CV/Rés.

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RYAN L. KOBRICK, PH.D.       Curriculum Vitae

OVERVIEW 

Dr. Kobrick’s career portfolio has included over 20 years dedicated to the pursuit of human spaceflight with work experience in government, academia, industry, and non-profits. His focal research areas have included: human performance; lunar dust abrasion and mitigation for spacecraft design and operations including habitat dust intrusion and advanced spacesuit technologies; exploration safety; assessing the reach / work envelopes for spaceflight intravehicular activity (IVA) using pressure suits and motion capture; surface exploration extravehicular activity (EVA) metrics using analogue/analog research locations; IVA and EVA spacesuit technology development; and global engagement curriculum development. Specifically, Dr. Kobrick is a human spaceflight subject matter expert (SME) in lunar dust mitigation, spacesuits, and analogue research and operations. 

 

CURRENT EXPERIENCE 

RyInSpace, LLC, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA 

Founder & Principal Consultant [Since Dec 2022] 

RyInSpace, LLC aims to: 

  • Help solve the impossible problems to enrich lives, here on Earth and in the pursuit of human spaceflight exploration. 

  • Inspire people about the importance of humans in space to help connect the planet. 

Client portfolio: 

  • Metakosmos (Australia) - consulting with technical reviews and advisement for a next gen spacesuit (Kosmosuit) and the supporting suit technologies for extreme environments. 

  • Canadian Space Mining Corporation (Canada) - contributing project management to prototype design of a Connected Care Medical Module (C²M²). The contract is funded by the Canadian Space Agency's Health Beyond Initiative. 

 

EDUCATION 

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aerospace Engineering Sciences (Bioastronautics) [2010] 

The University of Colorado at Boulder (CU), Boulder, CO, USA 

Dissertation: “Characterization and Measurement Standardization of Lunar Dust Abrasion for Spacecraft Design and Operations” 

Ph.D. Committee: Dr. David M. Klaus (Advisor & Chair), Dr. Kenneth W. Street, Jr., Dr. Scott H. Robertson, Dr. Jean N. Koster, and Dr. Virginia L. Ferguson. 

Master of Science (M.S.) in Aerospace Engineering [2005] 

The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), University Park, PA, USA 

Thesis: “Optimizing Trajectories for Suborbital Human Spaceflight” 

Advisor: Dr. David B. Spencer 

Master of Space Studies (MSS ’03) [2003] 

International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France 

Thesis: “X PRIZE CUP” 

Advisor: Dr. Peter H. Diamandis 

Bachelor of Science (B. SC. HONS) in Mechanical Engineering [2002] 

Queen’s University, (QU) Kingston, ON, Canada  

Area of Concentration: Aerospace Engineering 

 

CURRENT COMMITTEES & ROLES 

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 

  • Life Sciences & Systems Technical Committee, Executive Lead [2024+], Chair [2022-2024], Vice Chair [2020-2022], Membership Sub-Committee [2010-2014] and Education Sub-Committee [2010+]  

Analog Astronaut Conference Steering Committee at Biosphere 2, AZ, USA [2022, 2023] 

International Astronautical Federation (IAF) 

  • Space Operations Committee (SOC) [2019+] 

  • Space Education and Outreach Committee (SEOC) [2015+] 

  • Workforce Development/Young Professionals Program Committee (WD/YPP) [2010+] 

  • Global Workforce Development Subcommittee (SEOC & WD/YPP) [2018+] 

The Journal of Astrosociology 

  • Editorial Board - [2016+] 

 

AWARDS 

Blue Origin Internal Blue Star Award, 2024 

Distinguished Service Award, International Astronautical Federation [2021] 

Paragon Touchstone Internal Awards, Dec 2020 (x2), Jan 2021, Jul 2021, May 2022 

Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University [2019-2020] 

CTLE Writing in the Disciplines Fellow, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University [2019-2021] 

Outstanding Performance Award, Applied Aviation Sciences Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University [2017-2018] 

Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme - IAF [2015] 

NewSpace Award - Best Presentation of Space - MMXI - Presented to Yuri’s Night by the Space Frontier Foundation [2011] 

Yuri’s Night 2010 Dancing Snoopy Award [2010, 2011] 

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) USA 2008-2009 Chapter of the Year Award [Boulder, 2009] 

John A. Vise Memorial Scholarship Recipient - Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado at Boulder [2009] 

