Seminar

Seminar - OSIRIS-REx: To Bennu and Back - Sept. 13

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:42:13 +0000

Seminar - OSIRIS-REx: To Bennu and Back - Sept. 13 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/03/2024 - 07:42

Friday, Sept. 13
10:40 a.m. - Seminar in AERO 120
11:30 a.m. - Panel Discussion / Q&A in AERO 111

This seminar will recount the two-year proximity operations and remote sensing campaign at Bennu, including the dramatic sample collection event and the events leading to the landing of the sample capsule in Utah.

A panel discussion will follow, featuring members of the Navigation and Flight Operations Team from NASA Goddard, Lockheed Martin, and KinetX, who will each recount specific challenges faced during the mission and the innovations that were implemented to overcome them.

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Michael C Moreau (AeroEngr MS’97, PhD’01) has worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center since 2001, and for over 10 years has served in leadership roles on the OSIRIS-REx Mission, as the manager of the Navigation Team during development, launch, and Bennu encounter, then as deputy project manager and leader of the sample return capsule recovery team. Mike’s Ph.D. research at CU focused on applications of the Global Positioning System in high Earth orbits, and contributed to the adoption of GPS on NASA missions such as GOES and Magnetosphere Multiscale. Before attending CU, he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont.

Over three decades, Dr. Peter Antreasian (AeroEngr PhD’92) has made contributions to the navigation of NASA missions, Galileo, NEAR, Mars Odyssey, MER, Cassini-Huygens, GRAIL, and OSIRIS-REx. He began his career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1992, then joined KinetX 20 years later to lead the OSIRIS-REx navigation team. His expertise in orbit determination and navigation has been crucial in the success of these missions, including the first-ever landing of a spacecraft on an asteroid and the return of an asteroid sample to Earth. Peter earned his BS, MS and PhD in Aerospace Engineering, respectively, from Purdue, University of Texas and University of Colorado.

Dr. Jason Leonard (AeroEngr MS’12, PhD’15) received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder under the advisement of Dr. George Born. Currently, he is the Orbit Determination Group Supervisor at KinetX Aerospace and Deputy Navigation Team Chief for the NASA OSIRIS-REx and OSIRIS-APEX missions. He has been the Orbit Determination Team Lead for OSIRIS-REx since prior to Launch, during the duration of proximity operations and its successful acquisition of asteroid regolith, and through its return of the sample to Earth. For his contributions to the mission, Jason received the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal and the PI Award of Distinction.

Dr. Daniel Wibben is the Maneuver Design Group Supervisor for the Space Navigation and Flight Dynamics practice at KinetX Aerospace, Inc. Since joining the company, he has held the role of Maneuver and Trajectory lead for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. He has also been involved with the planning and operations of the LUCY, LunaH-Map, and DAVINCI missions. He received his B.S. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona where his research was focused on nonlinear guidance techniques for asteroid proximity operations and planetary landing.

Coralie D. Adam (AeroEngr MS’17) is the Optical Navigation Group Supervisor at KinetX. She holds a B.S. in aerospace engineering and astronomy from the University of Illinois, and an M.S. in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder. During her 12 years at KinetX, Coralie has had lead roles on the navigation teams for NASA’s New Horizons, OSIRIS-REx, Lucy, and OSIRIS-APEX missions. In addition to leading the OSIRIS-REx optical navigation subsystem from development through sample collection, she co-convened the scientific investigation of Bennu’s active particle ejection phenomena. Coralie is currently the deputy Navigation Team Chief on NASA’s Lucy mission, and a navigation lead and science co-investigator on the OSIRIS-APEX extended mission to asteroid Apophis.

Ryan Olds (AeroEngr BS’04, MS’09) has 19 years of experience in Guidance Navigation and Controls at Lockheed Martin Space supporting NASA Deep Space Exploration Missions. Ryan started his career working on the Pointing Control System for the Spitzer Space Telescope. He developed the reaction wheel control system for the twin-spacecraft GRAIL mission and supported test, integration, launch, and operations at the Moon. Ryan began working on OSIRIS-Rex in 2013 by developing control systems as well as the Natural Feature Tracking system which provided autonomous navigation for OSIRIS-REx during the mission’s sample acquisition phase. Ryan is currently a Guidance, Navigation and Controls manager and continues to support Deep Space Exploration missions such as OSIRIS-REx and DAVINCI.

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Charting Your Course: Navigating Careers in Aerospace - Aug. 27

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:47:07 +0000

Charting Your Course: Navigating Careers in Aerospace - Aug. 27 Jeff Zehnder Thu, 08/21/2025 - 14:47

Wednesday Aug. 27
5:30-6:30 p.m. • AERO 120
Free Pizza!

Smead Aerospace invites you to attend a special workshop on the broad range of career opportunities in aerospace engineering.

