Avion Issue 6 Fall 2017 by The Avion

Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

F-16’s and Rachel Platten: A Homecoming to Remember This is Our Flight Song: An Interview ERAU Alumni Association Hosts with Rachel Platten Dynamic Aircraft Static Display Collin Anderson News Editor

What’s Inside

After “Fight Song” concluded, the grand finale of fireworks from behind the ICI ended, and the crowd dispersed, four reporters from the Avion and myself were able to get backstage and interview Rachel Platten. After the meet and greet, we had a limited time to briefly introduce ourselves and ask her three questions. The first question asked was about Platten’s charity work and, more specifically, how she got involved 11 years ago. Platten explained that when she was in New York before she had a band, manager, or even anything, she still wanted to be involved in music but didn’t know how. She Googled local

charities and reached out to “Musicians on Call.” She started with hospitals and then eventually went into record labels. When she was rejected, she went back to charity work which reminded her of what she did and she was still reaching out to people. The next question was “With all the female empowerment associated with your songs, was it planned or unexpected?” Platten answered that she didn’t mean it for women in particular and that it was more for herself. “The fact that it inspired anyone else is just… wow.” She continued by saying that it does speak to women, but her new record is more universal. It is mostly about feelings; love, anxiety, terror, etc. The last question of the

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi trailer

night was, “If you were to cover any song what would it be and why?” Platten said that she would cover “Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet, but she thinks she would blow it. She couldn’t sing the lyrics as beautifully as Donnie, but she has started learning a little bit on the piano. All of the people who interviewed Rachel Platten that night all agreed that she was extremely nice and sincere. In the brief time we had to talk to her, she shook each of our hands, asked our names, and put thought behind every answer to each question we had. Rachel Platten is clearly a rapidly up-and-coming artist. We wish her luck with her new album coming out on October 27 and in her future endeavors.

K’Andrew France-Beckford Staff Reporter The final day of Homecoming 2017 concluded with a static display organized by the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association. This year’s display had a stark decrease in fly-ins as compared to last year’s, with only seven aircraft excluding Embry-Riddle's two AMS jets. A red Piper Cub, two Cessna Skycatchers, an RV-7 previously displayed at ‘Sun-n-Fun’, and two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 311th Fighter Squadron from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico were all parked on the ramp. There were also two new attendees - a 1996 Yak 52 and a 1976 Navion Rangemaster G. Despite the low attendance, however, this year’s aircraft

Going Back to the Moon

- specifically the first-time attendees – particularly stood out in many ways. Navion is the modern child company of North American Aviation. In fact, the Rangemaster shares the same empennage as the P-51 Mustang. One of the pilots, Glenn Barcheski, who was a former Photo Editor for the Avion Newspaper, stated that the aircraft had finished its annual inspection the day before. The Yakovlen Yak-52 is a Romanian build Soviet trainer aircraft that is still in production today. Students were allowed to sit in the pilot and trainer seats and take pictures of the interior. The pilot, a 30-year graduate of Embry-Riddle, said that the aircraft is recently bought and that she plans to return next year. Of course, there was the ever-present 1981 Gulfst-

ERAU Ice Hockey

ream GIII, popular with freshman and alumni alike. No longer airworthy, N127GK spends its days receiving attention from AMS students except for days like this when its opened to the visiting public. Other popular displays were the 311th’s F-16s. After seeing Cessna upon Cessna and the occasional Delta flight, the sight of military aircraft really excites the general Riddle population, especially after doing low passes over campus that previous Thursday. The 311th is the squadron is responsible for training the Air Force’s flight school graduates on the F-16. Cadets from Department 157 volunteered with manning the admission table as well as security, a good opportunity for those aiming for pilot slots to make connections.

Campus

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Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager

Henry Neiberlien Andrew Bronshteyn Collin Anderson Jaclyn Wiley Sariah Adviento Payton Muglia

Page Editors Front Editor Campus Editor Spread Editor Opinion Editor Student Life Editor Aviation Editor Space Editor Sports Editor Comics Editor On-Site Copy Editor

Collin Anderson Brandon Collins Zachary Fedewa Nick Hernandez Joshua Rosado Madeline Eitniear Rajan Khanna Victoria Jordan K’Andrew France-Beckford Samantha Stirmel Vipul Telang

Staff Contributors Reporters Photographers

Keenan Thungtrakul Victoria Jordan Samantha Stirmel Zachary Fedewa Vipul Telang Rajan Khanna

Correspondents Tim Christovich, Brandon Collins, Sergio Taleisnik

Staff Advisor Ginny-Beth Joiner, Avion Advisor

Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Ad Manager: (386) 226-7697 Fax Number: (386) 226-6016 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager

editor@theavion.com managing@theavion.com news@theavion.com business@theavion.com photo@theavion.com advertising@theavion.com

Website: theavion.com

The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion. Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: John Paul Riddle Student Center, Room 110. Phone: (386) 226-6049. Fax: (386) 226-6727.

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Catholic Students’ Week: A Closer Look at the CSU

Tim Christovich CSU Correspondent The Catholic Student Union at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is one of the largest and most active student organizations on campus. Last week, Catholic students on campus celebrated their union in faith by attending events throughout the week for their annual Catholic Students’ Week. During Catholic Students’ Week, students in the Catholic Student Union and those interested in participating in any of our events were invited to share in the faith and fellowship of the organization. On Sunday, students gathered for Catholic Mass in the Center for Faith and Spirituality, followed by a complimentary meal for “POPMOM,” a monthly program from the CSU called “People of the Parish, Meal of the Month.” This is where a local parish in the Daytona Beach community will provide a meal to our student membership once a month. On Monday, students spent time in prayer and worship here on campus in

the Center for Faith and Spirituality for Adoration, Benediction, and Confession. Tuesday featured the CSU “Hunger Banquet” in the New Residence Hall, an event designed to bring attention to the imbalanced distribution of food in our world. The Hunger Banquet was an excellent opportunity for students to actively express solidarity by experiencing what it is like to live in first, second, and third-world countries regarding nutrition and how we are divided. CSU membership got together for a mini-golf social on Wednesday night allowing students to get away from campus for a night and focus on developing their community. Thursday featured a question and answer session with our Catholic campus chaplain, Father Tim Daly. This session was focused on satisfying any curiosity and questions about the Catholic faith. Finally, the culmination of Catholic Students’ Week was our faith retreat, centered around the theme that we are “Propelled by Faith.” This same slogan is featured on the t-shirts given to CSU

