When a U.S. Navy missile was launched to knock down an errant spy satellite in February, Laura Van Huss '05 had more than a passing interest in the outcome. That's because she helped build the missile's nose cone.
Van Huss, a tooling engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems Co. in Tucson, Ariz., readily admits that she “loves things that go boom.” During her student years at WSU, she participated in a co-operative education program that enabled her to examine a career in missile technology. She was hooked. “It’s amazing how much work goes into something like a nose cone,” she says. “It’s like a work of art.”
She reports that members of the missile team were confident about shooting down the satellite, which was about the size of a school bus — 150 miles above Earth.
The missile traveled at a speed of 26,000 miles an hour to reach its target. Pentagon officials announced afterward that the mission was a success: The missile destroyed the satellite and its fuel tank, which was carrying 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine.
Van Huss says she’s proud of her work on the project. Brenda Gile-Laflin, WSU College of Engineering assistant dean and scholarship coordinator, also is proud of Van Huss’ accomplishments, especially so early in her career. “She’s a dynamic gal,” Gile-Laflin says, “and I know she’s happy doing what she is.”
