2024 Summer Interns

At FreeFall Aerospace, we are thrilled to introduce a vibrant and talented group of interns eager to contribute their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our innovative projects. Our internship program provides hands-on experience to students in our community.

This summer, we’ve welcomed four exceptional students from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Each intern is enthusiastic and ready to learn and contribute to our mission of developing cutting-edge antenna solutions.

 

Shae Henley, Jessica Gurney, Harlie Rios, and Nicolas Renaud

Shae Henley: Bridging Space and Communication Technologies

Shae Henley recently graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Astrobiology. As a graduate student, she is continuing her academic journey to complete her master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. Shae was an advisor for NASA’s Arizona Space Grant and Resident Assistant in the Engineering Leadership Community. She held officer positions in the University of Arizona’s Society of Women Engineers and was the Director of Administration for the Engineering Student Council.

“I would like to get more experience developing and testing space and communications-based technologies and learn how to run astrodynamics simulations and calculate communications coverage models for satellites and other spacecraft,” Shae explains.

She received the USRA Distinguished Undergraduate 2023 Thomas R. McGetchin Memorial Scholarship Award and the Arizona Distinction Award. She was a Lillis Foundation Scholar from 2020-2024. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and rock climbing. By interning at FreeFall, Shae aims to gain valuable knowledge in RF technology, which will be instrumental in her future spacecraft projects.

 

Jessica Gurney: Navigating the Path Between Academia and Industry

Jessica Gurney, a senior at the University of Arizona, is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy. She is keen to understand the inner workings of a tech design company and evaluate her future career path.

“I hope to understand the inner workings of a tech design company to determine whether I want to continue to grad school to do research or jump into the industry to build sophisticated products,” says Jessica.

Jessica graduated with Honors in AIT military training. She is also passionate about writing and anything craft-related, including bookbinding. Her inquisitiveness and drive to explore both academic and industrial avenues make her internship at FreeFall a pivotal step in her career journey.

Nicolas Renaud: Aspiring RF Engineer

Nicolas Renaud is an Arizona State University senior majoring in Physics and Astrophysics at Barrett Honors College, having made it to the Dean’s List for the past three years. Renaud is an officer and member of the Society of Physics Students and a student researcher at the Interplanetary Initiative Lab. He has a clear goal of becoming an RF engineer.

Nicolas is eager to learn about antenna system designs and operations. His commitment to mastering the technical aspects of RF engineering aligns with FreeFall’s innovative projects, and we are confident in his potential to contribute significantly to our mission.

 

Harlie Rios: Exploring Engineering Frontiers

Harlie Rios is embarking on her journey as a freshman at the University of Arizona, W.A. Franke Honors College, with a dual focus on Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering. She was in the Model UN, Racing the Sun, Student Council, Kairos 294 Co-rector, Stem Ambassadors, Spanish Honors Society, and National Honor Society. Harlie earned the CAMUN Vocal Commendation Award and Catholic Schools Week Awards. She is enthusiastic about discovering engineering’s real-world applications and gaining hands-on experience.

“I hope to learn what an engineer does, get experience in the workforce, and work on some cool projects,” Harlie shares. “This experience will help me determine what I want to do in college and the future.”

In her spare time, she enjoys reading and community service. Her curiosity and eagerness to explore different facets of engineering make her a valuable addition.

 

We are confident that Harlie, Shae, Jessica, and Nicolas will bring a fresh perspective and valuable contributions to our team this summer. Their diverse backgrounds and ambitious goals hold immense promise for our projects, and we are excited to see the impact they will make. Welcome to FreeFall Aerospace!

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The Emerge Accelerator is a 12-week program to propel venture creation and accelerate technology transition. It brings together DoD mission partners and emerging technology teams. What sets the NSIN Emerge Accelerator apart is its focus on facilitating collaboration between cutting-edge companies and top research universities. FreeFall’s Aman Chandra, Ph.D., is not only a University of Arizona alum but also leads our effort in this accelerator as our Senior Engineer for Aerospace Systems R&D.

