Letter from College Students regarding the Future of Human Spaceflight
March 31, 2011
Dear President Obama and Members of Congress,
This year, as we celebrate both the fiftieth anniversary of human spaceflight and the accomplishments of the retiring Space Shuttle fleet, the exploration of space remains as critical as ever. Over the past year, many groups have offered their opinions on the best way for the US government to foster space exploration. However, one critical perspective has been missing from this conversation: that of the next generation. We, the signatories of this letter — 280 students from universities and colleges across the nation — are writing you today to ensure that our voice is heard in this ongoing discussion.
We are the ones who will be most affected by the decisions you make today. We are undergraduate and graduate students working hard to prepare ourselves for fulfilling careers as leaders and productive members of the civil, military, and commercial aerospace industries. We are the astronauts, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
We urge you to consider the following recommendations as you make the key decisions that will chart out the future of our nation’s space program:
Everyone wins when NASA partners with the commercial spaceflight industry.
NASA always has been and, we hope, always will be the world’s leader for human spaceflight. No other organization can boast of the accomplishments or the institutional legacy of NASA. However, NASA need not be the only way for people to get to space.
We believe that companies in the commercial spaceflight sector such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin offer huge opportunities for us as students, and for our nation. Many of us are eagerly applying to work at companies in the commercial and entrepreneurial space sector. We do so partly because we are excited by their “Silicon Valley” spirit of innovation, their inspiring founders–Elon Musk of Paypal and Tesla Motors, Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group, Jeff Bezos of Amazon–and their fast-paced work environments. But we are also interested in working at these companies because we are greatly encouraged by the prospect of a future where these companies work alongside NASA.
We strongly believe that NASA and the nation both benefit greatly from investing in commercial spaceflight programs that will allow astronauts to fly on commercial vehicles; and we urge you to fully fund and support those programs. They offer a win-win situation: we ensure that the nation has a way–or, better yet, several independent ways–to get its astronauts into space following the impending retirement of the Space Shuttle, while the commercial sector will benefit from the support of NASA to grow faster and to hire more of us future graduates.
Open the space frontier to all.
For fifty years, NASA’s astronauts have been heroes to the nation. We share that respect and admiration for the hardworking men and women of NASA’s astronaut corps. However, access to space must not be limited just to this small group of people. Nearly all of us grew up wanting to be astronauts, and NASA should play a role in ensuring that that dream is open to all of us.
NASA and the US government can help make this dream a reality by doing two things: reinvigorating NASA’s role as a technology development engine focused on advanced concepts, and fostering American businesses focusing on safely taking humans to space. The technology that gets us to space today is essentially the same as what carried John Glenn to orbit decades ago; and, if given the appropriate direction, NASA has the talent to develop breakthrough new technologies that will dramatically increase the human presence in the solar system. At the same time, commercial space companies large and small are developing routine, safe, low cost vehicles that will allow many more of us to become astronauts, payload specialists, and passengers. We urge you to embrace the commercial spaceflight industry and help fulfill the dreams of so many Americans who want to fly to space, whether for pleasure, for business, or for service to their country.
Allow NASA to explore the solar system again by embracing commercial spaceflight.
The International Space Station (ISS) is an amazing and unprecedented laboratory. It represents the culmination of decades of hard work and billions upon billions of dollars. With ISS just beginning to fully deliver on its promise, it is critical that we keep the station in orbit and in service. At the same time, we as a nation are also called to turn our attention beyond ISS. We are united in believing that, by embracing commercial spaceflight and thereby reducing costs, NASA can refocus its exploration program to look beyond Earth’s orbit.
Whatever the destinations–the Moon, Mars, and the asteroids each hold their own appeal-what is important is that NASA be directed to send humans to explore our solar system, and to do so not on brief sorties but as part of a sustained exploration effort that constantly expands our knowledge and opens us up to new technologies and new opportunities. We are not a generation motivated by just flags and footprints; we desire exploration that is both inspirational and financially sustainable, and that will open up the solar system for exploration on a grander and more exciting scale than ever before.
