraft heads toward Psyche. Because this unique asteroid appears to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet, and similar to that of the inner planets of our solar system, it could allow scientists to study planetary cores and learn clues about the formation of the inner planets, including Earth. Laser and LIDAR Much of Dailey’s work at CACI deals with laser communications. In addition to work related to DSOC, Dailey works with LiDAR systems, which he says is the optical analog of radar. Radar maps an environment or measures distances between objects using radio waves, Dailey says, but that can also be done with laser beams. His work involves building systems to enable that functionality. “As a systems engineer, I get to help drive the complete system coming together,” Dailey says. “I’m involved at the beginning, when you’re trying to sell technologies to new customers and develop new approaches and bids and proposals. … And then once we win a program, I help with system architecture development, requirements flow-down to all the subsystems and ensure the customer is getting what they want.” DSOC was Dailey’s first time working with NASA, although CACI has contracts with multiple clients where similar work is possible, such as the Space Development Agency and other government customers. Dailey says CACI also delivered hardware to NASA for Optical to Orion, a laser communications system that will be part of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II moon mission—the first mission in which a crew will leave low Earth orbit since 1972. The hardware included a laser transmitter, receiver and all the modem and control electronics. In his current role, he helps coordinate efforts between the optical engineers, software engineers, electrical engineers and mechanical engineers. —Stephen Gross DUAL-IDENTIFIED STUDENTS The number of K-12 students in U.S. schools who need both English as a Second Language (ESL) and special education support is growing at breakneck speed, says Sara Kangas, program director and an associate professor of special education, in a new policy brief outlining trends and research findings on dual-identified students. From 2006-2020, the number of students requiring dual programs grew by 50% nationwide, with some regions experiencing even faster growth. However, many schools focus solely on students’ special education needs, leaving English learners (ELs) with disabilities without adequate support. Also, classification and support for ELs rarely includes provisions for students’ disabilities, the report says. Kangas, an applied linguist, recently presented the policy brief outlining her findings to more than 120 special education state agency leaders from across the United States. It is her hope, Kangas says, that “EL and special education state leaders use the brief to anchor their collaborative discussions, as they together refine state policies and support local educational agencies.”—Beth Blew RESEARCH CAREER | ALUMNI ʼ01 ʼ09 Cosmic Communications Optical systems engineer James Dailey ’01 ’09 Ph.D. helps support the Psyche asteroid and Artemis II moon missions. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft hosts a laser transmitter that was made possible thanks to engineers that include James Dailey ’01 ’09 Ph.D. James Dailey ’01 ’09 Ph.D NASA / BEN SMEGELSKY
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