Alumni News

Smead Aerospace honors alumni, retiring faculty at 2026 banquet

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:39:30 +0000

Smead Aerospace honors alumni, retiring faculty at 2026 banquet Jeff Zehnder Mon, 04/06/2026 - 11:39

Jeff Zehnder

Alumni, faculty, family, and friends took part in the 2026 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Banquet and Awards Ceremony Friday.

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences recognized eight graduates and two retiring faculty members during the event at the Hotel Boulderado on April 3.

The AeroBuffs Club Alumni Academy inductees are being recognized for work in business, civil, and military aerospace spheres.

“These honorees are both established leaders and rising stars across aerospace engineering science," said Hanspeter Schaub, professor and chair of Smead Aerospace. "We're excited to recognize these individuals for their achievements and what they've given to aerospace engineering and sciences. They represent the best of our field, solving big challenges and pushing the limits of what is possible in aerospace engineering sciences."

Alumni were recognized in three categories:

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Commercial Enterprise

Over 40

Jonathan Fentzke (AeroEngr PhD’09) – A pioneering entrepreneur, Fentzke has founded three companies and mentored over 500 more, helping businesses develop. Fentzke is also named on six patents and has coauthored dozens of research publications.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service

Over 40 Category

Andrew Adams (AeroEngr BS’91, MS’93) – A senior advisor at the Aerospace Corporation, Adams is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School with decades of experience in the military and private sector as an expert in national space systems and cybersecurity.

Erica Rodgers (AeroEngr BS’98, MS’00) – With over 25 years of experience in spaceflight missions, research, and design, Rodgers has provided her expertise to multiple businesses, laboratories, and NASA. She now serves in a leading role at the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Center for National Security Initiatives.

Colonel James Voss (Ret.) (AeroEngr MS’74, Honorary PhD’00) – A veteran of five NASA Space Shuttle flights, Voss has spent more than 200 days in space. His career has taken him from U.S. Army Ranger School, to the astronaut program, business, and the world of education, including 15 years teaching classes at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder.

Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership

Over 40 Category

James W. Young III (AeroEngr BS’88, MS’89) – A pilot’s pilot, Young has over 14,000 hours of flight experience across 200 different aircraft types, from small Cessnas to the Boeing 747. He is an FAA Designated Engineering Representative Flight Test Pilot, and is the president and chief test pilot of Mmo Aviation Services.

David Klaus (AeroEngr MS’91, PhD’94) – With decades of experience in research and education, Klaus has made his mark. As creator of the Bioastronautics Focus Area within Smead Aerospace, Klaus has advised or taught over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students and been part of dozens of orbital payloads.

Bryant Loomis (AeroEngr MS’05, PhD’09) – A geodesy leader, Loomis serves as lab chief at the NASA Goddard Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory and has played key roles on an array of earth science missions, including the GRACE, GRACE-FO, and ICESat-2 satellites.

Under 40 Category

Dylan Boone (AeroEngr MS’11, PhD’13) – A navigation team chief at NASA JPL, Boone has played a major role in the Europa Clipper Mission for over 10 years and has also been part of orbit determination on the Cassini Saturn Probe and New Horizons Missions.

Retiring Faculty

In addition to alumni, two faculty members were also recognized for distinguished service to the department and �鶹��Ѱ��.

Emeritus Professor Jeff Forbes - 32 years in Smead Aerospace, including four years as department chair.
Emeritus Professor Jeff Thayer - 26 years in Smead Aerospace, including five years as director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research and eight years as faculty director of the Space Weather Technology, Research and Education Center.

Alumni, faculty, family, and friends took part in the 2026 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Banquet and Awards Ceremony on Friday. The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences recognized eight graduates and...

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Smead Aerospace recognizes 2026 alumni award honorees

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:59:56 +0000

Smead Aerospace recognizes 2026 alumni award honorees Jeff Zehnder Mon, 03/23/2026 - 09:59

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is honoring eight alumni for outstanding contributions to industry, for technical achievement, and public service.

The 2026 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Academy inductees are being recognized for work in business, civil, and military aerospace spheres.

