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Capitol College’s Space Operations Institute and WISE
The Space Operations Institute at Capitol College serves as the Backup Mission Operations Center for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission. SOI students are trained to work as the backup WISE Flight Operations Team, working in cooperation with John Hughes, the WISE east coast systems engineer. A major part of the work students perform is to monitor the BMOC computers and ensure that the BMOC systems will be ready to take over primary operations should any problems occur with the primary missions operations center in California. By working on the WISE mission, SOI students gain experience in learning how to build and operate a BMOC, and have the opportunity to work with engineers from NASA GSFC to learn about the how the data collected during the WISE mission is being used by scientists. In addition to their regular duties, several students also serve as WISE student ambassadors, reaching out to area high schools to talk about the WISE mission and their experience with WISE and the SOI.
For more information about Capitol College’s Space Operations Institute, visit www.capitol-college.edu/soi.
 Stephen Kenneth Dolan – Director of Operations, Space Operations Institute
S. Kenneth Dolan has spent over fifty years in the aerospace industry. He started his career as a guidance, navigation, and controls specialist and spent over 15 years in project management positions at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as deputy project manager on the Multi-mission Modular Spacecraft Project. He retired after 39 years with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 2003. Dolan has received a bachelor’s degree in math/physics from St. Joseph’s College, another in electrical engineering from Purdue University, and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University. As the current director of operations for the Space Operations Institute at Capitol College, he oversees students performing satellite operations tasks and steers graduates towards work in the aerospace industry. Dolan currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Space Business Roundtable.
 Angela Walters – Associate Professor and Technical Manager, Space Operations Institute
As the technical manager of the Space Operations Institute, Angela Walters, associate professor of astronautical engineering, spends much of her day with the students, mentoring student work groups and managing the daily activities of the operations center. She is responsible for teaching, team leadership, software configuration, and mission assurance. Walters earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Arcadia University and her master’s degree in physics from Drexel University. She is the current department chair for the astronautical engineering program and a fellow of the college’s Center for Space Science Education and Public Outreach, in addition to chairing the college’s Industrial Advisory Board.
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