Tim Christovich/Catholic Student Union Students enjoying social time and board games with Catholic Campus Chaplain Fr. Tim Daly

membership for Catholic Students’ Week. The retreat closed with a go-kart social and our iconic “Sundaes on Sunday” after mass. The CSU has always been focused on cultivating fellowship and faith in its membership. In the same way, the Catholic Student Union constantly strives to make an impact in the campus community and beyond. Since the CSU was established on campus in 1980, students have been focused on helping others and serving in each aspect of their lives. Every other week, students from the CSU volunteer their time at Halifax Urban Ministries, the local homeless feeding center. They

share their time to help at the “Bridge of Hope,” their daily hot meal program. Additionally, the CSU rallies students to help out with community clean-up, such as after our recent natural disasters. The CSU collects monetary and non-perishable food donations for a variety of programs in the Daytona Beach community. The CSU meets each Sunday at 7 p.m. for Catholic mass in the Center for Faith and Spirituality during the Fall and Spring Semesters. To get involved with the CSU, please join us on Connection or ‘Like’ us on Facebook at ‘Catholic Student Union - ERAU Daytona Beach.’

How to Study Abroad in Summer Keenan Thungtrakul Senior Reporter This Tuesday was the Fall Study Abroad Forum. Aside from a wild party with the Global Engagement mascots: two T-rexes called “Rex” and “Roxy,” the people at Global Engagement are working hard to provide opportunities for students to travel abroad. Study abroad may sound like “I’m just taking my classes in a different location,” but it is much more than that. Yes, you are taking classes, but you are also traveling and experiencing the culture of the place you are visiting. The majority of the programs offered are during the summer, which means you take fewer courses. You also get to do much more than just your normal routine versus here on campus. A typical day may only have you in class for an hour or two, then the remainder of the day is free time for you to go out and explore. Grab a fellow student, ask the professor or tour leader if you can take a side trip and be back in time for

the next group activity. In some cases, the professor may even suggest side trips worth taking during free time. Some programs have travel built into the itinerary so you will have class in different places, and these areas are not necessarily classrooms! Imagine your class on a village path, a cafe, or up in a mountain refuge. The possibilities for where your classes will be are endless. Right now, you might be wondering about how the costs stack up in comparison to a summer spent at Embry-Riddle. Tuition-wise, you pay half the price. On top of that is a program fee that varies depending on the program. If a program has a lot of planned activities, expect a high program fee. This can vary from $3800 to $5000 according to the slides presented at Tuesday’s forum. The main expenses that students would cover on their own are flights and food most of all. If students wish to do additional travel on their own while abroad, that would also be out of their

own pockets, so budget accordingly when planning these side excursions. Have an itinerary in mind that will provide flexibility of options while still enabling a timely return before classes resume. Most programs have long weekends to provide opportunities for these side trips, so be sure to have places in mind when you go! The forum’s slides estimate a surplus of $1121 if you go abroad, but this will vary depending on the program. For some programs, the costs end up almost matching number-wise, but you do a lot more compared to if you spent that money on what is simply a rushed semester. Imagine what else you could do with that same sum of money if you took part in a study abroad program. This year, Global Engagement is offering a winter break program, a spring break program, loads of summer programs and some semester and yearlong options too. If you are looking for a short trip where you are in and out or a trip where you truly live the culture, Global Engage-

ment is bound to have something to meet your travel desires. While this seems like a wonderful opportunity, getting to take advantage of it requires some timely action. The application for 2018 summer programs will go up by the end of the month. Make sure that is filled out with the program you want to take part in and then submit it along with the required documentation and fees. You need two passport photos (Global Engagement can take them for you), a $100 application fee (one-time, non-refundable) and a $400 deposit for each program application. This deposit will be returned to you if you are not accepted into the program. The most popular programs fill up quickly, so do your best to get these materials in quickly. Exchange programs will require additional research as far as their deadlines go, but it is not too late to start now if you wish to travel this summer. Study abroad is more than just classes in another country, it is a trip of a lifetime.

SGA Q&A Student Government Association invites you to question everything.

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Homecoming 2017

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Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

Joshua Rosado/The Avion Newspaper

Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

Vipul Telang/The Avion Newspaper

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Starring Rachel Platten

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Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

Joshua Rosado/The Avion Newspaper

Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

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Nuclear Warfare and the Impact on the Aerospace Industry

Abigail Johnson Correspondent

Besides spacecraft and airplanes, engineering students here at Embry-Riddle can also learn how to handle and create missiles and devices for military purposes. While a huge responsibility lies on the shoulders of these engineers, it also comes with a question of

concern in the US: what will possible nuclear warfare mean for future Embry-Riddle students? If, in the near future, the US had a reason to participate in a war that involved WMDs, would the aerospace industry shift to focus on weaponry? While it is hard to predict how the United States would respond to this act, engineering stu-

dents would have the background required to create these weapons and devices the military would need. North Korea continues to grow as a threat to the US as their knowledge and ownership of missiles and explosives becomes more sophisticated. With the aggression North Korea has clearly expressed towards our country, it is only a

matter of time before the country makes a first dangerous move. A road that leads to nuclear war seems possible at this point in history due to the progression of research going into WMDs and missiles worldwide, despite political nuclear proliferation policies. Hopefully, it will never come to this, but it is a future one must con-

sider. As students going into the aerospace industry, Embry-Riddle students have the privilege of being taught and trained by some of the best instructors in the world for their professions, as well as the privilege to gain experience that will allow them to excel in their future careers. With this, however, comes the responsibility and the duty

of serving the public, which can sometimes be a difficult task to carry out depending on the assignment. If the time comes where the aerospace industry shifts to manufacturing weaponry, engineering students will definitely have to consider the opportunities and responsibilities of going into their careers during a time of advanced warfare.