Honorees are being recognized in three categories:

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Commercial Enterprise

Over 40

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service

Over 40 Category

Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership

Over 40 Category

Under 40 Category

All the honorees will be officially recognized at the 2026 AeroBuffs Club alumni banquet and awards ceremony on April 3.

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Two-time graduate and pilot recognized with 2026 Alumni Engagement Medal

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:06:58 +0000

Two-time graduate and pilot recognized with 2026 Alumni Engagement Medal Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/23/2026 - 09:06

James “Jim” Young III graduated from the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 1988 with a BS and in 1989 with a MS. The last real glory years for �鶹��Ѱ��football. While at CU, Young earned his private and instrument rating at the Boulder airport. That would lead to the next 25 years in aviation.

Young is the chief experimental test pilot for Mmo Aviation Services Inc. He has been directly involved in experimental flight tests since 1991. He spent six years as a flight test engineer for several companies before transitioning to become a flight test pilot. For over 25 years, he has been a FAA Designated Engineering Representative Flight Test Pilot and Flight Analyst for all aircraft categories and light helicopters; he is one of few DERs to be dual qualified.

Young has participated in two Type Certificate Programs and over 250 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) programs. He has over 14,000 flight hours in 200 different aircraft types and has 14 type ratings. He has tested aircraft from small Cessnas to the Boeing 747 super jumbo. He has also flown worldwide as a corporate pilot and airline pilot and holds commercial glider and floatplane ratings, as well as an instructor license.

Over the past 20 years, Young has specialized in performance and handling qualities testing, primarily in transport aircraft, including highly modified aircraft. He has performed every type of test required for FAA certification. Young has completed numerous high risk tests, including dive testing, flutter clearance and spin testing. He has experienced unpredicted divergent pitch response, control reversals, unmodeled aeroelastic events and multiple departures from controlled flight.

Flight test highlights include: First flight of the Lockheed Martin F-35 CATBird B737 testbed, 777 and G-V initial certification, Aviation Partners winglet programs, multiple aerial fire tankers, multiple special mission/ISR modified aircraft, and Head of State VIP completions. Young is an associate fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and serves as a member of their Foundation Board, as well as serving on the membership and editorial committees.

Young and his wife, Jana, are both active in supporting �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s aerospace engineering program. They sponsor senior design projects and provide regular consultation with the students. Jim Young actively supports students by helping them build their professional network while still in school. Once these students have entered their career, he continues to provide them with mentorship and networking opportunities.

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Smead Aerospace graduate a NASA astronaut candidate

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:21:37 +0000

Smead Aerospace graduate a NASA astronaut candidate Jeff Zehnder Thu, 01/29/2026 - 12:21

Jeff Zehnder

Erin Overcash (AeroEngr’14, MS’17) is an aerospace engineer, U.S. Navy pilot, and new NASA astronaut candidate.

An alumna of the �鶹��Ѱ�� and a Kentucky native, Overcash was selected as one of 10 astronaut candidates from over 8,000 applications received for their Astronaut Class of 2025.

In September, she began a two-year NASA training program to become eligible for space flight assignments. She discusses her experience so far and personal background below:

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What has the NASA training been like so far?

Right after the public announcement, we immediately started astronaut candidate training. It’s a two-year training program, where they're effectively teaching us all of the broad-based skills of life in space.

Much of that is focused on International Space Station systems and procedures and how things work once you get to the space station. NASA is transitioning to Artemis training, but a lot of those same concepts, skills, and systems apply.

We are flying the T-38 Supersonic Trainer Jet that builds our resource management skills, which is a big concept in the aviation industry – two people in a fast moving airplane who are fully responsible for themselves in their aircraft. You have to make decisions quickly, working well as a team, so it's important for our training that we fly in a fast paced environment.

We are also starting our space suit scuba diving in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab this spring. I have been fitted for a spacesuit, which is kind of unreal. I’ll have have scuba dive sessions in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, human jungle gyming around the space station mockup underwater with my ASCAN peers, which is awesome.

Everyone said the suits would be uncomfortable. But you just don't know what that means until you try to wiggle your body into this hard upper torso. It's pretty eye-opening.

