UNI alumni to assist NASA with space exploration

We've long known a degree from the University of Northern Iowa can take you to new heights, but did you know it can take you beyond Earth's orbit? UNI alumnus David Takes ('81) is the president and CEO of Doerfer Companies in Waverly, which just received a multi-year contract with the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) to provide the main assembly and material handling transporters for NASA's new Space Launch System (SLS); the largest and most powerful rockets ever built.

A group of UNI alumni designed and created the transporters as part of Doerfer's Wheelift Division, which operates primarily from Doerfer's facility in Waterloo.

SLS is NASA's next heavy-lift launch vehicle, which will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth's orbit. The Doerfer team designed transporters that will carry the core stage rocket segments through full assembly, engine test and launch preparation. The transporters will eventually travel with the 240-foot assembled core stage rocket on a barge it makes its way to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch.

NASA engineers from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., traveled to the Waterloo Doerfer facility on Dec. 12 to present the contract award and participate in demonstrations of the transporters. A public open house will be scheduled for 2014. Takes serves on UNI's Foundation Board and chairs its Technology Transfer Section.

Upcoming Event

UNI will host its annual fall commencement ceremony at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, in the McLeod Center. Approximately 600 graduates will participate in commencement.