How do I start a career in Space Exploration?

[brandido]

I am a Computer Engineer with 5+ years of experience with system design, including schematics, PCB design, vhdl and verilog as well as some c/c++ coding. In particular, I have been working with FPGA based systems. However, I am interested in starting to make a transition into a career in the Space Exploration arena. <br /><br />Any one have any ideas on what steps I should follow to make this change? My current thought is that I would continue doing system design, but with a focus on systems that are designed to survive the stresses of launch and the ravages of space. At this point, I am looking for references to books and websites that I could peruse to get a good grounding on this subject, but I welcome other input as well.

 

[propforce]

Find out what companies are working in Space Exploration that can utilize your skills. <br /><br />What part of space exploration do you want to get involved in? There are JPL type of space exploration which is building satellites and send them to explore the galaxy. Then there's Bush's VSE which involved going back to the Moon and then to Mars in next 30 years. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Hmmm, want to work in the Florida panhandle?<br /><br />Oops, we don't do space exploration...<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[propforce]

death & destruction.... is where science gets down to business <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[finaldeathh]

Have a lot of paission about space exploration and you'll find your way.

 

[brandido]

I think quite a few companies would need my general type of skills, as many places need to design custom hardware at some level or another. However, there is (I believe) a huge difference between designing a PCB that will sit on someone's desk or in a computer vs one that is going to go into space. There are the issues of radiation and single event upsets, withstanding the g-forces and vibration of launch, knowing the impact of vacuum on different components and materials, how to plan for different levels of redundancy, particularly for man-rated craft, etc.<br /><br />At this point, I am not to finicky about what portion of space exploration. Ideally I would like to work for a company like SpaceX, SpaceDev or Bigelow Aerospace as they seem to be the ones that are currently pushing for a revolution in our access to space. But, I would also be happy designing systems for telcom satellites or weather monitoring. Not picky.<br /><br />However, at this point, I am really looking for some reference material that I can learn from to overcome some of the initial know-how hurdles.<br /><br />P.S. Thanks for responding!

 

[brandido]

Thanks for thinking of me, but I am used to the SF Bay Area earthquakes, not sure I am ready to adapt to other types of natural disasters <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[brandido]

That is what I am hoping. I have been an avid sci-fi fan for years, but never really believed that any individual could make a real shift in US space policy. Combined with the fact that the last Lunar landing was the year I was born, I had kinda resigned myself to a lackluster space program. <br /><br />Watching people like Rutan, Musk and Bigelow and companies like SpaceDev, SpaceX, Scaled Composites and Bigelow Aerospace jumping in and make a potentially big change in the direction of our space program helps me believe that I can make an impact as an individual. To that end, I need to expand my knowledge and then look for my opportunity.

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">but I am used to the SF Bay Area earthquakes</font><br /><br />S.F. area, eh? OK, now we know the geographic area I can be a bit more specific in my help <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />From what you've stated, sounds like you would enjoy working on space-borne hardware, as they do require more design innovation than something just sit on your desktop. <br /><br />For starters, I would visit launch vehicle website and look for "payload planner's guide". It's a manual launch vehicle (LV) companies put out to satellite manufacturers so they can design the satellite to satisfy the launch enviornment, inclduing shocks, acoustic, random vibrations, thermal as well as all necessary interfaces. You can down load them for free and understand a lot about launch vehicles and payload integration. Just google the key word and look for Atlas, Delta, Sea Launch and Arianne's payload planners' guide.<br /><br />Now onto more exciting aspect of satellite design. Satellite has 2 parts --- bus and payload. Bus is the "standard" part of a satellite offerrings such as Hughes (now Boeing) HS701, Loral & Lockheed has their own platforms. A bus is like a bone structures of a satellite with the standard subsystem such as propulsion, comm, and power. <br /><br />A payload refers to the specific instrumentations that a particular satellite customer want for its purpose. Generically commercial satellite wants the "comm" features while the government wants the "EO" feature (politely called as "earth observation" but really is "spy" satellites <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />). Now spy satellites are really cool as they demand finer and finer target recognition and discrimination. But really, both comm and EO satellites are very much in demand. <br /><br />Another exciting arena for satellite is called "configurable" satellite bus architecture. Suppose there's a little crisis happen over in one part of world and the government wants to q <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brandido]

Wow, Propforce , thanks - that was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for! I'll start looking for some "payload planner's guides" for checking out over thanksgiving (save me from my family <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> have a total of 10 guests coming on Thursday!)<br /><br />The configurable satellites sounds particularly interesting and challenging - I imagine designing a bus architecture flexible enough to support a wide range of different use models would be complicated, particularly given some of the additional difficulties of space. In particular, I am intrigued by the use of FPGAs, as I have worked with both Xilinx (up thru V4s) and Altera (up through SIIs), so a focus on FPGAs might offer me a leg up given my lack of expericence with space applications. Unfortunately, I don't think that the latest generatsion of FPGAs are often used in space applications due to SEU concerns (smaller transistors = more susceptible to upsets). <br /><br />Thanks again - this is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for to help start pursuing my dream.