This goal can be achieved by using new technologies achieved by NASA as well as new commercial vehicles being built by a wide range of American companies. Already, commercial firms are developing the capacity to deliver cargo and crew to ISS and to robotically explore destinations like the surface of the Moon. We urge you to direct NASA to use these commercial services wherever possible and to take advantage of the cost savings they offer to push ever further out into the solar system. NASA’s mission isn’t to be stuck circling in Low Earth Orbit; NASA should be exploring the frontier and developing new technologies.
Commercial companies will help grow tomorrow’s workforce through inspiring STEM outreach and hands-on training.
Many people have spoken about the need to encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As students, we believe that commercial companies–benefiting from the promotional resources and public attention that private firms command–will do a spectacular job of inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. After all, what could be more inspirational than telling America’s youth that they will have the opportunity to go to space themselves; not just a handful of the most talented and fortunate, but all of them who desire to do so? The prospect of working for these firms or going to space using their vehicles and services will inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to take the most challenging classes in school and to develop new technologies and experiments that will make a positive difference in the world.
The low costs and high flight rates offered by commercial spaceflight providers also present a unique opportunity to allow students the chance to work on real projects that are flying to space. It is critical that students begin to acquire hands-on experience to complement our classroom studies, and commercial space flights allow low cost, low risk, and frequent opportunities for young scientists and engineers to develop real space hardware. Commercial spaceflight can play a key role in giving students valuable experience that will make us more productive members of the space exploration community or any other high tech field.
Conclusions
Thank you for your consideration of our thoughts on this important subject of human spaceflight. Here’s a final story worth considering: as NASA inspired and amazed the world by landing humans on the surface of the Moon in the late 1960s, the average age in NASA’s Mission Control was only about twenty-eight. People not much older than we are now played an enormous role in one of the crowning achievements in the history of the world. We believe that if NASA is refocused on developing new technology and on operating in partnership with the emerging commercial spaceflight sector, the youthful energy and excitement that allowed the Apollo missions to inspire the world and to reach unprecedented success will be rekindled. These commercial firms are the places we as students are most eager to work; and that enthusiasm is spilling over to NASA as the space agency begins to partner with this new industry.
The decisions you make today will decide whether we as a nation truly progress forward with our space exploration endeavors, or whether we lose out on the promise of the moment. We thank you for allowing us to make our opinions heard.
Sincerely,
The following list of students from universities nationwide:
Aaron M. Valentine
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Adam Yozwiak
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University
Adela Wee
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Akash Shah
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alan J. Carey
Class of 2013: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Albert S. Gore
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alex Downs
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida
Alex Whittemore
Class of 2012: BS, Electrical Engineering, Boston University
Alexander Muroyama
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
Alison Bradbury
Class of 2013: BS, Systems Engineering, University of Arizona
Andrew Harner
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Andrew Heine
Class of 2013: BS, Engineering with Mechatronics, Olin College of Engineering
Andrew Hermann
Class of 2013: PhD, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Purdue University
Andrew Reed Stewart
Class of 2011: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Anna Ho
Class of 2014: BA, Undecided, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Anson R. Koch
Class of 2013: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Asa Eckert-Erdheim
Class of 2014: BS, Systems Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Ashley Chandler
Class of 2012: PhD, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Ashley Clark
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Ashley Sng
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Asif Yeahia
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
Atray Dixit
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Balakumar Vasudevan
Class of 2012: MS, Computer Science, University at Buffalo
Barbara Hendrick
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Barry Solomon
Class of 2012: MS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Ben Chapman
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering & Sustainability, Olin College of Engineering
Ben Kroop
Class of 2014: BS, Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Benjamin Crawford
Class of 2012: BS, Astronomy, University of Arizona
Benjamin Pantzis
Class of 2012: BS, Computer Engineering, University of Florida
Benjamin Wicher
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Brandon Seifert
Class of 2014: BA, Undeclared, University of Colorado, Boulder
Brenda Scheufele
Class of 2012: M.Eng, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Brett Rowley
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Brian Jennings
Class of 2012: BS, Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Brian Moore
Class of 2013: BS, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Brian Senta
Class of 2011: BS, Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brian E. McDaniel
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering Physics, St. Louis University
Brittany Torgrude
Class of 2013: BS, Engineering Management, University of Arizona
Bruce Davis
Class of 2012: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Bruno Lesage
Class of 2012: MS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Bryan Chan
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Bryan Cannon
Class of 2012: BSE, Neuroscience, University of Michigan
C. Augustus Huebner
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech
Cameron Crowell
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech
Carissa Walker
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Charles Domercant
Class of 2011: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Charlie Behling
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Chloe Vilain
