66th Annual STS (2006-2007)
Finalists
Daniel Adam Handlin

NEW JERSEY
Daniel Adam Handlin, 17, of Lincroft, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with a space science project that demonstrated an accurate, low-cost method of optically determining the position of geostationary Earth-orbit (GEO) satellites. In his study, he simultaneously used two amateur-class, widely separated, networked telescopes, and was able to calculate altitude results for GEO satellites that are identical to that of a state-of-the-art $20-$30 million radar system with an error of less than 0.1 percent. He believes his optical tracking method could yield better computer models for orbiting spacecraft, leading to longer satellite life, reduced costs and more accurate determination of where a terminal-phase satellite will fall to earth. Dan attends High Technology High School, where he is co-captain of the academic team, was founder of the school's Consortium Model UN Club and edits the astronomy club newsletter, Spectrogram. Dan has perfect SAT scores and has earned many science competition and astronomy awards. The son of Drs. David and Amy Handlin, he hopes to attend Harvard or MIT and pursue a career in his long-term interests, astrophysics or aerospace engineering.