Featuring

Pamela S. Millar
Director for Strategic Development and Partnerships
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Carlos Pinedo
Test Pilot, 420th Flight Test Squadron
former Director of Education US Airforce Test Pilot School

Join moderator Prof. Torin Clark and two aerospace professionals who will discuss exciting and innovative accomplishments in our field, share experiences from their careers, and provide advice and guidance to your own path.

This will be a one-hour panel with questions from the moderator and audience, followed by an open house that gives you the opportunity to interact with panelists one-on-one.

Smead Aerospace invites you to attend a special workshop on the broad range of career opportunities in aerospace engineering...

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Seminar: Coupled mesoscale gas-material interactions in hypersonic flows - Aug. 29

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:48:44 +0000

Seminar: Coupled mesoscale gas-material interactions in hypersonic flows - Aug. 29 Jeff Zehnder Wed, 08/20/2025 - 13:48

Savio Poovathingal
Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky
Friday, Aug. 29 | 10:40 A.M. | AERO 111

Abstract: At hypersonic speeds, vehicles experience extreme heating that drives ablation of thermal protection systems, where protective materials erode, releasing gases and particulates into the flow. At the mesoscale, this gas–material coupling is poorly understood, yet it governs how surface recession, particle ejection, and outgassing alter both the material response and the surrounding aerothermodynamics.

In this talk, I will discuss the development of an interface coupling method to couple disparate methods that investigate mesoscale physics. The coupling method, referred to as the marching windows method has two components: a modified marching cube algorithm and a flux mapping algorithm. The modified marching cube algorithm ensures clean surface generation, and the flux mapping algorithm enables consistent mapping of surface fluxes from the fluid solver to three-dimensional material points inside a solid and the transfer of boundary information from the solid back to the surface. As the material evolves through physical processes such as ablation or formation of cracks, the marching windows method tracks the evolution enabling physical simulations of complex processes. The coupled framework is used to perform detailed simulations of ablating microstructures, and these detailed simulations are then used to develop usable engineering models where multi-scale, multi-physics effects are important, such as those seen in hypersonic systems.

Bio: Dr. Poovathingal is an Associate Professor and the Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Poovathingal received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Poovathingal specializes in developing computational tools to solve multi-scale problems in gas-material interactions pertaining to hypersonic flows.

During his career, he has developed numerical approaches for the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique and large-scale molecular dynamics calculations. He is also an expert in analysis of experiments to develop physics-based models for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and other continuum methods. His current interest lies in investigating the coupling of the mesoscale material architecture and aerothermodynamics.

His recent work includes the development of novel simulation capabilities to study momentum and radiative energy transport within thermal protection systems, and the use of x-ray computed microtomography to capture realistic microstructures. He advises 11 Ph.D. and 5 M.S. students, and 1 post-doctoral scholar.

At hypersonic speeds, vehicles experience extreme heating that drives ablation of thermal protection systems, where protective materials...

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Seminar: Computational Guidance and Control in Space Exploration - Aug. 27

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:43:40 +0000

Seminar: Computational Guidance and Control in Space Exploration - Aug. 27 Jeff Zehnder Wed, 08/20/2025 - 13:43

Ping Lu
Distinguished Professor, Aerospace Engineering, San Diego State University
Wednesday, Aug. 27 | 9:35 A.M. | AERO 232

Abstract: Six decades ago, the Apollo program ushered in the first integrated-circuit flight computer—the Apollo Guidance Computer—and gave rise to the term “software.” Today, computation permeates deeply every facet of spaceflight. This seminar will explore a transformative paradigm in aerospace engineering known as Computational Guidance and Control (CG&C), with a focus on its growing impact on space flight. Powered by dramatic advances in onboard computational capabilities, CG&C is redefining guidance and control by enabling real-time, vehicle-embedded decision-making capabilities far beyond those of legacy systems.

Unlike other areas of computational science and engineering, CG&C must operate within the stringent constraints of onboard, real-time execution. Meeting the demands for autonomy, optimization, and fault tolerance, CG&C is unlocking unprecedented levels of onboard intelligence, capability, and safety.

This seminar will follow a hypothetical human Mars mission “Red Horizon” and draw on the speaker’s own research to contrast CG&C-based approaches with conventional methods across mission phases - from orbital rendezvous and proximity operations to aerocapture at Mars, atmospheric entry, powered descent, and precision landing - demonstrating how this emerging paradigm is poised to enable the next era of space exploration.

Bio: Ping Lu received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. His expertise lies in aerospace guidance, control and flight mechanics, with research focused on advanced guidance and autonomy for space transportation systems. Throughout his career, he has contributed to several major NASA programs, including the X-33, Space Launch Initiative/Next Generation Launch Technology, Crew Exploration Vehicle, and the Evolvable Mars Campaign.