Class of 2014: BS, Engineering with Computing , Olin College of Engineering
Christina Marie Johnson
Class of 2013: PhD, Botany, Miami University of Ohio
Christine Jensen
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University
Christopher Nie
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Christopher Teubert
Class of 2012: BS Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University
Christopher J. Ogden
Class of 2011: BA, Business Administration, University at Buffalo
Chun-Hui (Jeffrey) Lin
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Colby Sato
Class of 2014: BS, Biological Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Colin Winslow
Class of 2012: BS, Information Sciences and Technology, University of Arizona
Colin Zwiebel
Class of 2012: BS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Colton Kohnke
Class of 2014: BS, Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines
Coralie Jackman
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Corrianne Lamkin
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Dan Bulfer
Class of 2011: BS, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Colorado School of
Mines
Dan Chuchawat
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dan Koerber
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dan Regan
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Daniel Loscalzo
Class of 2011: BS, Civil Engineering, University at Buffalo
Daniel Nevius
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Harvard University
Daniel M. Pastuf
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Daphne F. Rein-Weston
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Darren Pais
Class of 2012: PhD, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
David Butz
Class of 2014: BS, Commercial Aviation, University of North Dakota
David Clifton
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
David DeBoth
Class of 2011: BS, Physics, Florida Institute of Technology
David Gerson
Class of 2014: BSE, Aerospace Engineering, Stanford University
David Peterside
Class of 2012: BS, Biological Engineering, University of Florida
David Slaby
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
David J. Holewka
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Dean Liao
Class of 2010: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Derek Cleveland Mullins
Class of 2011: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Central Florida
Dina Cavicchia
Class of 2011: BA, Physics Education, University of Central Florida
Divyanshu Agarwal
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech
Donald Gregorich
Class of 2014: BS, Undeclared, University of Maryland
Donald Delano Durm III
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida
Doug Astler
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Doug Nettles
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Elizabeth Tang
Class of 2012: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Ellen Farber
Class of 2013: BS, Computer Science, Harvard University
Ellen Thomas
Class of 2013: BS, Psychology, University of Arizona
Emily Calandrelli
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Emily Metivier
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
Emmanuel Tsaparikos
Class of 2011: MS, Space Systems Engineering, University of Michigan
Emmeline Y Kao
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Eric Anden
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eric Reisenbuckler
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eric Sahr
Class of 2013: BS, Geology, University of Arizona
Eric Starr
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Eric Womer
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Boston University
Erica Chin
Class of 2013: BS, Biomechanics, Olin College of Engineering
Erin Stempinski
Class of 2012: MS, Botany, Miami University of Ohio
Ethan E. Harstad
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University
Evan Morikawa
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering with Computing, Olin College of Engineering
Fernando Arstizabal
Class of 2011: BS, Agricultural Engineering, University of Florida
Flora Vinson
Class of 2011: BS, Biological Engineering, University of Florida
Frank Mycroft
Class of 2012: MBA, Harvard University
Gabriella Alvarez
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Geoffrey Bower
Class of 2011: PhD, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Gregory Bachison
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Gregory Doidge
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Gregory M Pitner
Class of 2012: BS, Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Hallie A Gengl
Class of 2012: BS, Earth and Space Science, Arizona State University
Hans Eugene Waldenmaier
Class of 2011: MS, Botany, Miami University of Ohio
Harrison Chau
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Harrison Searles
Class of 2012: BA, Economics & BA, Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Harvey Elliott
Class of 2014: PhD, Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of Michigan
Hee Yong Jeon
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Ian Daniher
Class of 2013: BS, Electrical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Ian Haubert
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Arizona
Jacqueline Alexander
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Jake Gamsky
Class of 2011: BS, Physics, University of Kentucky
James Burgess
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky
James Michael
Class of 2011: PhD, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Jason Curtis
Class of 2012: BS, Engineering with Computing, Olin College of Engineering
Jason Goerlich
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jason Hewkin
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jason Murray
Class of 2011: BS, Chemical Engineering, Georgia Tech
Jeff Cunningham
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida
Jeff Gordon
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jennifer Dowling
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Jesse Cummings
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Jessica Allen
Class of 2011: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Jessica Hall
Class of 2012: BA, Physics and Philosophy, Miami University of Ohio
Jessica Hicks
Class of 2011: MS, Information Sciences, University of North Texas
Jessica Wayer
Class of 2012: MS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Jim Crowell
Class of 2012: BS, Earth and Space Science, Arizona State University
Joe Every
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Joe Johnson
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Joel Houston
Class of 2011: BS, Astrophysics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Joel Meuting
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
Joey Sasser
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
John Baader
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
John Gallo
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
John Wirth
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
John Pierce Wise, Jr.