Astronauts, at least on the space station, their schedules are fully booked. You are a human science experiment, and you are running science experiments for other people. My goal, especially in astronaut candidate training is to learn those fundamental skills, do them well, and do them safely and efficiently.

How did you find out you were chosen?

I’m a Navy pilot F-18 and was preparing to deploy. I was packed up and five days away from meeting my aircraft carrier to pull out of port.

I went through the interview process, thinking this is a really cool experience, and I'm going to make the most of it, not expecting to get the call. I was ready to do the deployment with my whole heart.

It was 9 o'clock at night on a Monday and here's this unknown number dialing my phone. My spouse and I looked at each other one last time, knowing that this moment could change our lives forever.  

I answered the call, and it was the chief of the Astronaut Office offering me the job, which is giving me goosebumps to think about, still.

Overcash and the 10 members of the Class of 2025 NASA astronaut candidates.

What brought you to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

My dream started as wanting to fly, wanting to be a pilot, wanting to study aerospace engineering. That's what led me to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. I'm from Kentucky, born and raised, but Kentucky did not have an aerospace engineering program within the state.

I joined Navy ROTC. The Navy paid for school and I went through �鶹��Ѱ��for aerospace. It really set me on this path of opening doors to the things that I loved, which coincidentally also opened doors to being an astronaut, but those things were independent of each other at the time.

I remember walking through the Engineering Center at �鶹��Ѱ��and seeing the alumni astronaut photos on the wall and feeling so inspired. CU’s airspace program is known for producing astronauts and really good, high level professional aerospace engineers. I thought being an astronaut would be this really cool job, but going to �鶹��Ѱ��was the first time I thought, wow, I'm kind of on track.

What has your career path been since graduation?

I graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's. Because I went through Navy ROTC, I became a pilot. I went through Navy Flight School and at the same time got my master's degree in bioastronautics, also from �鶹��Ѱ��via their distance learning program.

After I became an F-18 pilot, I had an operational tour and I spent three years living in Japan, with multiple deployments on an aircraft carrier. That was an eye-opening experience, really cool, awesome, challenging, and insightful.

I went through the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School in 2022 and had a really fun, enlightening experience as a test pilot in the F-18 for the Navy flying departures – departing the airplane on purpose, spinning, falling backwards, and tail sliding through my own exhaust. Things that most aviators never get to do and that was my everyday as a test pilot. I loved that job.

I was about to go on deployment with my next squadron when NASA called, so I had a good path in life set up either way.

Find what you're passionate about and go for it" - Erin Overcash

How many times had you applied to the astronaut program before?

You'll probably be surprised to hear that this was my first time applying. which is really unusual, and I can't explain that. I feel lucky and honored and privileged to be here. It just happened to work out this time.

What do you think made you an appealing candidate to NASA?  

I don't necessarily have one piece of advice besides find what you're passionate about, and just be really, really good at that. I was not on the selection board, but my impression is that NASA wasn't looking for people who really wanted to be astronauts, they were looking for people who were really good and really loved the job that they were doing.

Find what you're passionate about and go for it, and if you are a good, hard-working person with an open mind and you're curious, everybody's got a shot.  

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Challenger and Columbia memorial event set for Jan. 31

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:11:05 +0000

Challenger and Columbia memorial event set for Jan. 31 Jeff Zehnder Fri, 01/23/2026 - 15:11

The Arnold Air Society will host a memorial for the Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) disasters. Between these two missions, 14 courageous astronauts lost their lives in the pursuit of exploration and innovation. Among them were two �鶹��Ѱ��alumni: Col Ellison S. Onizuka and Kalpana Chawla.

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Smead Aerospace grad appearing on Survivor

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:18:28 +0000

Smead Aerospace grad appearing on Survivor Jeff Zehnder Wed, 09/24/2025 - 09:18

Jeff Zehnder

I wanted to see what I’m made of when you take all of the support systems away and there’s no redundancies like a spacecraft. It’s just me, single failure mode."

Steven Ramm (AeroEngr’13) is a Lockheed Martin program manager and CBS Survivor contestant.

The �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder aerospace graduate leads a team of engineers at Lockheed Martin working on concept designs for NASA lunar exploration missions, and earlier this year took a break from his day-to-day job for the chance at $1 million in prize money on Survivor Season 49, which airs Wednesdays on CBS.

