Welcome to Research.OrionWorks Research, a subdirectory of OrionWorks, is created and maintained by Steven Vincent Johnson. Back in the mid 80s I was fortunate enough to have worked at the University of Wisconsin Space Astronomy Lab (SAL) as a computer programmer specializing in ground support. My job was to collect astronomical data received by a special constructed telescope peering into the Ultraviolet range and assembled in in a graphic format that astronomers could analyse. My position was funded by NASA. I wrote “ground support” code for an experimental ultraviolet observatory package, code name “Project Astro”, Also known as the Wisconsin Photopolarimeter Experiment - WUPPE). I am happy to report that WUPPE eventually few in a couple of space shuttle missions many years after I left SAL. While that was along time ago I never lost my interest in exploring various kinds of phenomenon. One of my favorite subjects has been computer simulations. Some of my simulation work has focused on exploring the physical laws most commonly associated with celestial mechanics. Research in this area has resulted in computer graphics possessing unexpected complexity and beauty. It’s sort of like looking at fractals, but from a different, almost linear perspective. I am also interested in studying the effects of macroeconomics on our socio-economic system. I consider it a challenge to find out whether it might be possible to mimic this highly complex system. Can a computer simulator be designed that could help everyday individuals like you or me gain insight as to why national economies behave in the mysterious ways they do? I don’t know. Because the study of Macroeconomics is often perceived as if it is a witches brew it sometimes reminds me of a term called “Psycho-history”, a science fiction socio-economic system that operated on a galactic scale. It was a concept developed by Isaac Asimov’s for his highly popular Foundation series. Perhaps there’s not all that much of a difference between “psycho-history” and “macroeconomics” since both seem to be largely based on fictional concepts that often seem to border on speculative hyperbole. - Steven Vincent Johnson

Welcome to Research.OrionWorks.com esearch is a subdomain of OrionWorks. Created and maintained by Steven Vincent Johnson. During my entire career, I was a state employee working in various departments of IT such as for the Dept. of Revenue, Division of Information Technology, and Dept. of Transportation. In the midst of this lengthy Wisconsin career, back in the mid 80s I was fortunate enough to have worked an 18 month stint over at the University of Wisconsin Space Astronomy Lab (SAL) as a computer programmer. My primary task was to develop ground support communication and visual analysis routines. I wrote code to collect astronomical data that was transmitted back to earth from several planned space shuttle flights. A space telescope capable of observing the ultraviolet range with the aid of polarized filters was built at the University of Wisconsin Space Astronomy Lab. My job was to assemble raw UV telemetry and display it in graphic format. I wrote “ground support” code for “Project Astro”, also known as the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photopolarimeter Experiment - WUPPE. The experiment eventually few in a couple of space shuttle missions, in the 1990s, way after my employment stint with SAL was completed. I’m now fully retired from the work force, I maintain my interest in art, music, science, astronomy and physics… as well as things that go bump in the night. I never lost my curiosity exploring and simulating the subjects related to the discipline of orbital mechanics. The subject has spawned countless computer simulations as I explored its complexity, beauty and many unexpected surprises. While the subject has on many occasions surprised me in both its complexity and behaviour, I eventually became curious as to some of the underling laws that govern these behaviours. Thus ensued my still on-going adventures in the theoretical study of Orbital Mechanics! Some of the “Laws of Physics” I attempted to simulate, just to see what might happen, left me surprised. Curiosity is a wonderful trait that I hope most of us can keep burning for all of our life. It can help us open doors and witness unexpected surprises. May you enjoy some of the surprises I have stumbled across. - Steven Vincent Johnson