The Legend of Laelaps
3 minute read - What's in a name? More than you might think. KMI's first spacecraft needed a title that not only symbolized its mission but also paid homage to the myths of old. After much debate, we landed on "Laelaps"—a name rooted in Greek legend. But what does a mythic hound, destined to catch everything it chases, have to do with space?
Astronautical: The depths and heights of debris
6 minute read - From refrigerators submerged in Lake Superior to satellite fragments orbiting Earth, Liza Fust discusses the critical parallels between managing marine and space debris. Explore how policies crafted for our oceans might pave the way for sustainable practices in space.
KMI: The Origin Story
8.5 minute read - In the days leading up to the ribbon cutting of KMI’s lab and office in downtown Marquette, the team takes a look back at the origins of Kall Morris Inc that Adam Kall, Austin Morris, and Troy M. Morris founded on the mission of Keeping Space Clear For All.
Goodness Gracious, Green Balls of Fire
5.5 minute read - After an encounter with a green ball of fire shooting across the sky over Marquette, MI, Communications Coordinator Liza Fust undertook writing a column breaking down some of the colors we see in space.
Space Film Junkie: Orbital Debris in Wall-E, Gravity, and Space Sweepers
5 minute read - It's starting to become a common trope in movies now, this orbital debris KMI keeps talking about. In today's column, Liza Fust, KMI Communications Coordinator, discusses what the movies Wall-E, Gravity, and Space Sweepers got right, got wrong, and predicted about orbital debris.
KMI Retrospective: Keweenaw Rocket Range
6 minute read - Before joining the team, KMI Communications Coordinator Liza Fust was also a freelance writer. Reprinted here with permission of Marquette Monthly magazine is a feature she wrote on the Keweenaw Rocket Range that launched the first rocket from Michigan to reach space in 1971. Much has changed with the state of Michigan’s aerospace industry since this article ran in 2019, read the column for a glimpse into the past and future of space of Michigan.
Orbits and the Cow that Jumped Over the Moon
6 minute read - You know that nursery rhyme about the cow that jumped over the moon? Have you ever thought to yourself, “Now, how could a cow jump over the moon, and whatever gave Mother Goose that idea anyway?” Well, the KMI team is here to help with that answer.