United States
On-site contractor for the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Access Branch at their Rocket Lab site on Edwards AFB. Lead the in-space analysis efforts for the branch's work into Space Mobility and Logistics (SML), trajectory optimization, and modular spacecraft. For SML, I simulated orbital servicing architectures with missions to rapidly service satellites in the GEO belt by developing a tool to solve to the Orbital Vehicle Routing Problem. The aim was to trade the propulsive needs of the servicer to complete various missions with high- and low-thrusting capabilities, and their effects on the architecture as a whole. I presented my results at various conferences, including AIAA SciTech, 2024. Part of this work was to optimize the high- and low-thrust trajectories around the GEO belt. I developed an N-Impulsive burn solver and optimized low-thrust trajectories with pseudo-spectral methods. The solvers had a variable accuracy to trade off analysis speed and necessary level of detail for the given problem. I was also the Space Access Branch's contractor lead for Sierra Lobo, where I was the point person between the contract managers and the contractors in the branch.
-Lead integration efforts of an in house radar simulation into a simulation of simulations with High Level Architecture (HLA) -Coded the interfaces in Java for RAMS to interact with multiple simulations -Developed MATLAB tools for testing and analysis -Modeled new capabilities in JAVA for the simulation -Prepared documentation, reports, and presentations to deliver to the customer -Worked closely with the customer to ensure integration progressed smoothly -Implemented and optimized a nonlinear Kalman Filter -Developed requirements for new capabilities and tracked them in DOORS
Low-Thrust Trajectory Analysis for Cube-Satellites -Simulated plausibility of low-thrust CubeSat flying from LEO to GEO, then to the Moon using a commercial electric propulsion system. Tested various assumptions and developed a procedure to compare various systems. -Investigated impacts of various time-saving assumptions, such as constant-mass and constant thrust, as well as more intensive assumptions, including variable thrust to power and the effects of shadowing of the solar panels on the trajectory. -Performed trade studies on various thruster profile performances. -Utilized NASA Copernicus software to optimize orbits and trajectories for various assumptions. Pulsed-Plasma Thruster Isolation Circuit Design -Designed and built an isolation circuit for measuring the temperature of a a Pulsed-Plasma Thruster to protect the lab equipment from the high-voltage environment inside the vacuum test chamber. The circuit used optical components to eliminate an electrical bridge from the inside the test chamber. -Build the circuit on a breadboard and tested it with an oscilloscope and different thermal baths to calibrate it to verify that it will capture the expected temperature ranges. -Prepared a PCB design for the finished circuit and to promote duplication for multiple sensors. Printed the design for final assembly.
Instruct conferences for the students taking various math courses (including Calculus and Differential Equations). During conference, I go over practice problems, and fix any problems the students have. I grade homework and hold two office hours a week, when students can come visit me outside of scheduled class time.
Man the main desk of the Gordon Library, where students or faculty go to ask questions, check out books and media, and seek basic research techniques. I deal with various other customer service related duties including directing students in efficient use of the library and addressing any concerns from visitors in person or over the phone.