FreeFall looks forward to leveraging this opportunity to pursue federal and commercial markets and strengthen our capabilities for doing business with the federal government and private sector.

“This journey wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible team, partners, the University of Arizona, and the NSIN – National Security Innovation Network community. We are excited about the possibilities and committed to making a lasting impact in satellite communications.”- Julie Bonner, Director of Communications

NSIN Official Press Release

The Emerge Accelerator connects DoD mission partners with emerging technology teams and startups at our nation’s top research universities.

Cutting-edge companies will demonstrate how intellectual property from top research universities can be commercialized for dual-use, civilian, and military markets during the next cohort of National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)’s Emerge Accelerator program.

The 12-week program offers participants funding to accelerate venture creation and technology transition. The program also offers access to feedback, advisors, and potential partners from the DoD and private industry. While pursuing federal and commercial markets is highly encouraged, the NSIN Emerge Accelerator excels at providing new ventures with the tools necessary to do business with the federal government and the private sector.

13 companies representing 13 unique academic institutions were accepted into the 2024 NSIN Emerge Accelerator. The teams have reached a Technology Readiness Level(TRL) of 4 (validation in a relevant environment) or greater, and have a technology vertical focus on artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), deep tech, autonomy, cyber security, and other general technology solutions.

Meet the 2024 Emerge Accelerator Cohort

ARMADA Marine Robotics, Inc.

Academic Institution: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

ARMADA provides industry and the government with an innovative hardware platform and a cost-efficient operations model that will revolutionize in situ ocean monitoring at scale.

Covert Defenses

Academic Institution: Purdue University

Covert Defenses enables zero-downtime operation of industrial control systems in cyber-contested environments. Their solution allows for continuous operations, even if penetrated by an insider.

EMP Technology Solutions

Academic Institution: University of Texas at Dallas

EMP Technology Solutions has developed a system for radioisotope identification that is portable, scalable, modular, and network-compatible. Their system works quickly, detecting and identifying radioactive threats in about five seconds.

Fourier LLC

Academic Institution: Northeastern University

Fourier is commercializing the breakthrough platform technology of thermoformable technical ceramics. The company is bringing large-scale production to the manufacturing of technical ceramic parts for the first time.

FreeFall Aerospace, Inc.

Academic Institution: The University of Arizona

FreeFall Aerospace develops low-cost antennas for ground and space. The company’s flexible designs have dramatically lower maintenance needs, saving industry and the government time and money on sustainment operations.

L5vel Inc.

Academic Institution: Texas A&M University

L5vel is developing autonomy for all-terrain logistics. Its product, L5vel Prime, automates all-terrain forklifts.

MicroAvionics

Academic Institution: Harvard University

MicroAvionics is developing innovative levitation technology to enable flight in the mesosphere (50-100 km altitudes). The technology uses sunlight to generate thrust, eliminating the need for onboard fuel or power, offering a sustainable method to carry near-space payloads in a region that is inaccessible to conventional aircraft and satellites.

Mithril Technologies, Inc.

Academic Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Mithril Technologies, Inc. is developing and commercializing a new type of space-based mesh reflector antenna using a unique electrostatic actuation technology invented at MIT to enable active beam focusing, shaping and steering. This active control allows flexibility in GEO satellite communications & jamming, signal intelligence, and space-based weather monitoring, with lighter & simpler structures than phased arrays.

ModiFly

Academic Institution: University of Texas at San Antonio

ModiFly offers an affordable drone networking solution with edge and cloud AI processing, supporting dynamic mission demands through plug-and-play modules.

Pi-Radio

Academic Institution: New York University

Pi-Radio builds software-defined radios (SDRs) that enable wireless systems prototypes for communications, sensing, and electronic warfare to be built quickly and affordably. Pi-Radio has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) SBIR/STTR programs.

Refined Imaging LLC.

Academic Institution: Louisiana State University

Refined Imaging applies new X-ray and neutron imaging technology, along with key collaborators, to develop the secure supply chain.