Class of 2013: BS, Biology, University of Southern Maine
Johnathon Stark
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Jonathan Claussen
Class of 2011: PhD, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University
Jonathan Mihaly
Class of 2012: PhD, Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology
Jonathan M. Huang
Class of 2012: BS, Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Joni De Guzman
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jordan Holquist
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jordan Bell
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Josh Levy
Class of 2012: BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Florida
Joshua Furnish
Class of 2014: BS, Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Joshua V. Nelson
Class of 2011: MS, Space Studies, University of North Dakota
Julia Rees
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Julia Thompson
Class of 2014: PhD, Engineering Education, Purdue University
Julian Sy
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Julie Xie
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical & Materials Science and Engineering, Harvard University
Kailin Hsu
Class of 2012: BA, Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Maryland
Kaitlin Vahling
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kaitlyn Walker
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Kapil Varshney
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Karthik Balakrishnan
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Katherine Johnson
Class of 2012: BS, Psychology, University of Arizona
Kathryn O’Connell
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Katrina Hornstein
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Kendra Toole
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Boston University
Kerry Fessenden
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, St. Louis University
Kevin Gowsell
Class of 2011: BS, Botany, Miami University of Ohio
Kevin Hardegree-Ullman
Class of 2011: BS, Astronomy, University of Arizona
Kevin McClure
Class of 2014: BS, Robotics Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Kevin Zagorski
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
Kier Fortier
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Kimly Do
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Krista Nixon
Class of 2012: BS, Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Kristi Bradford
Class of 2012: BA, Astrophysics, Harvard University
Kyle Lovett
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Kyle Shannon
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Kyle Stephens
Class of 2012: BS, Optical Sciences and Engineering, University of Arizona
Lars Osborne
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University
Laura Chen
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering Mechanics and Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign
Laura Stiles
Class of 2013: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Lauren Sykora
Class of 2011: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Lenae Johnson
Class of 2013: BS, Engineering Physics, Colorado School of Mines
Lindsay Jones
Class of 2014: BS, Environmental Science, California State University, Channel Islands
Lindsey Ramkellawan
Class of 2014: BS, Biological Engineering, University of Florida
Lisa A. Alagna
Class of 2011: BS, Applied Mathematics, University at Buffalo
Louis Poirier
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Lucas Bannister
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
Mackenzie D. Ott
Class of 2014: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Mallory Casperson
Class of 2012: MS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Manuel Lopez
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Maria Barna
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, St. Louis University
Mariah Law
Class of 2014: BS, Space Physics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Martin Czerep
Class of 2011: MS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Martin Salisbury
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Marty Otzenberger
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering Physics, Colorado School of Mines
Mary Snooks
Class of 2013: BS, Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Matt Daniels
Class of 2013: PhD, Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Matthew Cannella
Class of 2014: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Matthew Hartle
Class of 2012: BS, Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines
Matthew Hill
Class of 2014: BS, Chemical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Matthew Tyrpak
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Michael Boor
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University
Michael Hardisty
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michael A. Lotto
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Michael S. Andrle
Class of 2013: PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
Michelle Cheng
Class of 2012: MOP, Physiology, North Carolina State University
Morgan Lavine
Class of 2012: BS Electrical and Computer Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Nathan Dostart
Class of 2014: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Nathan Mogk
Class of 2012: BS, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona
Nathan Wong
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics, University of Wisconsin,
Madison
Neel Patel
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Nicholas Boechler
Class of 2011: PhD, Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology
Nicholas Picon