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar - Lockheed Martin Award [2008-2009], James Wright Memorial Scholar Award [2006-2007, 2007-2008] 

3rd Place Team Presentation at AIAA Region V Student Paper Conference and Competition, United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO [2007] 

AIAA Orville and Wilbur Wright Graduate Award [2006] 

Internal Scholarship with Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University [2004] 

Special Jury Prize - European Space Agency’s (ESA) 1st Aurora Student Design Contest by the ESA/Aurora Exploratory Program Advisory Committee (Barcelona, Spain) [2003] 

ESA Scholarship for International Space University MSS ’03 Program [2002-2003] 

Science ’95 Bursary, Queen’s University [2001] 

Ontario High School Scholar, Forest Hill C.I. [1998] 

St. John Life Saving Award [1997] 

Royal Canadian Humane Association - Recognition of Merit [1996] 

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)  

Associate Member [Inducted 2024], Senior Member [2014], Member Since 2003 

AIAA Cape Canaveral Section Member [2012-2020] 

AIAA Space Colonization Technical Committee [2003-2005] 

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) [2002-2010] 

Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) [1999-2003] 

Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME) [2002-2010] 

Florida Space Development Council, a National Space Society Chapter [2012-2016] 

International Astronautical Federation (IAF) [2010+] 

Next Generation Co-ordination Committee [2016-2022] 

IAF Launchpad Mentorship Programme Coordinator / Co-Creator [2020-2021] 

General Assembly Representative, ERAU [2018-2020] 

Institute for Space Development Research (ISDR) [2009-2010] 

The Explorer’s Club, Student Member [2003-2009] 

The Mars Society [2004-2009] / Mars Society Canada [2005-2009] 

Space Generation Foundation [2003-Present] 

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) [2005-2010] 

 

AWARD NOMINATIONS 

AIAA Associate Member - Nominated [2019, 2020, 2021, 2022] 

ERAU Tej Gupta Outstanding Teacher of the Year - Nominee [2020] 

ERAU Abas Sivjee Outstanding Researcher Award - Nominee finalist for the College of Aviation [2018], Nominee [2020] 

The Forum on Education Abroad Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design - Nominee [2019] 

YTV Achievement Awards - Nominee for Bravery [1997] 

 

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 

Blue Origin, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA 

New Shepard Principal Fluid Systems Engineer & Lunar Dust Mitigation Subject Matter Expert [Feb 2023 - Jun 2024] 

My duties as a member of the New Shepard (NS) Crew Systems Team were focused on the crew capsule (CC) environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) and ancillary equipment. I performed a complex integrated plan related to astronaut safety and ECLSS technology advancement for the NS CC, which included system safety analyses and products such as a Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). As stated in public NS Crew Systems requisitions (I cannot provide proprietary details), our team provided engineering support and technical ownership for developing concept of operations, requirements, functional decomposition, system verification, validation, integration, test, and operation. As a Principal Engineer on the team, I evaluated and provided feedback for documents for gated design reviews for our subsystems. My interdisciplinary work included collaboration with NS members of Crew Systems, Systems Engineering, Parts Materials & Processing, and Safety Quality Mission Assurance.  

Additionally, I assisted the lunar business unit Dust Mitigation team, which focuses on protecting assets in the Blue Origin lunar portfolio to prepare humanity for planetary surface exploration. 

I made community contributions to the Business Resource Groups of New Fisher, Club for the Future, and New Resnik as well as mentoring with other Blue Origin colleagues and an Aerospace Engineering Sr. Design team from my Ph.D. alma mater CU-Boulder. 

 

Paragon Space Development Corporation (Paragon), Lakewood, CO, USA 

Paragon’s mission is to provide solutions for life support and thermal control for extreme environments. 

Principal Investigator (PI) & Aerospace Engineer (AE V) [Jul 2020 - Sept 2022] 

PI and lunar dust SME for NASA Programs: 

  • xLiDS: Exploration Labyrinth Dust Seals NASA SBIR Phase I (PI / lunar dust SME). xLiDS are specialized covers for the Pressure Garment System (PGS) and Portable Life Support System (PLSS) of the exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) PLSS (xPLSS) protecting astronauts and hardware from regolith migration and infiltration without impairing flowrates. 

