One of the ‘50 Most Important Women in Science’
Kathleen Howell is the Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Alongside one of her Purdue graduate students, Howell pioneered a groundbreaking approach to powering spacecraft to their destinations, harnessing the untapped free energy within the solar system. The innovative trajectory design significantly enhanced the efficiency of NASA's low-fuel Genesis Probe, launched in 2001. By leveraging the gravity fields of various celestial bodies, Howell and her student identified natural pathways that spacecraft could exploit, reducing the fuel required for interplanetary travel. This pioneering finding earned Howell a place on Discover magazine’s list of the "50 Most Important Women in Science" in 2022. She also is a distinguished member of the National Academy of Engineering. In addition to her pivotal research, Howell has demonstrated a deep commitment to educating and inspiring future generations of engineers. Purdue honored her with the A.A. Potter Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1984 and 2011.