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April 17, 2005
 Oceanit's
operation on Maui recently collaborated with the University of New
Mexico's Maui Scientific Research Center (MSRC), directed by Dr.
Stuart Jefferies, to open an adaptive optics laboratory, called
Space Surveillance Simulator (affectionately referred to as S-Cube).
The facility is located in Kihei at the Maui Research and Technology
Center (MRTC). This lab, which is funded by the Air Force Office
of Scientific Research (AFOSR) through their Defense University
Research and Instrumentation Program (DURIP), is one of only four
in the country that is specifically designed to test new methods
and techniques in adaptive optics. The facility will help Universities,
Government and private industry develop next generation optical
techniques for improving ground-based astronomy, medical imaging
and micro electro-mechanical technology.
In laboratory settings, the S-Cube is designed
to simulate both the atmospheric imaging environment above Mount
Haleakala and the Maui Space Surveillances Site (MSSS) adaptive
optics compensation scheme. This will allow iterations of testing
new technologies in the lab rather than testing on Haleakala at
the expense of telescope downtime and the possibility of new techniques
not integrating well.
S-Cube will serve as both a research an instructional
tool. In particular, S-Cube will prove to be a valuable resource
in several areas. S-Cube will be used to house student interns at
both the undergraduate and graduate level who will work on research
topics directly relevant to the mission of the Maui Space Surveillance
Site. The facility will also be used to evaluate new methods for
space situational awareness that are being developed by researchers
from the Universities of New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, and Wake Forest
under awards from the AFOSR. This facility will be open to local
researchers and Department of Defense contractors to perform precision
calibration and testing of new optical instrumentation. S-Cube will
also facilitate the transition of new methods and technologies to
MSSS by providing a realistic test bed. The S-Cube facility is complementary
to another optics laboratory being built on Maui by the University
of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy (If A), also sponsored by DURIP.
Oceanit currently employs two Maui High School
students who work part-time in S-Cube and will have opportunities
for undergraduate students for June 2005 sponsored through the Center
for Adaptive Optics at Santa Cruz's Akamai internship program. Dr.
Joe Janni, formerly with AFOSR, is currently organizing a National
Consortium to bring together all four labs to share their experiences
in new adaptive optics technologies, learn from mistakes, share
ideas, and to develop a unified curriculum for Advanced Adaptive
Optics degrees.
S-Cube dovetails with Oceanit's Maui Optical System
and Imaging Center (MOSAIC) to offer design, build and test capabilities
all in one place. MOSAIC's grand opening, attended by Senator Daniel
Inouye and Congressman Neil Abercrombie, was held in August 2003
at MRTC. MOSAIC has been busy ever since with clients including
NASA, Boeing, Textron, Gemini Observatory and the If A. The creation
of these facilities is a great stride in helping to grow Hawaii's
optics and technology industry.
For further information, please visit the following
websites: www.oceanit.com
(Oceanit), www.mauiscience.com
(MSRC), and www.mosaicoptics.com
(MOSAIC).
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