Opinion - Homecoming Week: The New Frontier

Being with a stressful week of school, I was extremely excited for homecoming week. Being used to dressing up in tacky clothes and costumes for a week in high school, I was curious how homecoming is for Embry-Riddle especially with starting off with the industry/career expo. As a freshman, the career expo is an opportunity to get exposure with various companies. Although you are not guaranteed an internship, I wonder how many of the recruiters you talk to will remember you for the next expo. Overcoming the initial nerves, I was able to talk with companies such as Sabre, Envoy, National Security Agency, and Jet Support Services. Having the personal critic of my resume done by the recruiters was also valuable as they let me know how I could phrase my objects to succeed in the opportunities for a competitive internship. Friday night included the comedy show featuring comedians Ben Hague and Marina Franklin. As the opening comedian, I appreciated the humor of Hague. His jokes were very bold but realistic for individuals in a loving relationship and live together. With every witty remark and punch line he was able to captivate the audience and get us to laugh at his jokes. I would watch him perform another standup routine in the future. The headliner Marina Franklin also did well on stage, I

enjoyed a few of her jokes. After her remarks about the guy in the front row strangling his homecoming flamingo, it seemed fitting for Franklin to include all the students applauding her performance holding up and waving their flamingos to her snapchat story. From helping with early setup for the homecoming concert I was excited to hear the talented voices of Skylar Grey and Rachel Platten.

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..the singers were very lively and extremely excited...

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Victoria Jordan Staff Reporter

Onstage, the singers were very lively and extremely excited that students at our schools fly airplanes. Grey’s opening set was energizing as the lights flared and the beat of the music raced through my heart. Hearing her sing “Coming Home” and “Love the Way You Lie,” the mood became very nostalgic. Prior to coming out on stage, I wish they would have announced her name to the audience for those unaware of who she was. Rachel Platten had a wonderful performance on stage. I enjoyed hearing the song “Stand By You” as well as the new songs from her upcoming album. Getting the chance to interact with her backstage was an exciting once-in-a-lifetime chance. Platten was extremely friendly and very excited to meet us and take photos. With such an eventful week, there was no better way to end than with fireworks.

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Are You ‘Snoke’d Yet? A Star Wars trailer analysis

Samantha Stirmel Staff Reporter Dark, ominous tones notate the beginning of the trailer with the loud booming voice of Supreme Leader Snoke and AT-AT Walkers in a line, as if prepping for war, thud through the barren fields of Crait. Kylo Ren’s personal shuttle flies overhead towards a mountain range before he is shown walking into what seems like an inner sanctum before bending over to pick up, hopefully, his lightsaber. Crait is the mineral planet that serves as a base of operations for General Leia’s Resistance just as it served as a secret outpost for the early rebel movement during the reign of the Galactic Empire. “Something truly special,” the voice booms and suddenly Rey is there on Ahch-To, the island where we left her with a saber. In the next few scenes Rey seemingly delves into the underground of the island toward a huge tree. There is speculation that this is the Great Tree, a strong conductor of the Force that used to be in the courtyard of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. When the Empire seized power the tree was destroyed except for two twigs, which in a comic miniseries (Shattered Empire), which were

retrieved by none other than Luke Skywalker. Light shines through to where she is walking and highlights a bookshelf, on which the only printed books ever to appear in a Star Wars film are set on. One could only imagine that this might be true and one of the contributing reasons why Luke has been living on this tiny island in the middle of the sea for who knows how long if this is the famed tree. Some speculate that the books on the bookshelf might be in reference to the Journal of the Whills which were included in one of George Lucas’ earliest drafts of the first film. This would give Luke more reasons to be there to protect and be a Guardian of the Whills as this is the last real connection to the Jedi. Rey details how she needs help and needs to find herself; her power is growing until it is something we have only seen in past Star Wars movies from the greatest Jedi and Sith. Luke Skywalker reinforces this by giving an air that he is terrified of her power and capabilities; this is also where everyone comically mentions the fact that he talked more in the trailer than he did in the entire last movie. We see visions of things burning with Luke’s hand stretching out of wood turning to ashes

and a town in flames as well as the return of our old friend R2-D2 with the speculation that the person in the black cape is Luke himself; giving the picture of this being a flashback. We turn back to Kylo and see him struggling with himself yet again, looking at his helmet and smashing it into an elevator wall upon what seems to be an Empire ship. His barely restrained madness is displayed on his face in all scenes of this trailer where it is visible, including in his new TIE silencer as it slices through Resistance capital ships. General Leia is shown on screen, staring off-camera possibly looking at the carnage that the Empire is wreaking on her fleet before this image flashes off and back to Kylo’s ship and a screen showing him zeroing in on the bridge of a ship with his black-gloved thumb resting on the trigger. Suddenly, the Millennium Falcon soars through a cave of red bejeweled crystals, perhaps a cave system on mineral-rich Crait. Chewbacca is back with his blaring yeti yell and a delightful little animal, a porg, chirps out on his dashboard, the source of an incredible amount of meme material on the Star Wars front during the past week. However, we never get to see who is in the Fal-

con’s pilot seat. A ship is hit and Poe Dameron appears, falling into a window from the blast as his voice rings out a message that says they will “burn the First Order down.” But considering the fact that Star Wars myth spells out not just the completion of this trilogy, but another afterward as well and possibly more to come, I doubt the First Order will officially cease to exist, especially during this movie. As if an echo of this, we see Captain Phasma standing resolutely against Finn where the beginning of a fight scene initiates. This is possibly a case of revenge as Finn left her to die in a trash heap. In this fight scene, we see them fighting in the midst of a crumbling and on fire factory with walker parts scattered everywhere with Finn in disguise as a First Order officer. Another undercover break-in that ends in sparks and only one person walking out perhaps? BB-8 makes a cameo shaking off an electric blast in an x-wing with a smoking First Order ship behind him. After this there is a flashback to Crait where we see a crystallized, almost fox-looking animal, in the background of which is the Calderos Station. We flash inside to see Leia standing and looking out at the wasteland

