The Trade-Off Nobody Names on Space Programs
Every program review I have sat through eventually circles the same three words: cost, schedule, performance. People say them like a mantra, then move on without actually picking one. That is the trade-off nobody wants to name out loud: you cannot protect all three at once, and pretending otherwise is how programs end up late, […]
Snowboarding, Ice Racing, and Engineering: The Common Thread of Precision and Control
People are sometimes surprised when they learn that my interests extend beyond engineering into snowboarding and ice racing. On the surface, they seem like completely different pursuits. One happens on a mountain, another on a frozen track, and the other takes place behind a computer or in design reviews. The more time I have spent […]
What Aerospace Engineers Can Learn from Competitive Sports Performance
Competitive sports and aerospace engineering might seem like two completely different worlds, but they share something fundamental. Both require people to perform at a high level under pressure, with limited margin for error. In snowboard cross, for example, you do not get many chances to get it right. The same is true in aerospace. Once […]
The Role of Systems Engineering in Managing Complex Space Programs
When people think about space programs, they often picture rockets, spacecraft, or astronauts. What they do not usually see is the enormous web of decisions, tradeoffs, and coordination that makes those missions possible. That is where systems engineering comes in. For me, it has always been the discipline that turns complexity into something manageable. Early […]
How Mission Architecture Is Evolving in Modern Space Systems Design
When I first started working in aerospace engineering, I thought a lot about hardware. A spacecraft was a set of systems, and my job was to make those systems work. Over time, especially as I moved from national labs into spacecraft design and later into more integrated roles, I realized something important. The real challenge […]