Crosslink Winter 2004 Contributors
That's Why They Call It Rocket Science
Edward Ruth is Systems Director in the Space Launch Support Division with responsibility for Aerospace's civil and commercial space launch systems work. He has more than 20 years of experience in the development and operation of launch vehicles and their ground support systems, including the Atlas, Delta, Sea Launch, Kistler, Space Access, Pegasus, space shuttle, Taurus, Titan, Ariane 5, Proton, and H-IIA launch systems. His current focus is on supporting NASA's Safety Health and Independent Assessment organization in independent reviews of expendable launch vehicles. He has a Ph.D. in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology. He joined Aerospace in 1980 (edward.k.ruth@aero.org).
Launch Vehicle Propulsion
Jeffery L. Emdee, Director, Propulsion Department, is responsible for Aerospace propulsion engineering support to the launch vehicle and spacecraft program offices. His department provides technology evaluations, concept design, propulsion systems analysis, and mission assurance support for solid, liquid, and electric propulsion systems. He joined the Aerospace Propulsion Department in 1990 and became Section Manager in 1997 and Department Director in 1998. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University. He is a member of AIAA and JANNAF (jeffery.l.emdee@aero.org).
Loads Analysis for National Security Space Missions
Alvar M. Kabe (left), Director, Structural Dynamics Department, leads an organization that develops satellite and launch vehicle structural dynamic models; performs independent loads, separation, staging, pogo, on-orbit vibration, and day-of-launch loads placard analyses; and participates in associated testing. He has led independent assessments for the Air Force and NASA and served on the Defense Science Board's Aviation Safety Task Force. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. He received The Aerospace Corporation's President's and Trustees Distinguished Achievement Awards. He has a Ph.D. from UCLA. He joined Aerospace in 1979 (alvar.m.kabe@aero.org). Myun C. Kim (middle), Senior Engineering Specialist, Structural Dynamics Department, leads special investigations into a broad range of structural dynamics problems with particular emphasis on highly nonlinear structural dynamics, coupled fluid/structure dynamic modeling, and structural dynamic analysis of extremely large systems. Kim joined Aerospace in 1989 and received a Corporate Achievement Award in 2000. He has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (myun.c.kim@aero.org). Charles E. Spiekermann (right) is an Engineering Specialist in the Structural Dynamics Department. He has led independent loads analyses and methodology development efforts for several launch vehicle and spacecraft programs. He has also led the Aerospace independent day-of-launch load placard development and loads analyses. His work has been recognized with a Vehicle Systems Division Individual Achievement Award. He has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He joined Aerospace in 1992 (charles.e.spiekermann@aero.org).
Mitigating Pogo on Liquid-Fueled Rockets
Kirk Dotson, Senior Engineering Specialist, Structural Dynamics Department, has 15 years of experience in launch vehicle dynamics, with specialization in fluid-structure interaction and nonlinear dynamics. He conducted pogo stability analyses in support of the launch of the last Milstar satellite and is a member of a team that received a President's Award for the associated pogo mitigation effort. He is currently working with Sheldon Rubin on the development of an advanced pogo stability analysis code. He holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Rice University and is the author of 25 papers in structural dynamics. He has chaired two AIAA conferences and is an AIAA Associate Fellow (kirk.w.dotson@aero.org).
Guidance, Navigation, and Control
Nick Bletsos is Director of the Guidance Analysis Department in the Guidance and Control Subdivision, which focuses on all aspects of guidance, navigation, and control of launch vehicles. Bletsos joined Aerospace in 1979 to serve in the Guidance Analysis Department and later became Section Manager, Launch Vehicle Guidance and Control. He has led guidance and navigation studies and performance validation studies on several launch vehicle families. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan (nikolas.a.bletsos@aero.org).
EELV: The Next Stage of Space Launch
Randy L. Kendall, Principal Director, Mission Integration and Systems Engineering, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Division, is responsible for management and technical leadership of mission management and systems analysis on EELV. Core duties include synthesizing system and mission requirements, integrating system-level and mission-specific verification analyses, and guiding source selection planning and proposal evaluation for future EELV launch service acquisitions. He has been with Aerospace since 1988 and supported a variety of launch vehicle and spacecraft programs before joining EELV in 1997. He holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach (randy.l.kendall@aero.org).
Future Launch Systems
Joseph Adams (left), Senior Project Leader in the Developmental Planning Directorate, provides expertise in the area of launch system operations and development. During his 17 years with Aerospace, he has assisted the development of launch system operability modeling and analysis techniques, databases, and technology evaluations. In various capacities, he has worked on every Air Force and NASA launch system and every new and experimental launch system development program, including the space shuttle, ALS, NASP, EELV, DC-X, X-33, X-38, and X-37 (joseph.d.adams@aero.org). Robert Hickman (right) is Director of the Advanced Spacelift and Force Application Directorate. He joined Aerospace in 1987 and has pioneered the development of system engineering tools to support the development of launch systems as well as analysis of integrated architecture systems. During the past four years, he has been the technical lead for Air Force advanced launch vehicle development and currently serves as the engineering lead for the Operationally Responsive Spacelift Analysis of Alternatives. He has an M.S. in Architecture and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the AIAA RLV program committee (robert.a.hickman@aero.org).
The Crosslink editorial staff. From left to right: Steven R. Strom, Donna Born, Jon Bach, Gabriel Spera.
