I would like to work designing new space transportation development systems.

Ever since I visited the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, AL I have been very interested in the various technologies which propel our spacecraft. Last year as part of the Student Launch Initiative I listening to a NASA scientist speak at Marshall. The scientist made a key point that made me think about how we move in space, he said that we can go just about as fast as we want, (with the obvious exception of the speed of light and structural stability ect.) its slowing down thats a problem. Space transport system development engineers and scientists are responsible for creating new ways to access space and improve the efficiency of existing technologies to meet more specific demands. The shuttle has been NASAs primary route to space for 30 years and with its retirement a new generation of more specialized vehicles will be forced to emerge. (Heppenheimer, 2004) Space transport systems developers work with the vehicle to ensure that it is designed to carry out the functions required of it with a minimum amount of waste. In the field of space transport system design I would most like to specialize in the field of propulsion. Propulsion deals with everything from solid and liquid fuel rocket motors to experimental plasma engines and solar sails. I believe that if we are to ever, as a population, leave earth to fulfill the dreams of those science fiction writers who have so inspired us we will require engines and technologies sufficient for journeys across large distances. Such journeys will require extremely efficient propulsion technologies and will need to exert sufficient power to, as mentioned above, slow us down from what is likely to be an extremely high speed. With projects like Nanosail-D and magnetoplasma propulsion NASA is innovating and expanding to improve space flight. (NASAexplores, 2003) (Anderson, 2011) There are a myriad of possible propulsion systems for space travel and I find the possibility of working in the design and testing of such systems fascinating. The field usually requires, at least in the cases of more esoteric systems, a very strong understanding of physics and advanced mathematics. A minimum of a masters degree is necessary for participation in the design of propulsion systems. (Berton, 2001) We are making great strides toward manned visits further flung areas of our solar system. Previous missions to Mars have proven that we are capable of sending objects, even quite large objects like the Mars Science Laboratory very long distances. ("Mars science laboratory,) The Mars missions have shown great promise and I would be extremely excited to one day work on the design of a vehicle to establish some form of manned research base on the red planet. To educate myself and obtain my masters degree (though I aspire to a doctorate) I will likely attend a school with a very good engineering program while not being specifically an engineering only institution (like Embry Riddle). I hesitate to enroll in a solely engineering school because while Im sure I would obtain a more in depth education I feel that a well rounded curriculum will make me a better engineer overall by ensuring better communication skills and the like. For this reason I and very interested in large public schools like University of California, Berkeley. I think that space transportation design, and the important propulsion component of said design is an extremely fascinating field and I hope to have the chance, one day, to be part of a team working on it.

Heppenheimer, T. A. (2004, August 06). The space shuttle decision nasa's search for a reusable space vehicle. Retrieved from http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/sp4221.htm NASAexplores. (2003, June 14). Propulsion systems of the future. Retrieved from http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/travelinginspace/future_propulsion.html Anderson, J. L. (2011, December 19). Nasa's nanosail-d 'sails' home -- mission complete . Retrieved from http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/ Berton, J. (2001, July 29). Aerospace engineer propulsion systems analysis office nasa glenn research center. Retrieved from http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/aero/bertonj.html Mars science laboratory . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/programmissions/missions/present/msl/