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Nicolas Lee
Class of 2012: PhD, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Nicolas M. Gaudio
Class of 2013: BS, Aeronautical Engineering and Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Nikita Gokhale
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Orian J. Breaux
Class of 2012: BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Oyku Akkaya
Class of 2012: BSE, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Patrick Haddox
Class of 2011: BS, Engineering Mechanics and Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign
Paul Booth
Class of 2013: BS Engineering with Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Olin College of
Engineering
Paul Schattenberg
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University
Paul van Susante
Class of 2011: PhD, Engineering Systems, Colorado School of Mines
Pedro Jofre
Class of 2013: BS, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Purdue University
Phil Hornstein
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Phillip Michel
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Phillip Reyes
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, St. Louis University
Reinhold Povilaitis
Class of 2012: BSE, Materials Engineering, Arizona State University
Richard Wang
Class of 2011: BS, Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Richard Otero
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Richard E. Hanton
Class of 2011: BS, Computer Engineering, Iowa State University
Robbie Bunge
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Robert McMullen
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Robert John Lossing
Class of 2011: MS, Environmental Science and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Robert John Rovetto
Class of 2011: MA, Philosophy & Applied Ontology, University at Buffalo
Robin Schneider
Class of 2014: PhD, Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines
Robyn Macdonald
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Rohit Mahakali
Class of 2011: MSE, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
Ryan Isham
Class of 2012: BS, Biological Engineering, University of Florida
Ryan McLinko
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Salman Iqbal
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo
Samantha Marquart
Class of 2011: BA, Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Samuel Hoffman
Class of 2012: BS, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Boston University
Sara Meschberger
Class of 2012: BA, Communications and Linguistics, University of Arizona
Sara Streeb
Class of 2011: BS, Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sarah Barrett
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Saravanan Lakshmanan
Class of 2012: MS, Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
Saraya Sikora
Class of 2012: MS, Environmental Engineering, University of Florida
Scott Perry
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Sean Gellenbeck
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Arizona
Sean Lyons
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
Sean McClain
Class of 2013: BS Computer Engineering, Iowa State University
Sean Chait
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Seiya Shimizu
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Shannon Weber
Class of 2013: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Shashank Saxena
Class of 2015: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University
Shen Ge
Class of 2011: MS, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University
Sherrie Hall
Class of 2011: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Tech
Sonal Shah
Class of 2014: BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky
Stella Garcia
Class of 2011: BS, Biological Engineering, University of Florida
Steve Massey
Class of 2012: BS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, St. Louis University
Steven Zinnen
Class of 2011: BS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Olin College of Engineering
Swetha Chandrasekar
Class of 2014: BS, Bioengineering, Olin College of Engineering
Thomas Colvin
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Thomas Marsh
Class of 2013: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
Timothy Alvarez
Class of 2013: BS, Management Information Systems, University of Arizona
Timothy Szwarc
Class of 2013: PhD, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Timothy J. Holland
Class of 2012: MS, Space Studies, University of North Dakota
Tomislav Ticak
Class of 2013: PhD, Microbiology, Miami University of Ohio
Travis Pollok
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University
Triana Henz
Class of 2012: BS, Astronomy, University of Arizona
Tristan Kreutzberg
Class of 2011: M.Eng, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan
Tucker Gritton
Class of 2014: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tyler Maddox
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida
Tyler Reid
Class of 2011: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Vaibhav Kumar
Class of 2012: MS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
Wahab Alshahin
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Wesley Gardner
Class of 2014: BS, Physics, Math, and Computer Science, St. Louis University
Zachary Pace
Class of 2014: BS, Physics and Mathematics, University at Buffalo
Zachary H. Liquorman
Class of 2012: BA, Philosophy, University at Buffalo
Zachary T. Searer
Class of 2012: BS, Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
Note: Signatures represent the individual opinions of the students listed, and not necessarily
that of the entire university with which they are affiliated.