  • SCALE & xTON: Spacesuit Cover against the Abrasive Lunar Environment & eXploration Textile for high Oxygen eNvironments, NASA STTR Phase I with Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University (IPT lead/lunar dust SME). SCALE is a bio-inspired lunar dust abrasion protection solution for the outer layer of the xEMU Environmental Protection Garment (EPG). xTON is crew clothing with a specialized fabric for shirt-sleeve environments in oxygen-rich atmospheres. 

  • MOVE: Modal Optimized Vibration dust Eliminator, NASA SBIR Phase I (PI / lunar dust SME). Active lunar dust mitigation system for thermal radiators that used vibrational excitation at targeted modal frequencies to mitigate dust adhesion with the assistance of passive dust mitigation coatings. 

Internal Research & Development Highlights (IR&D): 

  • Commercialization of Extreme Environment Suits Study, Internal Study (Lead). Report to Business Development led to the acquisition of spacesuit softgoods company Final Frontier Design (FFD), establishing Paragon with the capability to offer IVA and complete EVA spacesuit solutions. 

  • IVA Suit Internal Research & Development (IR&D) (Spacesuit and Softgoods Engineer). Significant contributor to transition documentation of FFD’s amalgamation. 

  • Undisclosed IR&D (PI). Helped close older path for water removal technology for humidity control and successfully proposed a scientifically rigorous approach to technology maturation. 

Other Duties: 

  • HALO: Habitation And Logistics Outpost, NASA Gateway Program. Lunar Dust Mitigation SME for the Atmospheric Monitoring and Ventilation Subsystems regarding dust mitigation. 

  • Lead author for proposals (NASA SBIR, NASA STTR, unsolicited/solicited RFPs), requests for information (RFI), rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimations (NASA PRISM, NASA CLPS, others). Responses included lunar dust mitigation, spacesuits, advanced concepts, and lunar surface mobility technologies (undisclosed partners and programs). 

  • Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC). POC Dust Mitigation & Extreme Environments. 

Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL): 

  • IPTL [Jul 2020 – Apr 2021] for the Dynetics Human Lander System (DHLS) Environmental and Control Life Support System’s (ECLSS) Atmospheric Monitoring Subsystem and Fire Suppression Subsystem. Point of contact for Dust Mitigation Working Group efforts for DHLS and subject matter expert including HEPA filter testing with dust simulants at NASA GRC. 

 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona, FL, USA 

Assistant Professor of Spaceflight Operations [Aug 2016 - Jul 2020] 

Tenure-track Assistant Professor in the 'Spaceflight Operations' Program at ERAU, which is uniquely focused on policy, operations, safety, training, human factors, and planning elements of commercial and private space operations. Faculty advisor for the Society for S.P.A.C.E. (5/2017 – 7/2020), and teams in the NASA Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) Challenge (2019, 2020), NASA Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (SUITS) Challenge (2020), NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts - Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition (2020), and NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (2018). At ERAU I have learned, adapted, and grown my teaching philosophy to be one of inclusion by bringing the world to my students and bringing my students to the world. My career at Embry-Riddle was fueled by a passion for space and I created opportunities and experiences for students to help launch their careers. Instructed 9 unique courses with a total of 27 offerings over 4 years, which included 3 summer study abroad programs in Greece and Germany. Additional roles included: Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE), Council Member [2018-2020]; Office of Undergraduate Research, Mentor via SelectedWorks [2019-2020]; and Associate Member of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST) [2020]. 

 

Spacesuit Utilization of Innovative Technology Laboratory (S.U.I.T. Lab), Principal Investigator [Jan 2017 - Jul 2020] 

Research was focused on: human performance; exploration safety; assessing the reach and work envelopes for spaceflight intravehicular activity (IVA) using pressure suits and motion capture; surface exploration extravehicular activity (EVA) metrics and spacesuit technologies using analogue research locations; research on lunar dust abrasion and spacecraft design and operations including habitat dust intrusion; and curriculum development targeted for global engagement and study abroad programs (Greece, Germany, Portugal, and Spain). The S.U.I.T. Lab has had sponsored research by internal grants and external with the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium. Partnerships have been forged with several analog/analogue spaceflight locations and missions including HI-SEAS in Hawai'i, AMADEE in Oman and Israel, MDRS in Utah, MAU in Nepal, and Lunares in Poland. Highlights available at https://spacesuit.erau.edu and on social media platforms as @SpacesuitUp. 

 

Courses Instructed 

  • CSO 330 - Spaceflight & Ops Training 

  • Introduction to astronaut and cosmonaut selection and training, showing strong parallels to military pilot selection and training, including the rapid evolution of human spaceflight training. 