which the AT-AT’s will or have walked across by that point in the movie. Rey is seen later diving into a pool and reuniting with Luke, but this meeting by no means seems positive from the two or so seconds we see of the two being on camera in this setting as well as Luke wearing his dark robes. Snoke is back in the background again drawing out his message as we see clips possibly leading up to Finn’s infiltration and fight with Phasma, the oncoming fight on Crait, and Snoke finally appearing himself, reaching forwards and what can only be assumed in the next scene as using the force

against Rey. Finally, Rey again talks about how she needs someone to show her “[her] place in all this” and the next scene is Kylo holding out his hand. Now, this may be a redirection, everything we have seen in the trailer could be fake footage, and as it was proved with past trailers, this pretense of not fully believing the trailers is not misguided. Regardless we know the movie will be one where both Kylo and Rey continue to try and find themselves in the world of light and dark. Which side will prevail? We will probably never know. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” will be released on Dec. 15, 2017.

Album Review: “Chase Atlantic” Brandon Collins WIKD-Avion Liaison Straight out of Australia comes this next band, Chase Atlantic. Chase Atlantic is an alternative/ indie pop band that fuses those genres with both rock and R&B. Chase Atlantic started off as a band known as What About Tonight who participated and rose to fame on the Australian X-Factor in 2012. They became Chase Atlantic a few years later when brothers Mitchel and Clinton Cave, alongside their longtime friend Christian Anthony, started releasing music and music videos on YouTube. They released their debut EP, “Dalliance,” in 2014. It consisted of five songs, and contained their hit “Hold Your

Breath.” A year later, they released their second EP, “Nostalgia,” and contained another major hit of theirs, “Friends,” which was a viral hit and gained them a rather large following around the world. While on tour, Chase Atlantic caught the attention of Joel and Benji Madden (Good Charlotte and the Madden Brothers), who, after several meetings and concerts with Chase Atlantic, asked them to sign with their music company MDDN. A year later, after flying to the United States, Chase Atlantic would resign to Warner Bros. Records. Throughout this year, Chase Atlantic released their debut album in parts, “Part One,” which consisted of three songs, “Part Two,” which also consisted of three songs, and finally, “Part Three,”

which consisted of four songs. Not all of the songs released on these short LPs made it to the fulllength debut album. Chase Atlantic released the full, self-titled, debut album, “Chase Atlantic,” on Oct. 4. The album is a mishmash of indiepop mixed with elements of both rock and R&B. Their music has some similarities to that of the Weeknd, but with a little more rock element than he usually includes in his music. Several songs on the album, such as “Into It,” “Okay,” and “Drugs & Money,” are already considered hits by the band. Although it is not the typical style of music I listen to, I still like it for being so different from my usual genre of music, i.e., metalcore and post-hardcore. For being a soft rock/indie,

pop-rock band, they do an amazing job and have catchy lyrics and a sort of slow to mid-speed riff going throughout the album. Songs such as “Cassie” and “23” are some of there slower songs depicting young love and romantic feelings. Other songs, such as “No Friends,” are faster paced songs that show post-breakup feelings of dislike and disgust for the other person. Currently, Chase Atlantic is touring alongside Sleeping with Sirens on their Gossip Tour with other bands, including the White Noise and Palaye Royale. When I went and saw them on the Orlando tour date, they did an amazing job and were an energetic band that I would love to see on their own headlining tour.

Chase Atlantic

Rajan Khanna/The Avion Newspaper

Aviation

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Wings over North Georgia Kennesaw, GA October 21-22, 2017

• Airport: RMG Performers include the Blue Angels, Quick Silver P-51 Airshows, SOCOM, and the Ladies for Liberty, LLC. _________

Warbirds over Monroe Monroe, NC November 10-12, 2017

• Airport: EQY Performers include the Commemorative Air Force, Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, and the Military Aviation Museum. _________

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show NAS Pensacola, FL November 10-11, 2017

•Airport: NPA Performers include the Blue Angels, GEICO Skytypers, and SHOCKWAVE & Flash Fire Jet Trucks

This Week in Aviation History October 17, 1940

First flight of the Airspeed Fleet Shadower.

October 18, 1979

First flight of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

October 18, 1933

First flight of the Grumman F2F, a Grumman’s first single-seat, enclosed-cockpit aircraft.

October 19, 1932

First flight of the Mitsubishi 3MT5.

October 20, 1948

First flight of the McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo.

October 21, 1986

British Airways is offered for public sale.

October 21, 1947

First flight of the Northrop YB-49 jet-powered Flying Wing.

October 22, 1912 Australian Flying Corps formed.

October 22, 1955

First flight of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

October 23, 1945

The last of 10,174 military DC-3/C-47 Douglas transport aircraft is handed over to the U. S. Army Air Forces.

October 23, 1912

First flight of the Canadair CL-215.

