Misty Bentz
Senior, Physics &
Astronomy
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I've been
fascinated by stars since I was a little girl. Following my passion
to study the stars, I looked for a university that had solid programs
in Physics and Astronomy. The UW attracted me because of its great reputation
for research. For two years now, I've been working as part of a team
studying a new spacecraft propulsion system.
There
are a lot of ways UW students study the stars. A group of my classmates
have constructed a small radio telescope here on campus. I've been involved
in projects that are mapping the solar system using the 3.5 meter telescope
at Apache Point, New Mexico, and I'm also teaching third graders about
the planets, moon and solar system in their classroom. What excites
me the most is working with Dr. Winglee on the
Mini Magnetosphere Plasma Propulsion system (M2P2). It's a new kind
of propulsion system for spacecraft using a large bubble of ionized
plasma in a magnetic filed that would work like a kind of sail when
acted on by the charged particles in solar winds. The research could
lead to a spacecraft that can fly at very high speeds through the vacuum
of space. My long term goal is to become an astronaut. Who knows, I
might fly an M2P2 spacecraft some day.
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M2P2 propulsion system
UW Space Physics Department
UW Astronomy Department
NASA
Misty Bentz personal website