  • Semesters: Fall 2017 (+2 honors projects); Fall 2018; Fall 2019; Spring 2020 

  • CSO 377 (399/395B) & MSA 599 - Spacesuits & Human Spaceflight Operations 

  • Human spaceflight performance and survivability of extreme space environments with emphasis on spacesuit design. Human-centered design approach; spacesuit history, concepts, and subsystems; intravehicular and extravehicular operations; the use of analogue missions and environments for crew training, comparative planetology, and technology testing; cultural linkages between STEM, Arts, and media. Creator of course. 

  • Summer Programs: 

  • 2017, Antikythera Mechanism Program, Greece (CSO 399) 

  • 2018, Expedition Greece (CSO 395B / MSA 599) 

  • 2019, Greece & Germany: A Stardust Odyssey (CSO 395B / MSA 599) 

  • 2019 introduced a workshop with the European Space Agency’s European Astronaut Center (EAC) and the Germany Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany. 

  • 2020 (Cancelled COVID-19), Portugal & Spain: Destination Luna (CSO 395B & SP 425) 

  • Semesters: Fall 2018; Fall 2019; Spring 2020 

  • CSO 410 - Space Operations Planning & Analysis 

  • Safety assurance and risk analysis are emphasized in mission planning, and in launch and flight operations for each phase of commercial spaceflight. Included are pad and range safety considerations in launch preparations and launch operations; contingency planning for flight operations including reentry. 

  • Semesters: Spring 2017; Fall 2017 

  • CSO 490 - Senior Space Operations Project 

  • A senior-level capstone project that entails interdisciplinary coordination of simulated flight, launch or training program comparable to commercial or private space operations at established companies. 

  • Semesters: Fall 2016; Spring 2017; Fall 2017; Spring 2018; Fall 2018 

  • SP 110 - Introduction to Space Flight 

  • This course is a basic study of the concepts, development, and application of space flight technology, emphasizing the U. S. role in current and future space operations. 

  • Semesters: Spring 2020 

  • SP 200 - Planetary & Space Exploration 

  • This is a survey course of U.S. and international space programs. The student will be introduced to the Earth and its space environment, to methods of scientific exploration and to spacecraft and payload criteria at the introductory physics level. 

  • Semesters Spring 2017; Spring 2018; Spring 2020 

  • SP 220 - Life Support Systems 

  • This course is a survey course of the requirements and design considerations for life support systems in space and on other planets. 

  • Semesters: Fall 2019 

  • SP 425 - Select Topics in Space/Aerospace 

  • Introduces students to problems in space operations, spaceflight and other space-related topics. 2016 focus areas included global engagement, human spaceflight (spaceships and people), analogue research, and a final project with the Suborbital Spaceflight Simulator. 

  • An independent study on space analogues and spacesuit demonstrations for in the classroom and in relevant environments (ex: underwater). 

  • Semesters: Fall 2016; Spring 2017 (IP); Spring 2018 

  • Spring 2019: assigned to shadow SP 110, SP 200, and SP 210 (Space Transportation System) for course development after personal leave. 

Courses Instructed at ERAU 

 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

2020 

COURSE 

FA 

SP 

SU 

FA 

SP 

SU 

FA 

SP 

SU 

FA 

SP 

SU 

CSO 330 

 

 

 

ü 

 

 

ü 

 

 

ü 

ü 

 

CSO 377 

 

 

ü 

 

 

ü 

ü 

 

ü 

ü 

ü 

û 

MSA 599 

 

 

 

 

 

ü 

 

 

ü 

 

 

û 

CSO 410 

 

ü 

 

ü 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSO 490 

ü 

ü 

 

ü 

ü 

 

ü 

 

 

 

 

 

SP 110 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ü 

 

SP 200 

 

ü 

 

 

ü 

 

 

 

 

 

ü 

 

SP 220 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ü 

 

 

SP 425 

ü 

IP 

 

 

ü 

 

 

 

 

 

 

û 

ü Completed; û Cancelled (COVID-19) 

 

Flight Ready Systems, Global / Headquartered in Arizona, USA  

Chief Technology Officers & Co-Founder [Aug 2019 – Sep 2020] 

Flight Ready Systems (FRS) was a consultancy specializing in field research, curriculum development, and science communications. We provided pathways for organizations to conduct research in space analog/remote environments with a core mission of advancing human spaceflight capabilities. Work included proposal writing, partnership development, workshop creation, and outreach engagement with our education program: Analog Astronaut. 