Why did you want to be a contestant on Survivor?

Survivor has always been a dream of mine. I’ve loved the show ever since I started watching and always watched the players going through the game thinking, “I would do this differently, I would do that differently, I’d be way more cutthroat, I’d be way more diplomatic.”

Growing up I was not very good at math, it was my least strong subject, but I loved space so much that I studied my butt off and ended up getting a degree from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. I looked at Survivor and thought, “I am going to be so far out of my comfort zone if I play this game,” but that’s where all the growth happens.

I wanted to see what I’m made of when you take all of the support systems away and there’s no redundancies like a spacecraft. It’s just me, single failure mode, and what can I make happen.

I learned a lot about myself and I had so much fun. It was the most fun I’ve had in my entire life.

Was being an engineer helpful on the show?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is something I hold near and dear to my heart. I love the aerospace department, all the opportunities its given me in my career and life.

Besides just the basic mechanics of building things like a shelter, which was pretty intuitive, my job working in industry is bringing a lot of different coalitions of people together to achieve a common goal. Space is very difficult, it’s the hardest thing you can do. Not only are you competing with the technical aspect of it, but you’re bringing together the political climate. Every Administration has a different agenda with NASA. You have big budgets that you’re working towards and tight deadlines.

I got very good at communicating with lots of people in different areas. Being able to meet people where they’re at and deliver the message in the most effective way possible is a massive skill to cultivate. That was extremely helpful in a game of social politics, which I felt was what 99% of Survivor was, working with these people and making sure they don’t want to vote you out.

The survival aspect is very tough, but it’s the social politics, and I got pretty good at that with a lot of what I’ve been doing in my life.

On Survivor, hiding your career from other contestants can be beneficial, particularly for people who work in highly technical fields. Did you take a cue from past players and avoid sharing what you do for a living?

You are just going to have to tune in. That was part of my strategy coming in. I went back and forth on it a lot. It is something people take into consideration.

How many times had you applied to be on the show?

First time. I was incredibly shocked. Now here I am. I’m proof if you are interested and Survivor is a dream, or anything, and you feel like maybe you’re not good enough for it, just apply. Put your name in the ring.

I never want to look back and wonder, “What if?” I’ve always raised my hand to apply for things that were extremely cool, but maybe way out of my comfort zone. It’s served me well in life and is my one piece of advice – if I can make it happen, you can do anything.

Was it a problem asking Lockheed Martin to take five consecutive weeks of vacation?

I was very blessed with a very supportive manager who understood and supported my dreams. Lockheed Martin was very supportive of the endeavor. I was little nervous, because you’re going to be on national television, but they said, “This sounds like an incredible opportunity for you, good luck.”

After the season wrapped, what was it like going back to work?

It was harder than I thought it would be. Being out on the island I felt like all of my emotions and senses were dialed up to 11. Not having been on my phone or answering any emails, it was a little challenging to reintegrate at first. The spreadsheets were not slapping the way they used to.

You’re always playing the game 24x7 and coming back home not playing that game, your day to day coworkers aren’t conspiring to vote you out of the company, but your mind is still a little bit geared that way. I had to constantly remind myself, “This is normal, they’re just talking about work stuff. They’re not conspiring to betray me.”

What is your biggest takeaway from being on Survivor?

One of the motivators for going on the show was to shed some imposter syndrome that I’ve been carrying with me. Growing up not being the best at math, but now being a successful aerospace engineer, I’ve always felt a little bit like an imposter in some of the NASA boardrooms and meetings.

I’ve always been my biggest critic, so to play the game and discover the edges of myself in such an exciting way I learned there’s nothing that I can’t do if I put my mind to it and I think that rings true for everybody.

This season is going to be one for the books. I think a lot of people are going to be very excited. Of course I’m biased, I was there. I think the fans will really enjoy this one.

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Recent grad reaches new heights in aerospace

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:48:03 +0000

Recent grad reaches new heights in aerospace Jeff Zehnder Wed, 07/23/2025 - 10:48

Andrew Sapuppo graduated in May 2024 with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in aerospace engineering and engineering physics from the �鶹��Ѱ��. Learn more about his undergraduate research experiences, career path, favorite �鶹��Ѱ��memory, and advice for future students.

