What is your background and how did you end up in your current job?
I obtained my Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, with a focus in orbital mechanics and control systems. I was fortunate to meet an employee at Relative Dynamics during my last day of classes and he had nothing but high remarks for the company so I decided to apply. After being hired, I worked on the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) mission for 1.5 years as a test & controls engineer. This experience helped shaped me into a more professional engineer, and with the support of Relative Dynamics, I was able to obtain my current job as a Flight Dynamicist for the GPM mission.
What excites you about your company?
Relative Dynamics provided me a hands-on experience as a technical lead for an emergent space technology - a role I thought would take years or decades to achieve. They could have hired an outside expert for the project but instead they care more about developing the competency of their own engineers and there's no better way to do that than through experience. I'm excited to be a part of this internally funded project at Relative Dynamics and excited by how our technology will affect the Space industry for decades to come.
What do you do on a day-to-day basis?
I currently support the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission as a flight dynamicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I'm responsible for maintaining the orbit of the satellite and planning orbital maneuvers in support of science operations. Every day, I determine the latest estimate of the satellite's orbital parameters (OD) using GPS data and plan the next station-keeping maneuver to counteract the dissipative effects of drag that the satellite experiences in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). I also constantly monitor the positions of other satellites and orbital debris to screen for possible collision events in the near future.
Why would you recommend working at Relative Dynamics?
Relative Dynamics treats me like a member of their family by working with me to find a position that suits my technical interests and advances my career. The leadership and other employees cultivate a nurturing work environment where I'm encouraged to learn from my mistakes and expand my thinking to outside my scope. If you're looking to grow your career in emerging space technologies and develop personal connections with key players in the space industry, this is the place to do it.
What opportunities do you think this role prepares you for in the future?
My current role as a Flight Dynamicist is particularly interesting as I think towards the future because the popular orbits around Earth are becoming increasingly crowded with commercial satellites. Part of my job is to screen the orbit of our satellite against other objects and analyze the possibility of a collision. A single collision event can spawn thousands of debris, which in turn collide with other satellites in a cascading effect (see Kessler syndrome). The number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit is scheduled to triple in the next 10-15 years, which means the work I do will be in high demand.