REYES: Mars Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL): Past, Present and Future
- Date/Time
- 03/15/2021 3:00 PM EST - 4:00 PM EST
- Location
- Online
- Fee
- Free
- Description
- On February 18, NASA successfully landed the Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater, on the surface of Mars. The most exciting part of the journey is the last “seven minutes of terror” – when the rover has to travel through the Mars atmosphere to get safely to the surface. This talk will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how the system is designed, how entry, descent and landing at Mars has progressed over the decades, what’s special about the Perseverance mission, and what the future of Mars landings might bring. Read all about the Mars 2020 mission here: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance
Join Live Stream: https://odu.zoom.us/j/94198759574
Michelle Munk
Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Systems Capability Leader
Principal Technologist for EDL technologies
NASA
Ms. Michelle Munk is NASA's Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Systems Capability Leader, and the Principal Technologist for EDL technologies within NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). In these roles, Ms. Munk is responsible for ensuring sustainment of NASA's EDL skills, facilities, and tools, as well as guiding technology maturation. Ms. Munk has experience in orbital mechanics, trajectory simulation, and flight hardware development. She began her career as a cooperative education student and has worked at three different NASA centers over her 30-year tenure. Her past work includes the Mars Odyssey Aerobraking Operations team and Deputy Project Manager for the Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent and Landing Instrumentation (MEDLI) suite. She is currently a Principal Investigator for two lunar camera payloads. Ms. Munk holds a B. S. in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. She is an AIAA Associate Fellow and has several publications and NASA achievement awards, including the Space Flight Awareness Award and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