From the nanoscale to black holes

While an undergrad, Andrew worked at CU’s Aerospace Nanoscale Lab, where he contributed to improving the robustness of potential quantum computer storage systems. He also worked as a space plasma instrumentation analyst at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), where he evaluated the accuracy of instruments aboard NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites (MMS).

In addition to his engineering experience, Andrew wrote and successfully defended an honors thesis on Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) feedback and galaxy formation by simulating plasma accretion flows around supermassive black holes.

Career takes flight

After graduating from CU, Andrew became a computational plasma physicist at Thea Energy. Here, he helped develop technology for fusion reactors by optimizing diverter systems.

Now, Andrew works directly in the field of human spaceflight. He works as a propulsion systems engineer at NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center as a contractor. His work entails analyzing the Main Propulsion Systems (MPS) on the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) of the Space Launch System (SLS) block 1B. Specifically, he creates thermal models of the liquid oxygen (LOx) and hydrogen tanks to benchmark performance for various stages of flight.

Additionally, Andrew oversees the main propulsion systems for the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. His work ensures Falcon 9 meets mission requirements to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station safely.

Favorite �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder memory

Andrew recalls his favorite memory was hiking to the Royal Arch the first weekend he moved there with people he barely knew. That group would become great friends throughout all of college.

Advice for future students

Get involved with as many different groups after school as possible, both academic and recreation based. Use them to really figure out what you like and surround yourself with people who have similar goals, so you can all help each other accomplish them.

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Alumni, retiring faculty recognized at 2025 Smead Aerospace banquet

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:47:40 +0000

Alumni, retiring faculty recognized at 2025 Smead Aerospace banquet Jeff Zehnder Mon, 04/21/2025 - 09:47

Jeff Zehnder

Banquet Photo Gallery at Flickr

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences has honored eight alumni for outstanding contributions to industry, for technical achievement, and public service.

The 2025 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Academy inductees were recognized April 18 for work in business, civil, and military aerospace spheres.

“Our outstanding graduates from Smead Aerospace are both established leaders and rising stars across aerospace engineering science," said Hanspeter Schaub, professor and chair of Smead Aerospace. "We're excited to recognize these individuals for their achievements and what they've given to our industry as a whole. They're solving big challenges and pushing the limits of what is possible in aerospace engineering sciences."

Honorees were recognized in three categories:

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Commercial Enterprise

Under 40

Sarah Gillis (AeroEngr BS’17) - An astronaut and Senior Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, Gillis has played a key role in creating SpaceX’s astronaut training program and flew aboard the Inspiration4 Polaris Dawn, which took humans farther from Earth than any mission since the Apollo program.

Over 40

Zach Hazen (AeroEngr BS’07) – Hazen is a leader in the UAS industry, having sized, configured, and provided detailed aerodynamic designs for 10 different aircraft achieving first flight. He also directed the development of five operational aircraft serving both commercial and defense sectors.
Maciej Stachura (AeroEngr MS’10, PhD’14) – As the co-founder and CTO of Black Swift Technologies, Stachura has built a career developing uncrewed aircraft systems for extreme environments, including wildland fires, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service

Over 40

Michael R. Dickey (AeroEngr BS’87, MS’88) – Dickey co-founded Elara Nova, a global space consultancy, and is a career aerospace leader with two stints in public service, including as an Air Force officer and at the civilian senior executive level supporting the stand-up of the United States Space Force.
Bruce Haines (AeroEngr BS’86, MS’87, PhD’91) – A principle research technologist at NASA JPL, Haines is a leader in the fields of precise orbit determination and calibration/validation of satellite radar altimetry, with over 250 published research papers.
David B. Spencer (AeroEngr PhD’94) – Across a long career in education and research, Spencer has made major contributions to space flight dynamics, trajectory optimization, and orbital debris research. He is the lead author of the Interplanetary Astrodynamics textbook and has served in key roles in multiple industry associations.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership

Under 40

Álvaro Romero-Calvo (AeroEngr PhD’22) – A professor at Georgia Tech, Romero-Calvo’s fundamental and applied engineering research is developing space technologies for reduced-gravity environments and advancing the fundamental understanding of their underlying physical principles.