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Reality Check: Railgun Satellite Launcher

Henry Neiberlien Editor-in-Chief

Historically, getting a spacecraft into orbit around the earth has only been possible through rocket technology. Imagine for a moment that one could launch a satellite without the use of volatile chemical fuels, high pressures and fiery explosive failures if all does not go well. Well, there may soon be a new way of launching payloads into orbit. General Atomics, the company that is famous for developing the MQ-9 Reaper, is developing a wide range of railgun systems and has already developed the magnetic aircraft launch system for the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers to replace the conventional steam catapult system. What do these systems have to do with launching a spacecraft into orbit. This is an idea that General Atomics is toying with after the knowledge they gained after working with railgun systems. General Atomics has stated that this proposed system that would fire satellites into orbit would be much

cheaper to operate than an expendable launch system. However, this system may be impractical to achieve. First of all, even for small payloads the rail needed to accelerate up to launch velocities would be extremely long, and the air resistance on the payload after being released from the railgun would slow the vehicle down as it travels, the opposite of current launch vehicles as they accelerate as they gain altitude. This system would also require immense power. Current railgun weapons systems are efficient because they fire a small projectile design to fly only a few miles, a space launch system would have to launch a much larger projectile at a velocity that has never been achieved. These demands could compromise the efficiency of the system, thus demanding power far greater than anticipated. One point that many have not thought of is the sound. Accelerating a large projectile like a spacecraft to orbital insertion speeds close to the ground would cause violent sonic

booms, which would damage surrounding structures and disturb or injure the hearing of anyone within a large radius. The shockwave would also possibly damage structures as well. If this facility were to be built, it would have to be in a very secluded location like the deserts of Nevada or Utah. Even then, the disturbances to the resident wildlife may be too great.

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Hypothetically, a magnetic rail system could propel a payload to high enough velocities to launch a spacecraft into orbit

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Airshow Center

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One main problem with a space launch rail system would be placing the spacecraft into orbit once it gets into space. Getting into orbit is not just about getting high up, it is also about accelerating once you are up there to stay in orbit. One solution that General Atomics has offered is launching a smaller rocket with the rail sys-

tem and then having it burn for orbital insertion once it is up there. This system would use both rail and rocket to achieve orbit. When it comes to using a rail launch system it is difficult and impracticable to use on Earth due to its gravitational influence and its thick atmosphere; however, it can be very useful for returning spacecraft from the surface of the Moon or another small celestial body that lacks an atmosphere. The only problem there, of course, is constructing and powering this system on the Moon's surface, as we have yet to attempt large-scale construction on another world and the lunar regolith is extremely abrasive and statically charged. While many small issues may plague this concept, the main overall flaw lies with the nature of the railgun itself. A mass driver large enough to launch a spacecraft would most likely not be able to change its orientation, thus limiting the orbital inclinations to which it can place a spacecraft. The concept of a rail

launch system for spacecraft could be a viable concept, and if any company has the knowledge and experience to prototype the concept, its General Atomics. But in this case, the cons seem to outweigh the pros for this type of system, and by the time this system is up and running at operational capacity, rocket technology may be far cheaper and more efficient. Hopefully this concept can be proven and the spaceflight industry would benefit from more launch providers, however the problems may not be worth the cost. A rail launch system’s still is in the research phase and actually producing a working prototype would take quite some time. In the time it would take to develop this advanced system other alternatives will probably be presented that surpass the added benefits provided by rail launch system in the first place. However, this technology could feasibly be practical for launching small spacecraft into orbit cheaply and efficiently. We will have to wait and see if this comes true.

Razing the Bar for Cell Phones Samantha Stirmel Staff Reporter The gaming gear company Razer, with its notable interlocking snakes as its logo on everything that you would need to have a computer setup, might be having something more join its ranks before the close of 2017. The website is advertising their "biggest unveiling" to be coming soon on Nov. 1, 2017. So far, little information has been released on the subject but Razer's CEO, Min-Liang Tan, said in an interview with CNBC that his company was working on a mobile gaming device and announced that they would be coming out with a mobile device before the conclusion of 2017. This past Wednesday, Oct. 11, Razer's twitter tweeted a teaser that announced their upcoming event, calling it "Watch, Listen, Play."

Over the past few years Razer has acquired Ouya, THX, Nextbit and several others to its armada. Ouya is a Chinese company that was started on Kickstarter and advertises a "New Kind of Game Console" which seems to be at a pretty low price when compared with competitors and even Razer's products. THX is the famous superior audio and visual experience company which is used for many movies, in which case a loud, escalating sound blares from the TV, threating to shatter ear drums. Lastly, Nextbit, the company that brought Robin to the cellphone market, a new boxy phone that automatically connects to the cloud to allow unlimited storage on the cell phone with as much functionality as possible on the Android OS without the cost. Razer's acquisition of Nextbit can be seen

as the big contributor to the possible gaming phone as they already have a base cellphone platform set up. Adding game elements and capabilities could be based on the Robin platform in general and just be improved upon for Razer.

Either way, the cellphone will be like nothing else that is on the market with a rumored 5.7-inch touchscreen with 2560x1440 resolution, 4K video shooting with the rear camera, a Qualcomm octa-core processor running at 2.4 GHz, and 8GB of

ram and 64GB of storage. How this cellphone will fair in the advent of the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone X being released will be an interesting thing to watch, but regardless Razer's gaming reputation of being one of the best in the field will add an interesting twist.

Space

October

17 2017

Page

The Avion

Aiming for the Moon

Sergio Taleisnik Correspondent

Not only is NASA getting a new Administrator this year, but it might also get a whole new vision. After being shut down in 1993, the National Space Council held its first meeting since being re-established in June this year, and its Chair considers it is time for a big change. The council, presided by Vice President Mike Pence, was instituted to “Advise and assist the President regarding national space policy and strategy.” It is formed by the secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce, Transportation and Homeland Security, as well as directors and assistants of space and defense agencies, offices and companies. The meeting was held at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington D.C. On the podium, The Vice President began crit-

icizing the current situation they feel America is submerged into by having lost worldwide leadership in space exploration. He cited how, now five years after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the US is still years away from launching humans and pays Russia to ferry its astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Pence also referenced the lack of a clear objective in human space exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and even mentioned how Russia and China are working on anti-satellite technology threatening the US. “Rather than lead in space, too often, we’ve chosen to drift,” he said. “And, as we learned 60 years ago, when we drift, we fall behind.” Pence continued by outlining what Trump’s White House would prioritize regarding space exploration. He praised the development of com-