SoloPulse Corp.

Academic Institution: Georgia Tech

SoloPulse unlocks sensing infrastructure without the need for new hardware. With the rise of autonomy, advanced threats, and the need for more intelligible data, SoloPulse offers the necessary solutions for fast, cost-effective, high-fidelity data from any existing sensor. By introducing the capability to see from any sensor, SoloPulse is changing how the world sees.

Spectrum Defense Systems

Academic Institutions: Purdue University and Ohio Northern University

Spectrum Defense Systems is a DoD-focused startup focused on providing electronic warfare decoy capabilities to the U.S Army. Its flagship product is the Dynamic Radio Emulator System (DRES).

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a program office in the U.S. Department of Defense, nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

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Juan Carlos Lopez-Tonazzi, left, and Dan McFatter, engineers at FreeFall Aerospace, work on a new space antenna in the company’s lab in Tucson. FreeFall Aerospace is one of 71 startups that Tech Launch Arizona has helped develop in the last three years. Photo by Rebecca Sasnett.

Report: UA’s tech-transfer arm had $586 million economic impact over 3 years

David Wichner Dec 22, 2019 Arizona Daily Star

About seven years ago, the University of Arizona overhauled and beefed up its efforts to bring faculty inventions to market with the creation of Tech Launch Arizona.

In the last three years, the tech-transfer agency has helped launch 71 startups  that had a combined economic impact estimated at more than a half-billion dollars, a recent UA report shows. The study of TLA’s economic impact from 2016 through 2018 showed an overall economic impact of $585.7 million, creating 5,236 direct and indirect jobs in Arizona, and generating more than $25 million in state and local taxes and $250 million in wages and salaries.

The results include direct effects like spending by startup firms and wages paid to startup employees, as well as indirect effects from business-to-business spending and induced effects from increased consumer spending.

Meanwhile, TLA’s recently released annual report for the 2019 fiscal year shows continued growth in areas like licensing income and invention disclosures by faculty, though fewer startups than 2018.

The economic impact study — based on direct hiring, wages and spending by firms as well as the indirect and induced effects of their spending — showed the agency generated $14.24 in employment income for every $1 TLA spent. Doug Hockstad, UA assistant vice president for Tech Launch Arizona, said the results of the economic-impact study are validating for TLA.

“We expected it to be good because we think what we’re doing is good, but we didn’t know what the numbers would be,” Hockstad said. “There has always been strong support for TLA’s mission from senior leadership, and I think under (UA) President (Robert) Robbins, that has continued and crystallized even more.”

The UA counts 164 startups it has created since 1984, and 90 of those have occurred since the launch of TLA in 2012. Of those, 82 are still in business and 73 are operating in Arizona. Hockstad said TLA’s startup survival rate stands out, though the rate for university-backed startups tends to be higher than that of startups overall.

“It’s good to see so many still exist, and its good to see there are so many that stayed in Arizona,” said Hockstad, who took the reins of TLA in April after the retirement of the agency’s founding chief, David Allen.

Other companies TLA launched in the last three years include FreeFall Aerospace, which has developed a steerable, spherical antenna for satellites and emerging 5G high-speed data networks.

The company, founded in 2016 by UA astronomy professor Chris Walker and NASA veteran Doug Stetson, flew its antenna on a NASA test flight last year and is perfecting prototypes for customers to test.

Stetson, who spent 35 years as an engineer and manager in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later worked with Walker on astrophysics projects at the UA, said TLA’s help was invaluable.

“It meant everything to us. We wouldn’t be here without them, that’s for sure,” said Stetson, who said he had never started a business before FreeFall. “They were really the motivation and the engine for getting us started.”

TLA also hooked FreeFall up with its first office space at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, a business incubator at the UA Tech Park on South Rita Road overseen by TLA, before moving to a new space off West Grant Road in 2017.

“You really have to have a place to work together, and we had that at a reasonable cost from UAZCI,” Stetson said.

Continue this article…

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