NASA/JPL Talk: Aerospace Engineering, Entry Descent and Landing on Mars

Aerospace Engineering: Entry Descent and Landing on Mars:

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/a/c/c/event_73475532.jpegThis fall NASA (http://www.nasa.gov/) will send its most capable robotic geologist to the surface of the Red Planet. The Mars Science Laboratory (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/) (MSL) mission will land a 2000 lb rover, the size of a compact car, to explore the planes of Mars.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/a/f/e/event_73475582.jpegThe rover, aptly named Curiosity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4boyXQuUIw), will search for organic compounds, characterize the climate and geology, and continue the search for life. One of the most challenging aspects of the mission, from an engineering perspective, is safely landing the rover on the surface.

The entry descent and landing (EDL) system uses a heat shield to accommodate its hypersonic entry conditions, followed by a supersonic parachute, and eight retro rockets for the powered descent. For its final terminal descent, a maneuver called the sky crane is used where the rover is lowered on a tether for touchdown.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/b/3/0/event_73475632.jpegThe talk will describe how specific engineering challenges were tackled with computational modeling and cutting edge experimental techniques.

JOINT MEETUP

This will be a joint meetup with LAWebSpeed (https://www.meetup.com/LAWebSpeed/), LAPHP (http://laphp.org), LAMySQL (https://www.meetup.com/la-mysql/) and LASemWeb (https://www.meetup.com/lasemweb/).

Dr. Anita Sengupta Bio:

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/8/5/6/event_73474902.jpegDr. Anita Sengupta is a Senior Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She has been developing entry and propulsion systems for Mars, Venus, and deep space missions for the past decade. She is currently a flight systems engineer on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission, leading the systems development of a Mars Ascent Vehicle, and principal investigator for the Orion Vehicle Drogue Parachute Subscale Test Program.

Previously she was the entry system lead for a Venus lander mission, lead systems engineer for a Mars Sample return mission concept, Principal Investigator for the MSL supersonic parachute qualification program and terminal descent engine plume impingement program, and Co-Investigator of several plasma propulsion development programs.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/1/5/2/event_73477202.jpegPrior to joining JPL she worked in industry on the Delta IV Launch Vehicle, X37 Vehicle, Space Shuttle, and Commercial Communication Satellites (XM-radio).

She received her PhD and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California, where she is currently teaching Spacecraft Design in the Astronautics Department. She received her BS in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University.

SPONSORS

Food and beverage is sponsored by CyberCoders (http://www.cybercoders.com/)

CyberCoders is the premier recruiting firm in Southern California, and we represent phenomenal opportunities for talented PHP and DevOp engineers with the hottest technology companies in Southern California. Even if you're not looking , but you know someone who is, we also pay great referral fees to you for every person you send to us, and we place!

Feel free to send us an email at laphp@cybercoders.com or give us a call at (949) 333-5572, to find out more about our opportunities and our referral program. We answer our phone and email all day and night, so don’t hesitate to contact us any time!

Check also our web site at http://www.cybercoders.com/

VENUE PROVIDED BY COLOFT

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/sponsor/2/8/7/b/iab120x90_70363.jpeg
CoLoft (http://www.coloft.com): The best co-working venue in town! 920 Santa Monica Blvd (10th and Santa Monica)

PARKING

Street parking available and free, please look at the street signs ans certain street sides are permit parking only. The meter spaces are free after 6pm.

Give a Ride, Get a Ride

If you'd like to carpool, please post your location in the carpool thread (https://www.meetup.com/LAWebSpeed/messages/boards/thread/10166189/).

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