mercial space companies in the past few years, supported their role in LEO, and stressed how the Moon should be the next step when thinking about exploring the beyond. “We will return American astronauts to the Moon, not only to leave behind footprints and flags but to build the foundation we need to send Americans to Mars and beyond,” the Vice President added. “The moon will be a stepping-stone, a training ground, a venue to strengthen our commercial and international partnerships as we refocus America’s space program toward human space exploration.” How we got here As the Apollo Program was coming to an end, NASA turned its eyes into LEO by creating the Space Shuttle and years later the ISS. When the time to retire the Shuttle started to

approach, George Bush’s NASA came up with the Constellation Program aiming for exploration beyond LEO once again. A six-month review by the Obama Administration in 2009 revealed Constellation was inviable, leading to its cancellation and the creation of a new program whose goals were developing massive rockets and human-rated capsules to provide the US with the capability of exploring beyond LEO similar to Constellation, but different in architecture. Although the program had some potential space exploration objectives, Obama did not instruct NASA to target a specific goal. Nowadays, NASA’s new rocket and capsule system continue under development, with its first flight scheduled for no earlier than 2019 and a pool of missions during the 2020s that include orbiting the Moon but

not actually landing on it. SpaceX, arguably the largest commercial operator, is also working on a human-rated capsule and is targeting a fly-by of the Moon next year as well as landing on the satellite during the 2020s. Facts that suggest the Moon may not quite be off the radar by current US exploration endeavors. What’s next? After the initial speech, the council meet-up continued with expositions from the rest of the members. At the end of the event, the Vice President’s closing remarks included setting a specific 45-day timespan to work out the recommendations to officially deliver to the president. Whether his words were just part of the game of politics or an actual prelude to significant changes in NASA’s human space exploration focus, we will find out very soon.

New Satellite Constellations Low Latency, Global Coverage Michael Weinhoffer Staff Reporter Recently, there has been a good amount of news on the proposed satellite constellations of OneWeb and SpaceX. These new systems are designed with the intention of low latency and global coverage. But what does this mean? And when can we see them in action? The thought of providing digital services to the entire world is not new. Instead of crowding the environment with thousands of cell towers, it was instead proposed to use multiple satellites in space to provide services to both remote and non-remote locations. The first applications of this concept were in military communications. The Global Positioning System (GPS) of the U.S. Air Force quickly became the premier model for satellite communications. Currently, China, Russia and the European Union also have operational global navigation satellite systems around 20,000 km from Earth in a medium Earth orbit. These constellations allow GPS systems, ATMs, gas stations and more to operate precisely, and are vital

to the global economy. There is an even more apparent use of satellite constellations. The multiple operational commercial satellite constellations provide key communication services that everyone takes for granted. Companies such as Iridium, EchoStar, and SES provide phone and video services for the entire world. Because of some malfunctioning satellites, the entire world is not covered. For example, malfunctioning Iridium satellites have left portions of the equatorial region the world uncovered, and there is generally low coverage liability near the poles. Another key element of communication satellites is the transmission latency. Latency refers to the delay between a satellite receiving a signal and the transmitting signal going to the ground station. Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a noticeable talking delay between news presenters in the U.S. and correspondents in foreign nations? That is a perfect example of a high latency transmission. Satellites farther away from Earth will have a higher latency period than satellites close to Earth. A long transmission delay period damages the

reliability of the communications system. Unlike most communication satellites, Iridium satellites are in low earth orbit, which reduces the latency period but requires more satellites to provide reliable coverage. A key challenge for the modern communication satellite constellation is to have low latency, but global coverage. Low latency improves signal reliability, but it comes at a much higher cost to ensure global coverage. This is where the OneWeb satellite constellation comes into the scene. The OneWeb constellation, as well as similar systems being produced by SpaceX, Boeing and others, promises to close the digital divide. An astonishing fifty-four percent of the world has no or bad internet access. The FCC noted that in 2016, thirty-four million people in the U.S., or ten percent of the population, lack access to broadband internet, and it is severely worse in developing nations, especially those in Africa. OneWeb plans to begin initial deployment of its satellites next year, with the desired constellation of 648 satellites operating in low Earth orbit by 2020. If successful, the constellation would be

the largest in outer space and have the lowest latency. Most communication satellites have a delay time of 600 milliseconds, while OneWeb satellites have a delay time of thirty milliseconds, which would be unprecedented. The company plans to manufacture several satellites a week in partnership with Airbus. The satellites will be placed in an orbit of 1,200 km, which is closer to Earth than most other communication satellites. The satellites use new positioning technologies to provide reliable and global internet coverage with low latency, which is exactly what is

Launch Control Center Koreasat 5A- Falcon 9

Oct. 30 @ 3:34-5:58 p.m. ET Kennedy Space Center, FL LC-39A

SkySat - Minotaur-C Oct. TBD @ 5:37p.m. ET Vandenberg AFB, CA SLC-576E

MN35-13 - Vega

Nov. 7 @ 8:42:30 p.m. ET Kourou, French Guiana ZLV

JPSS 1 - Delta II

Nov. 10 @ 4:47:03 a.m. ET Vandenberg AFB, CA SLC-2E

OA-8 - Antares

Nov. 10 @ 8:03 a.m. ET Wallops Island, VA Pad 0A

ISS Sightings October 17

8:08p.m. - Visible for three minutes, the ISS will rise from 29º above West-South West, reaching a highest point at 32º South-South East and will disappear 11º South-South East.

October 18 desired by the industry. With several new communication satellite constellations planned, the industry is going to experience tremendous growth over the next few years. A new era of providing digital services to the world has arrived, and it is better than ever. Everything we do that uses digital technology is powered by satellites, but over half of the world still does not have reliable internet access. I hope that OneWeb closes the digital divide and helps create a world with global digital access, which will be used for the benefit of all.

7:13p.m. - Visible for six minutes, the ISS will rise from 11º above North West, reaching a highest point at 84º South East and will disappear 10º South East.