 

Yuri’s Night, Global/Online 

Chairman of the Board of Directors & President [Jul 2010 – Jun 2018] 

501(c)3 Non-Profit Company Yuri's Night (YN) is an annual global celebration for human spaceflight held every April 12th. Tasks included leading the Global Executive Team (~30+ members/year with ~8 active core members) and Board of Directors with project management, partnership development, use of online tools, organizational skills, and volunteer team motivation. I was the first Executive Director for YN and in my first year [2010-2011] our team broke records with over 600 events in 75 countries reaching over 100,000 people on the 50th Anniversary of Human Spaceflight and won the NewSpace Award for the Best Presentation of Space from the Space Frontier Foundation [2011]. As President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, I led the team to obtain our 501(c)3 Non-Profit status [2010] and formed new Memoranda of Understandings with over twenty space education and outreach partners. Obtaining 501(c)3 status allowed YN to spin-off from its forming body, Space Generation Advisory Council (observer organization to United Nations COPUOS), which led to the UN declaration of April 12th as the "International Day of Human Space Flight" [2011]. Program highlights included: 2011 coordinated with ISS Program to send 6 YN shirts to ISS for 50th Anniversary; 2012 GetCurious campaign with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory reaching over 25,400 people at 60 recognized events for the Mars Curiosity Rover landing; 2013 partnering with Canadian Space Agency for live YN Tweetup to Commander Hadfield on ISS; 2015 New Horizons YN Google Hangout; 2016 Disney Junior and 'Miles from Tomorrowland' activities; #BeAnAstronaut commemorative patch project; and more than 4 million people reached [2001-2018]. 

 

Personal experiences include leadership on the Global Executive Team (GET) and local community: 

GET: 

  • Chairman of the Board of Directors and President [2010-2018] 

  • Executive Director [2010-2014, first ever ED for YN] 

  • Operations Team Lead [2010-2013] 

  • Project Manager & Global Video Podcast Producer [2009, 2010] 

 

Event Organizer: 

  • Yuri’s Night Kids Presented by Janet’s Planet, virtual [2021] 

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL [2018] 

  • Port Orange, FL [2017] 

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL with Project PoSSUM [2017] 

  • Cape Canaveral, FL [2013, 2014, 2015, 2016] 

  • Cocoa Beach, FL [2013, 2014, 2015: Special analogue research panel at 5th Annual International Lunar Surface Applications Workshop, 2016: Family Space Day] 

  • Strasbourg, France: International Space University's 25th Anniversary / YN [2012] 

  • Boulder, CO [2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010] 

  • State College, PA [2004, 2005] 

 

Volunteer: 

  • Global Livestream, virtual [2021] 

  • Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex, FL [2018, 2019, 2020 Cancelled] 

  • Orlando, FL [2016] 

  • Los Angeles, CA [2003] 

 

Space Florida, Exploration Park, FL 

Project Manager for Research and Development [Sept 2012 - Aug 2016] 

Focusing on Florida research and development efforts including designing statewide business plan and research competitions as well as education programs to catalyze technology development in small satellites, digital manufacturing, and 3D printing. Assisting in developing federal proposal opportunities for Space Florida and potential partners from the academic and business communities. 

 

Programs managed included: 

  • Florida Space Research Program ($300,000 of grants with matching funds for ~15 projects/year at Florida universities) and Florida Space Internship Program at the Space Life Sciences Lab (13 interns in 4 years) both partnered with the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium. My research into the Florida economic impact, and proposals to management, saved these programs from being cancelled and facilitated growth including additional grants for NASA Technology Transfer projects and payloads (NanoRacks to the ISS and suborbital with Blue Origin). 

  • International Space Station Research Competition. 7 uniquely different payloads flew to the ISS on NASA-SpaceX CRS-3, 4, 5, and 8 missions in partnership with NanoRacks, a $300,000 program. I acted as the customer interface for the payloads and helped NanoRacks develop their Florida launch operations for payload investigators. 

  • I led the design and development for Space Florida headquarters in Exploration Park ("Building A"). I provided space exploration research to the architects for interior and external design, such as a launch viewing rooftop patio, and I designed the Space Florida tenant space to include collaboration zones. 

  • Led Atlantis Rollover Event through Exploration Park [2 Nov 2012]. 