Previously a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University, Dr. Lu joined San Diego State University in 2016, where he is a Distinguished Professor and the Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He is a Fellow of the AIAA and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, the premier international journal in aerospace guidance, navigation, control, and astrodynamics.

Six decades ago, the Apollo program ushered in the first integrated-circuit flight computer—the Apollo Guidance Computer—and gave rise to the term “software.” Today, computation permeates deeply every facet of...

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Seminar: Towards the Design of a Morphing Supersonic Low Boom Aircraft Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators - May 13

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 09 May 2025 14:08:08 +0000

Seminar: Towards the Design of a Morphing Supersonic Low Boom Aircraft Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators - May 13 Jeff Zehnder Fri, 05/09/2025 - 08:08

Dimitris Lagoudas
Distinguished Professor, Aerospace and Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University
Tuesday, May 13 | 10 a.m. | AERO 111

Abstract: The return of commercial supersonic flight requires innovative solutions to be developed that meet noise and efficiency requirements for overland flight. To study such a possibility NASA is supporting a multi-disciplinary team of academic and industrial experts to explore the potential of activating small real-time geometric outer mold line reconfigurations to minimize boom signatures in response to changing ambient conditions, thereby enabling noise-compliant supersonic flight. On-board LIDAR measurements will provide information about the local atmosphere and will aide in the prediction of how loud the sonic boom will be just ahead of the aircraft. Small, distributed shape memory alloy actuators will then be used to modify the shape of the aircraft to affect a desired change in the pressure field to reduce sonic boom noise for the upcoming flight and atmospheric conditions. The presentation will focus on the development of the appropriate shape memory alloys based on the requirement of reliable repeated actuation up to 100,000 thermal actuation cycles under high levels of stress. Various morphing configurations will be discussed and the path to an upcoming flight test at NASA Armstrong will be described.

Bio: Dimitris C. Lagoudas is a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University. He has served as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research for Texas A&M University System, Department Head of Aerospace Engineering, and as an Associate Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University.

D.C. Lagoudas’ research involves the design, characterization and modeling of multifunctional materials at multiple scales, with averaging micromechanics methods developed to bridge the various length scales and functionalities, including mechanical, thermal and electrical. His research team is recognized internationally for modeling and characterization of shape memory alloys. He has co-authored more than 600 scientific publications in archival journals and conference proceedings and one of the widely used books on shape memory alloys.

D.C. Lagoudas received the 2006 ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Prize in recognition of his contributions to the modeling and characterization of shape memory alloys and their use in aerospace structures and he is the 2011 recipient of the Smart Structure and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a Fellow of AIAA, ASME, IOP and SES and was named a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University in 2013.

The return of commercial supersonic flight requires innovative solutions to be developed that meet noise and efficiency requirements for overland flight. To study such a...

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Seminar: Introduction to PID Control - Apr. 23

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:08:08 +0000

Seminar: Introduction to PID Control - Apr. 23 Jeff Zehnder Thu, 04/17/2025 - 08:08

Vinodhini Comandur
PhD Candidate, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Wednesday, Apr. 23 | 9:15 a.m. | AERO 111

Abstract: Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers play a crucial role in the aerospace industry, ensuring the safety, precision and reliability of various systems. These controllers regulate various parameters to maintain stable flight conditions.

The lecture, as a part of the Control Systems Design and Analysis course, will introduce the controller types in PID control and their significance. The effect of proportional, derivative and integral gains will be demonstrated through a series of MATLAB examples.

Bio: Vinodhini Comandur is a Ph.D. candidate in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her doctoral research focuses on pilot workload assessment in rotorcraft operations, particularly shipboard landing, under the supervision of Dr. Karen Feigh and Dr. Bruce Alstrom. She is also pursuing her MS in Computational Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech.

She received her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kharagpur and her master's degree in aerospace engineering from IIT Kanpur. Her teaching interests are in the domain of flight dynamics and controls.

Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers play a crucial role in the aerospace industry, ensuring the safety, precision and reliability of...

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Seminar: Overcoming GPS Limitations On Earth and in Cis-Lunar Space - Apr. 25

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:08:08 +0000

Seminar: Overcoming GPS Limitations On Earth and in Cis-Lunar Space - Apr. 25 Jeff Zehnder Fri, 04/11/2025 - 08:08

Kirsten Strandjord
Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota
Friday, Apr. 25 | 10:40 a.m. | AERO 114

Abstract: GPS is an incredibly reliable and widely used tool for navigation, providing precise location tracking in many environments. However, it does face significant challenges in certain settings that can affect its accuracy and reliability. This talk will explore the limitations of GPS in two very different environments—urban settings and cis-lunar space—where these challenges become particularly apparent. In urban areas, GPS signals can be degraded by multipath effects, where signals bounce off buildings and structures, leading to positioning errors. In cis-lunar space, GPS signals rely on weaker portions of the antenna pattern, such as side lobes, which reduces their effectiveness.