October 19

8:00p.m. - Visible for less than one minute, the ISS will rise from 10º above South West, reaching a highest point at 10º South West and will disappear 10º South West.

This Week in Space History October 20, 1995 Launch of STS-73, Space Shuttle Columbia, bound for Spacelab October 19, 1975 Venera 9 takes first photos from surface of Venus October 29, 1998 Launch of STS-95, Space Shuttle Discovery carrying SPACEHAB Photo Courtesy: OneWeb An artist’s rendition of the future OneWeb communication satellite. They will provide wireless connectivity to commercial and military aircraft.

Zachary Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper

17 Sports Volleyball’s Triple Win October

Page

2017

Upcoming Games:

Luke Halgerson ERAU Athletics

Tuesday Women’s Volleyball vs Florida Tech Soccer Complex 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Men’s Soccer vs. Flagler Sports Complex 7:00 p.m.

Thursday Men’s Tennis vs. ERAU Open All Day Women’s Tennis vs. ERAU Open All Day

The Embry-Riddle women’s volleyball team played their final game of the South Regional Volleyball Crossover tournament on Saturday evening as the Eagles defeated Mississippi College in straight sets. That was the Eagles third consecutive win and moves them 7-7, while Mississippi College falls to 10-13. Olivia Roa was spectacular once again on defense as she picked up 31 digs in the contest. Melanie Canfield led the way offensively with 14 kills and 8 digs. Theresa Jordan had 12 kills and hit .321, Paola Virella had 12 kills and 11 digs, and Alyssa Rudd had 44 assists in the contest. The first set began

with both teams playing well on both ends of the floor. The score was even at 8-8 when the Eagles went on a 10-5 run to take an early 18-13 lead. The Blue and Gold would be in control the rest of way and managed to push the lead to six, winning the first frame 25-19.

“

The Eagles would be relentless offensively in the second set.

“

The Avion

The Eagles had 19 kills in the first set and hit .306 on attacks. Melanie Canfield had eight kills in the set and Olivia Roa had 14 digs. The Eagles would be relentless offensively in the second set, jumping out to an early 10-6 lead after another

vs Embry-Riddle: 25

Mississippi College: 18

Melanie Canfield kill. Embry-Riddle would not allow the Choctaws to get any closer and would dominate the rest of the way, winning the second set 25-18 and taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the contest. The third set did not start out well for the Eagles as they found themselves trailing 12-5. However, The Eagles would not go down without a fight and would close the gap in a big way. The Eagles would go on a 10-4 run to close the Choc-

taws lead to 16-15 and forcing a Mississippi College timeout. Embry-Riddle kept their foot on the gas pedal and finished the set on a 10-2 run to win the third set 25-18 giving them the victory. The Eagles will return to the hardwood on Tuesday, October 17, as Florida Tech comes to Embry-Riddle. Last time these teams faced-off, the Eagles won in straight sets on September 16th in Melbourne. Game starts at 7 p.m. in the ICI Center.

Eagle Women’s Soccer Allison Smalling ERAU Athletics

Friday Women’s Volleyball vs. Saint Leo Sports Complex 7:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. ERAU Open All Day Women’s Tennis vs. ERAU Open All Day

Saturday Women’s Volleyball vs. Eckerd 4:00 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Rollins Sports Complex 7:00 p.m.

Sunday

No Event

Monday

No Event

The Embry-Riddle women’s soccer team (4-4-3, 2-3-3) notched its seventh shutout of the season on Saturday after holding Florida Southern (6-1-3, 3-1-2) to a scoreless tie at the EmbryRiddle Soccer Stadium. Prior to Saturday’s game, the Eagles honored senior defender Hanna Rolfsen who has been instrumental in ERAU’s seven clean sheets on the year. Freshman goalkeeper Dana Ruchti was solid in goal for the Blue and Gold as she played all 110 minutes and made four big saves en route to her fourth shutout of the year. “Tonight, we honored senior Hanna Rolfsen for her tremendous career here,” ERAU Head Coach Samantha Bohon said. “I wish we could have earned three points tonight rather than the tie to give her a proper sendoff. Once again, we had fantastic possession and executed well until the final third. Tonight’s game was a reflection of our struggles this season- we simply can’t seem to finish despite outplaying teams. But our group worked hard again and gave it their best.” The Eagles had the better of the possession in the first half, but they were unable to convert on a 2-0 advantage in shots and a 3-0 advantage in

Zachary Fedewa/ The Avion Newspaper Maria Schmiedhofer drives toward the ball in efforts to keep Florida Southern player from making contact.

corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of play. In the second half, the Eagles continued to control much of the possession and bested the Mocs 6-3 in shots and 6-0 in corner kicks. The Mocs best chance of the half came in the 73rd minute when Alex Moberley found herself in a one-vone situation with Ruchti, but the ERAU freshman was up to the challenge as she came off her line to turn back Moberley’s shot from point-blank range. Just minutes later, Norrstrom was able to come up with a save on Emmie Johansson’s shot. After that play, each team managed just one shot

apiece, but both attempts missed the mark, sending the game to overtime. The additional 20 minutes of play saw the Eagles with a 5-3 edge in shots, but once again, both goalkeepers recorded big saves for their respective teams, resulting in the scoreless tie. Saturday marked the third time in four games

that the Eagles have competed in a double overtime contest, and five Eagles played all 110 minutes, including Ruchti, Emmie Johansson, Sophie Brundin, Guro Naess Berge and Megan Smith. The Eagles will have a one-week break before returning to action against Rollins in Winter Park, Fla. on Oct. 21.