  • Planetary Lander Egg-Drop Competition. I helped double the competition to 55 K-12 competitors in 2015 with new resources for teachers. I led the transition of the event to new management in 2016 (The Astronauts Memorial Foundation and the Florida Afterschool Network) to assist the event growth and creation of additional STEM/STEAM opportunities for students in Florida. Other roles: MC [2013]; and Photographer/Host [2014]. 

  • Representative on Florida NASA Space Grant Consortium Advisory Board [2013-2016] 

 

My collaborative efforts with the Kennedy Space Center and community as a representative of Space Florida have included: 

  • Mining Judge: NASA's Robotic Mining Challenge [2013-2016]. 

  • Challenge Author: NASA's International Space Apps Challenge ["Fit as a MOoSE" 2015, "Book it to the Moon" 2016]. "Book it to the Moon" had the largest pool of solutions with 101 from 63 locations in 2016 and included one of the six global winners. 

  • Judge: Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies Science Fair [2016]. 

  • Speaker: university guest lectures, conferences, workshops, and Gr. 5-6 career days. 

 

Daily roles included technical and business interactions, managing the progress and completion of assigned projects, developing schedules, monitoring and summarizing project status, budget tracking, keeping current on the commercial spaceflight industry, and business development prospect identification and qualification (technical advisor on investments). 

 

Florida Institute of Technology, Spaceport Site, Kennedy Space Center, FL 

Adjunct Faculty Spacecraft Environment SPC5012-5K / SPC5012-IK [Spring 2016] 

Instructing both in-class and online. This 3-hour 16-week course at Kennedy Space Center covered an overview and understanding of the natural and operational phenomena, which influence spacecraft system design and mission operations. My work included lecture preparation and delivery, assignments, tests, grading, and Q&A. Additional FIT Spaceport courses approved to instruct include: Intro to Space Environment SPC5002; Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Control SPC5010; Human Space Systems SPC5011; and Space Dynamics and Control SPC5014. 

 

Buzz Aldrin Space Institute: I was a selected (analogue research abstract) and invited (Yuri's Night and public outreach) speaker at the 1st workshop (Jan 2016), and subsequently invited play a leading role in the Surface Systems Working Group. 

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA 

Postdoctoral Associate [Nov 2010 – Aug 2012] 

Supporting hands-on technical project research in the Man-Vehicle Laboratory (now Human Systems Laboratory) for Prof. Dava Newman relating to human exploration including: suborbital and commercial research assessment for human spaceflight and IVA; inertial measurement unit (IMU) use on medical applications, spacesuit testing and astronaut surface mobility; and supported graduate student research. 

I created hands-on research projects to validate new IMU devices. My first investigation used the IMUs in cars, which may have oscillations analogous to the vibrations a passenger may experience in spaceflight. The knowledge gained about device sensitivity inspired my idea to use the IMUs inside of a spacesuit to investigate the spacesuit work envelope and range of motion via joint angles. I designed a pressurized suit elbow flexion and extension test using David Clark Company's (DCC) Contingency Hypobaric Astronaut Protective Suit (CHAPS). The calculated results showed how the body inside the spacesuit moves differently than the actual suit, which can calculate energy losses and indicate potential risks of injuries in training and operations. The results were used to help optimize the CHAPS for better fit, which contributed to new IVA DCC suit designs for safer and more efficient contingency emergency operations and exploration. 

I worked with Prof. Jeffrey Hoffman (retired astronaut) and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory on a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts funded study titled: Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids for the Exploration of Small Solar System Bodies (NASA 11-11 NIAC-0648). My research roles included communication link budget analysis, concept of operations, and dust considerations for surface science (a personal study was conducted to investigate dust interacting instruments for low-gravity environments). 

Supported MIT projects leading to publications included: a surface exploration traverse analysis and navigation tool; robotic joint torque testing for pressure suit mobility; and, my expertise on form and function of spacesuit mobility aided in a winning proposal to the NASA Human Research Program for the "Spacesuit Trauma Countermeasure System for Intravehicular and Extravehicular Activities" (NNX12AC09G) project. 

I was the Event Director for MIT's 150th Anniversary Exploration Symposium titled: Earth, Air, Ocean and Space: The Future of Exploration, which featured prominent explorers, historians and astronaut alums (25-27 April 2011). I developed our program, organized the Vehicle Expo, managed 30 speakers, and I participated as a panel moderator. The conference had approximately 800 attendees and averaged 600 unique viewers during the two-day webcast. 

