Sarag J. Saika received 2nd Prize in the Outstanding Student Oral Presentation at the 10th International Planetary Probe Workshop
Sarag J. Saikia received the 2nd Prize in the Outstanding Student Oral Presentation for his paper, "Strategies For Mars Network Science Missions Via Innovative Aerocapture And EDL Architectures." The coauthors are: Blake A. Rogers, James M. Longuski, Harish Saranathan, and Michael J. Grant.
Sarag is a Ph.D. candidate in the Advanced Astrodynamics Concepts research group under the supervision of Professor James M Longuski in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The paper describes a new space mission architecture capable of landing four Phoenix-class landers on to Martian surface (with a predetermined separation between them) using a single Atlas V 541 launch from Earth. The architecture has potential to reduce launch cost, reduce Thermal Protection System mass, and minimize launch
and landing risks, and increase science payload mass. As lead-author of a paper, Sarag was awarded a scholarship of $1,900 to attend both the 10th International Planetary Probe Workshop and the short 2-day course on Entry, Descent, and Landing of Spacecraft.
The 10th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-10) brings together engineers, technologists, scientists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and students from around the world for a compelling, week-long collaboration focused on exploring solar system destinations via in-situ missions. San Jose State University and NASA Ames Research Center hosted the workshop. Sponsors include SJSU, NASA, the European Space Agency, the National Center for Advanced Small Spacecraft Technologies, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Idaho, Analytical Graphics Inc., Earthrise Space Inc. and Science and Technology Corp. The conference included a special session on Mars Science Laboratory where the MSL team presented in the detail
Sarag also got the opportunity to visit the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. The visit included a presentation by David Blake, principal investigator of the CheMin instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. In addition, guided tours of Ames’ Arc Jet Complex, hypervelocity free-flight facility and the ‘Space Shop’, which features rapid prototyping and 3D printing capabilities, were provided.
Related Internet Links:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/2013/13-44AR-ames-co-hosts-planetary-probe-workshop.html
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/2013/ippw-tour-at-ames.html