vs Embry-Riddle: 0

FL Southern: 0

Sports

October

17 2017

Page

The Avion

Eagles Fall Just Short of Victory Championship Banner is Raised

On Friday night, the Acafellas sang the school’s alma mater while the Army ROTC held the nation’s flag as the championship banner was raised, and the feeling of accomplishment and pride from last year’s championship team was as strong as ever. The ice hockey team have been looking to get school recognition, and winning their conference with such fanfare was a key step. The 2016-2017 Eagles have cemented themselves in history, but it is important for a team to not dwell on past success and to be constantly working towards higher goals. Embry-Riddle Eagles are a consistent contender in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Last season’s championship winning team started the season 5-1, and this season’s team is starting 4-2. The Eagles have a lot of freshmen in their lineup this season, and many of them are making significant contributions. Freshmen players Spencer Kuhlman, Turner Kauffman, and Ryan

Marks jumped into starting roles in the lineup. Others such as Richard Means, Matt Sillcocks, and Kyle Usiak gave the team depth. The young players on the team would be looking to make their own history. For the 2017-2018 Eagles, this would mean another conference championship and a national rank in the ACHA. The ACHA ranks teams nationally like the NCAA does for their sports. At the end of last season, Embry-Riddle was ranked, but not high enough to qualify for the national tournament. This year’s team hopes to be ranked nationally, if not higher, than the end of last year. This semester, the Eagles play quality out-of-conference games such as University of Tampa, Auburn University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Clemson, and Florida State. This helps the team to potentially be ranked higher. The Eagles came into the game with a record of 4-2, their losses coming from University of Tampa and Auburn. The Seminoles come into the game with a record of 1-1, their loss coming from

Georgia Tech in overtime. However, Embry-Riddle has played more games than FSU, so it’s not fair to compare their records. The Eagles have scored, on average, 6 goals a game while allowing 3 goals a game. The Seminoles have scored, on average, 4 goals a game while also allowing 3 goals a game. After the festivities, the game began. The first period showed that these two teams were equal and fans were in for a good one. The teams went back and forth for the first ten minutes of the game, until the Seminoles broke through the defense to make it 1-0. The lead was short lived though, and would start a trend that would continue the entire game, no lead was safe. One minute later, the Eagles tied it up.The goal came from Ryan Marks, who got ahold of the loose puck in the traffic, and shot it past the goalie’s glove. Florida State would score with five minutes left in the period to make it a 2-1 game heading into the locker rooms. The Eagles might have been down to start the period, but they came out and controlled the second

period. Kyle Usiak broke the puck out of the Embry-Riddle zone, beat two opposing players on his way to shooting a top right corner wrist shot to make it tied at 2-2. The Seminoles would score with fifteen minutes left in the period, but that was all they would muster for the rest of the second period. The freshmen showed their skills on the next goal as well, and soon it was tied up at 3. After only two periods, both teams allowed 3 goals, and with a whole period yet to play, one team would have to let at least one more in.

“

The team has a lot of freshmen who are making immediate impacts on the ice...

“

Nicholas Conrad Correspondent

The third period started with a Florida State goal early in the period making the game 4-3. They wouldn’t lose the lead for the rest of the game. Minutes later, they scored again making it 5-3. The Eagles kept fight-

ing though, as there was still ten minutes left on the clock. With eight minutes to play, the Eagles scored making it 5-4. The Eagles pushed, to no avail, and with one minute and twenty seconds left on the clock, pulled their goaltender. They would amount a brief attack, but the Seminoles would add an empty-netter, finishing the game at a score of 6-4. Both goalies had good performances for the Eagles. Nico Prulhiere started the game in net, and stopped 17 of 20 shots. Midway through the second period Max Minervini relieved Prulhiere, and he put up a fine performance as well stopping 9 of 12 shots. The 6-4 loss might be disappointing, but was a huge improvement from last season, when the Eagles lost 10-0 and 11-0 in the two games played against the Seminoles. Playing a big school like Florida State and almost winning the Eagles have vastly improved, and played side by side with a team that blew out the Eagles last season. Second, we talked earlier about quality of games

and how that can help with end of season rankings. The crowd was electric and packed the Daytona Ice Arena, and has done so every game consistently this season. Although the ice hockey team is a club sport, the fans treat it like a school-sanctioned sport, and give the Eagles a home-ice advantage every week, which helped them in this game. The team has a lot of freshmen who are making immediate impacts on the ice, and I think Friday night’s game supports that statement. All the goals on Friday night were scored by freshmen. College sports aren’t like professional sports. There are no contracts to keep players around, and with graduations, transfers, and class scheduling issues it’s hard to be a consistently competitive team due to roster spots changing, but the freshmen have added a new layer to an already championship caliber program. The freshmen are itching for a chance at winning a championship of their own, and I am sure they will get their chance soon enough.

Men’s XC Preps for Championship Season Nick Butler Correspondent The men’s cross-country team has raced different members at different meets in the past week, some up in Illinois at the Lewis Conference Crossover, while some stayed closer to home and raced at the Disney Cross Country Classic and the Panther Invitational at

FIT. These are all in preparation for the championship season, which is right around the corner. It is that time when all the miles these athletes have run over the summer and the season come down to. All the workouts and long runs come down to these final two or three meets. Next weekend the men will travel to South County Region-

al Park to race in their first-ever Sunshine State Conference Championship meet. They look to continue their success in their first ever NCAA season. They already took first overall in both the Holloway Park Preseason Festival and the Asics Embry-Riddle Classic as well as winning the Division II title at the Mountain Dew

Invitational. They want to add the school’s first-ever Sunshine State Conference championship in any sport to their resume as well. The men are ranked fourth in the South region right in between Saint Leo (third) and Florida Southern (fifth) who will be their biggest competitors in the meet. The Eagles are 3-0 against Saint Leo and 1-0

against Florida Southern so far this season. That does not mean the event is in the bag as both teams are good and can give the Eagles a run for their money. With one of their top guys, freshman Shaun Bullock, coming back from a minor injury it will be interesting to see how the men compete with a full lineup. Senior Matt Graves

is looking to lead the team and for a strong finish in the race after coming off a great performance at the Lewis Conference Crossover with a personal record of 25:24 which was good enough to earn him SSC player of the week. Good luck to the Eagles as they look to build on what has been a great inaugural season so far in the NCAA Division II!

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