Co-Teaching Assistant: Space Biomedical and Life Support Engineering (Spring 2011). 

Brief work was conducted with Maria Zuber in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences looking at thermal inertia lunar data for potential landing sites, which was important for personal knowledge growth. 

 

The University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA 

Ph.D. Dissertation Title: Characterization and Measurement Standardization of Lunar Dust Abrasion for Spacecraft Design and Operations (2010). 

 

Research Assistant - NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP NNX07AR55H) [Sept 2007 - Aug 2010] 

I was awarded a NASA GSRP Fellowship to conduct lunar dust characterization with the Dust Management Program at NASA Glenn Research Center, focused on dust abrasion. 

During the Apollo missions, astronauts exploring the Moon experienced numerous unexpected material wear issues that were attributed to the presence of fine-grained, jagged, irregularly shaped lunar dust particles. My PhD research examined these issues and systematically developed measurement techniques and new metrics to look at abraded surfaces from two-body abrasion scratch testing. These metrics characterize the entire volume of a scratch profile and offer detailed information, which upgrade the current ASTM standard that only looks at scratch width (advisory communications conducted with ASTM's Subcommittee G02.30 on Abrasive Wear). Custom scratch tips were fabricated from Earth minerals analogous to lunar mineralogy (ex. olivine, enstatite, spinel) to investigate how different zones on the Moon may result in different levels of abrasion. Bulk three-body abrasion tests were conducted to compare lunar dust simulants (Highlands and Mare types) in an actual operational environment. An abrasion index was designed to quantify the overall abrasion level and thereby help improve the performance and reliability of exploration systems in the areas of: abrasive risk identification; specific mitigation strategies; mission design, such as landing location or field operations; hardware design; testing protocols in the laboratory; and material selection for surface systems. These results will be useful for any mission (robotic or humans) that intend to have a sustained presence on the surface of the Moon or other low gravity environments. Ongoing work is expected with academic, NASA GRC and Kennedy Space Center, and industrial partners. 

Two 10-week academic visits were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at NASA Glenn Research Center. Equipment used included a scratch tester, Veeco surface optical profilometer, and Rockwell hardness tester. I developed custom MATLAB code to analyze the 3D surface data. 

 

Research Assistant - BioServe Space Technologies [Jan-Apr 2007] 

Teaching Assistant - ASEN 3111: Aerodynamics [Fall 2006] 

Working with co-TA to organize course website, CA duties, overseeing weekly labs, supplementary lecturing in labs, proctoring exams, and holding office hours for students. 

Research Assistant - BioServe Space Technologies [Jan-Jun 2006] 

MICROBE experiment: Flight hardware cleaning, assembly, and integration on Space Shuttle STS-115. 

Research Assistant - Spacesuit PLSS Schematic Analysis (NASA CRAVE contract) [2005] 

Working with Professor David Klaus and a team from Texas A&M University on NASA CRAVE DO1 for spacesuit schematic design. Organized and compiled a master database of technologies and spec-sheets for portable life support systems (spacesuit components). May-Dec 2005. 

 

Analog Astronaut, Space Analogue Simulations with The Mars Society 

Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS), Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada 

Human Factors Research Lead & Crew Engineer, Crew 11 - FMARS Crew 11 Long Duration Mission (F-XI LDM), 100-day Mars simulation [May-Aug 2007] 

I was competitively selected to be part of a 7-person crew for an all-volunteer effort to simulate a long duration Mars mission in the remote and isolated Canadian High Arctic. The mission included two-weeks of training at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), Hanksville, UT. The FMARS mission lasted 100-operational-days and included twenty-two science experiments spanning biology, geology, chemistry, human factors, radiation, and engineering. This mission provided a rare chance to analyze the physical environmental and microbiological responses to seasonal transitions. Principle Investigators from NASA, CSA, ESA, and academia supported the projects 'from Earth' using 20-minute time delay protocols. Constraints were imposed on the crew to increase the fidelity of the simulation including wearing bulky surface suits for Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) to mock the mobility and dexterity issues associated with differential pressure environments. 

