Frank E. Laipert

Frank Laipert graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in the Spring of 2009 and began his graduate studies at Purdue the following Fall in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Frank's research interests are in the design and optimization of low-thrust interplanetary trajectories as well as high-level mission concept design. He is looking at very large scale missions for human exploration beyond Earth orbit. At Purdue, he has worked as a Teaching Assistant in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics for classes ranging from the introductory to the graduate level; and in the Department of Mathematics. (In the picture: Frank shaking hands with Apollo Astronaut Buzz Aldrin.)