Michigan Technic Corporation

Supercomputing Power of the Mac Facilitates Major Breakthroughs

From artists and teachers to aerospace engineers, everyone agrees: you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use a Mac. But in the case of independent research scientist Andrew Santangelo, it doesn’t hurt.

Santangelo has been fascinated with space exploration since he was five years old. But when he graduated from college in Aerospace Engineering, jobs in the field were tough to come by. After years in the computer business, Santangelo returned to graduate school in the field of aerospace study that ultimately hurtled him into the career of his dreams.

Santangelo now runs Michigan Technic (MT) Corporation, an aerospace contracting company that has grown from one to 16 employees and millions in contracts annually. From the day he delivered his first digital video presentation to NASA to obtain a small business grant, Apple Macintosh computers have supplied the rocket fuel for his operation.

“I want the computer to let me do my job as an engineer and a small business operator and that's just what the Macintosh delivers.”

— Andrew Santangelo, Michigan Technic (MT) Corporation

“In running my own business, I don’t have time to deal with the computer itself,” says Santangelo. “I want the computer to let me do my job as an engineer and a small business operator and that’s just what the Macintosh delivers.”

Efficient, Cost-Effective Space Exploration

Today MT researches, designs, and develops tether-based technologies that hold great promise for more efficient, cost-effective space exploration. Tethers can be used for everything from atmospheric research to boosting satellites and spacecraft into higher orbits. Much like swinging a bucket overhead at the end of a rope and then letting it fly, the satellite or craft is flung into space at the end of the tether. Boosting is critical, especially for space missions operating in close proximity to Earth. The Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere create natural drag that can cause satellites or spacecraft to drop out of low Earth orbit.

NASA is particularly keen these days on successfully developing electrodynamic conducting tethers. Made of high-conducting metals such as aluminum, these tethers use the Earth’s magnetic field to move satellites and other spacecraft without using booster motors or rocket fuel. When the metal tether is moved through Earth’s magnetic field, an electrical current is generated along the tether’s length. This provides the energy to propel the spacecraft or satellite up or down the tether in the opposite direction. Because transporting fuel for reboosts is a major expense for any space mission, NASA conservatively estimates that these tethers can save it $1 to $2 billion for the International Space Station alone over the next ten years.

New Levels of Reliability, Reduced Costs

While the potential of tether technologies is huge, most early missions have been unreliable and expensive. For example, during one highly visible NASA space shuttle mission, a tether guide meant to deploy a satellite got stuck on a bolt. But that’s where Michigan Technic comes in. Its goal is to design reliable, less expensive tether-based systems using engineering know-how and powerful technology from Apple.

MT is currently the lead contractor on two important tether-based space missions driven from start to finish on Macs. The Macintosh plays a crucial role, enabling Santangelo and his staff to design satellites and their payloads with speed and precision. At the same time, the unparalleled multimedia capabilities of the Mac allow MT to communicate in compelling ways with the aerospace community and its primary customer, NASA. This includes delivering visually rich presentations, incorporating sound, digital video, and other media elements detailing how a proposed mission will work.

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