As the Human Factors Lead Researcher and coordinator, I was tasked with forming a schedule and motivating the crew to complete studies in order to obtain the most consistent testing conditions (time of day and workload). I collected data for the five core experiments, including a sleep study (C.A.S.P.E.R.), cognitive tests (WinSCAT), group dynamic questionnaires, habitability study, and an exercise study. The unique 24-hour-sunlit environment of the Arctic led to two more projects being created including a Mars Time study and a Food Preferences study (which led to the creation of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, HI-SEAS, missions). For more than a month, the crew operated on the Martian 'sol' to investigate effects on crew psychophysiology and mission operations. 

As a crew engineer, I focused on repair of the EVA equipment, assisting in habitat systems maintenance, and polar bear monitor (PBM) activities. During the 100-day simulation I participated in 46 of 88 EVAs (12 were as PBM) totaling 148 hours of field exploration analogue experience. Including five two-week MDRS rotations in 2004/2006/2007/2007/2018, I have been on 84 EVAs with a total duration of 232 hours. 

 

Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), Hanksville, Utah 

Crew 188 - Mission Commander, International Space University (ISU) Alum [Jan 2018] 

Advisor - Team ISU “ISUonMars” [2014/2015] 

Crew 58 - FMARS Crew Training Mission [Feb 2007] 

Crew 56 - Mission Commander / Instructor (MSC’s ExGamma) [Jan 2007] 

Crew 44 - Executive Officer / Instructor (MSC’s ExBeta) [Feb 2006] 

Crew 25 - Health & Safety Officer [Mar 2004] 

 

 

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 

Teaching Assistant - AERSP/STS 055: Space Science & Technology [Spring 2005] 

In charge of marking weekly exercises, giving lectures related to the X PRIZE Foundation, proctoring exams, rocket project lab/launch, holding office hours for students and meet students upon request. 

Teaching Assistant - AERSP 450: Orbit And Attitude Control Of Spacecraft [Fall 2004] 

In charge of marking weekly assignments, proctoring exams, holding regular office hours for students and met with students upon request. 

Teaching Assistant - AERSP 405: Aerodynamics Laboratory [Fall 2004/Spring 2005] 

Active participation in weekly lectures; running student laboratory sessions on equipment such as wind tunnels, a water channel and various Aerospace equipment; marking laboratory reports; and leading student groups in final design projects. 

Teaching Assistant - AERSP 405/406: Projectile Rocket Project Manager [2003-2004] 

Project Leader and worked with three sub-groups of senior undergraduate students for a planned launch of a hybrid engine rocket at NASA GSFC Wallops Flight Facility, April 2004. 

 

X PRIZE Foundation, Santa Monica, CA, USA 

Research Fellow [July-Oct 2006] 

I was the project lead on the "Low Cost Space Launch Study" submission to the Air Force Research Laboratory Phillips Technology Institute. I was hired to conduct this study given my knowledge of the private space industry and my established contacts. The research involved meeting with various companies, coordinating a meeting at AFRL with key X PRIZE personnel, and conducting a financial analysis of launch costs. 

 

Special Operations / X PRIZE CUP [May-Oct 2004] 

  • Project Manager for full-scale mockup development of three Ansari X PRIZE vehicles, which also included writing a Request For Proposals and evaluating a contract winner. 

  • Touring Exhibit coordinator for concept design and proposal writing for title sponsor. 

  • X PRIZE CUP development. 

  • X PRIZE VIP co-coordinator for June 21st 2004 historic 100+ km spaceflight by Burt Rutan’s team in Mojave, CA of SpaceShipOne and WhiteKnite. 

 

International Space University Research Internship [Feb-May 2003] 

Worked with Dr. Peter H. Diamandis and the X PRIZE Foundation developing the follow-on competition to the Ansari X PRIZE called the X PRIZE Cup (U.S. patent pending - Attorney Docket No. 004802.00007, SPACESHIP COMPETITION). The developed work included a preliminary set of rules with flight categories (such as highest altitude), a market economic impact analysis of similar industries (including NASCAR, America's Cup, Oshkosh, Reno Air Races), and a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be sent to potential bidding spaceports to host the X PRIZE Cup, which New Mexico won. 

 

 

RESEARCH 

Theses 

  1. Kobrick, R.L. (2010): “Characterization and Measurement Standardization of Lunar Dust Abrasion for Spacecraft Design and Operations”. Doctorate of Philosophy Dissertation, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department. Ph.D. Committee: Dr. David M. Klaus (Chair), Dr. Kenneth W. Street, Jr., Dr. Scott H. Robertson, Dr. Jean N. Koster, and Dr. Virginia L. Ferguson.