The discussion will cover the fundamental principles of GNSS navigation, addressing how GPS operates under ideal conditions and where it faces limitations. Additionally, alternative navigation methods, including signals of opportunity and direct positioning estimation, will be explored to address these challenges and improve navigation reliability in both urban and space-based environments.

Bio: Dr. Kirsten Strandjord is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Minnesota, where she is also a faculty member of the Minnesota Robotics Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder (2020), a Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University (2015), and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science from Luther College (2011). Her research interests focus on a wide range of topics within Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), including GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology, cis-lunar navigation, and urban navigation.

GPS is an incredibly reliable and widely used tool for navigation, providing precise location tracking in many environments. However, it does...

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Special Seminar: BAE Space and Mission Systems President Dave Kaufman - Apr. 10

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:52:28 +0000

Special Seminar: BAE Space and Mission Systems President Dave Kaufman - Apr. 10 Jeff Zehnder Wed, 04/09/2025 - 12:52

Dr. Dave Kaufman is the president of BAE Systems, Inc. Space & Mission Systems sector, which is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, and employs approximately 5,200 people. Kaufman is responsible for the...

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Seminar: Applied Thermodynamics in Aircraft Engine Design: Principles to Practice - Apr. 14

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:50:19 +0000

Seminar: Applied Thermodynamics in Aircraft Engine Design: Principles to Practice - Apr. 14 Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/08/2025 - 09:50

Sarasija Sudharsan
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Iowa State University
Monday, Apr. 14 | 9:35 a.m. | AERO 114

Abstract: The aviation industry is undergoing significant improvements in aircraft efficiency, driven by technological innovation and evolving performance demands. In this lecture, we will explore the differing performance requirements of military and commercial aircraft—including efficiencies, range, and maneuverability—and how these variations shape engine configuration and design philosophies. Central to our discussion is the Brayton cycle, which underpins modern jet engine operation. By examining the thermodynamic processes of key components—the compressor, combustor, and turbine—we will explore how these elements influence engine performance. We will also discuss how fundamental thermodynamic principles and design constraints inform decisions during the preliminary design phase of an aircraft engine, using specific next-generation aircraft as examples.

Bio: Sarasija Sudharsan is a postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State University, where she received her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in Spring 2024. Her doctoral research addressed unsteady aerodynamic stall, aimed at improving the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. In Fall 2024, she served as the instructor for an engineering thermodynamics course. She has also engaged with students on topics in aerospace propulsion and turbomachinery, earning the departmental Teaching Excellence Award. As a Regional Energy Innovator at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), she contributed to offshore wind energy research. Prior to joining Iowa State, Sarasija worked as an Aerodynamics Engineer at General Electric (GE) Aviation, where she gained experience in preliminary and detailed design processes for aircraft engines. She was a lead aerodynamic designer on the turbine rear frame of the GE9X commercial engine, where her design contributions led to a patent award for her team.

The aviation industry is undergoing significant improvements in aircraft efficiency, driven by technological innovation and...

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Seminar: An Introduction to Electrical Power Systems in Spacecraft - Apr. 15

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:48:40 +0000

Seminar: An Introduction to Electrical Power Systems in Spacecraft - Apr. 15 Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/08/2025 - 09:48

Sage Sherman
Program Advisor, US Department of State
Tuesday, Apr. 15 | 10 a.m. | AERO 232

Abstract: This interactive lecture will provide students with an overview of the Electrical Power System (EPS) needed for spacecraft. This lecture will start by illustrating the key components and functions of an EPS, but it will then provide technological insight into EPS power source options, where we will discuss their implementation and ways to assess their capabilities. We will discuss design considerations and implications for using each power source in a spacecraft’s EPS. This lecture will also touch upon fault tolerance considerations and conclude with a deep dive into the EPS used aboard Apollo to illustrate system integration and operational considerations. The lecture will conclude with an elaboration of Dr. Sherman’s teaching vision and pedagogical methods.

Bio: Dr. Sage Sherman is currently serving as a Program Advisor for the US Department of State through the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program. In this role, Sage oversees the development and implementation of international security programs with our foreign partners. Prior to his current role, Sage was a Postdoctoral Associate within the Bioastronautics Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Sherman received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder in 2023, where he also obtained graduate certificates in Global Engineering and College Teaching. His work focuses on understanding and improving human performance within aerospace personnel, specifically focusing on performance elements related to operational cognition. Previous research investigations include stochastic resonance, neuromodulation, virtual reality training, human interaction with embedded autonomous systems, and cognitive security.

This interactive lecture will provide students with an overview of the Electrical Power System (EPS) needed for spacecraft. This lecture will start by...

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