Over 40

David Wiese (AeroEngr MS’07, PhD’11) – As a space geodesist at NASA JPL, Wiese has played key roles in multiple remote sensing missions, including GRACE and ICESat-2. He has conducted authoritative research into the changing state of Earth’s hydrosphere and his papers have been cited over 11,000 times.

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences has honored eight alumni for outstanding contributions to industry, for technical achievement, and public service.

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Martian dust could pose health risks to future astronauts

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:00:31 +0000

Martian dust could pose health risks to future astronauts Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/01/2025 - 09:00

Don’t breathe in the dust on Mars.

That’s the takeaway from new research from a team of scientists, including researchers from the �鶹��Ѱ��. The findings suggests that long-term exposure to Martian dust could create a host of health problems for future astronauts—leading to chronic respiratory problems, thyroid disease and more.

The study, published in the journal GeoHealth, is the first to take a comprehensive look at the chemical ingredients that make up Martian dust, and their possible impacts on human health. It was undertaken by a team from the worlds of medicine, geology and aerospace engineering.

“This isn't the most dangerous part about going to Mars,” said Justin Wang, lead author of the study and a student in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “But dust is a solvable problem, and it’s worth putting in the effort to develop Mars-focused technologies for preventing these health problems in the first place.”

Justin Wang (Credit: Justin Wang)

Justin Wang, left, and Brian Hynek, right, at Turrialba Volcano in Costa Rica. (Credit: Justin Wang)

A dust devil swirls on the surface of Mars as seen from space. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona)

Wang, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder alumnus, noted that Apollo era astronauts experienced runny eyes and irritated throats after inhaling dust from the moon. Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt likened the symptoms to hay fever.

But scientists know a lot less about the potential harms of Martian dust. To begin to answer that question, Wang and his colleagues drew on data from rovers on Mars and even Martian meteorites to better understand what makes up the planet’s dust. The group discovered a “laundry list” of chemical compounds that could be dangerous for people—at least when inhaled in large quantities and over long periods of time.

They include minerals rich in silicates and iron oxides, metals like beryllium and arsenic and a particularly nasty class of compounds called perchlorates.

In many cases, those ingredients are present in only trace amounts in Mars dust. But the first human explorers on Mars may spend around a year and a half on the surface, increasing their exposure, said study co-author Brian Hynek.

“You’re going to get dust on your spacesuits, and you’re going to have to deal with regular dust storms,” said Hynek, a geologist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. “We really need to characterize this dust so that we know what the hazards are.”

Into the bloodstream

One thing is clear, he added: Mars is a dusty place.

Much of the planet is covered in a thick layer of dust rich in tiny particles of iron, which gives the planet its famous red color. Swirling dust storms are common and, in some cases, can engulf the entire globe.

“We think there could be 10 meters of dust sitting on top of the bigger volcanoes,” said Hynek, a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences. “If you tried to land a spacecraft there, you’re going to just sink into the dust.”

Wang found his own way to Martian dust through a unique academic path. He started medical school after earning bachelor’s degrees from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder in astronomy and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering sciences. He currently serves in the Navy through its Health Professions Scholarship Program.

He noted that the biggest problem with Martian dust comes down to its size. Estimates suggest that the average size of dust grains on Mars may be as little as 3 micrometers across, or roughly one-ten-thousandth of an inch.

“That’s smaller than what the mucus in our lungs can expel,” Wang said. “So after we inhale Martian dust, a lot of it could remain in our lungs and be absorbed into our blood stream.”

An ounce of prevention

In the current study, Wang and several of his fellow medical students at USC scoured research papers to unearth the potential toxicological effects of the ingredients in Martian dust.

Some of what they found resembled common health problems on Earth. Dust on Mars, for example, contains large amounts of the compound silica, which is abundant in minerals on our own planet. People who inhale a lot of silica, such as glass blowers, can develop a condition known as silicosis. Their lung tissue becomes scarred, making it hard to breath—symptoms similar to the “black lung” disease that coal miners often contract. Currently, there is no cure for silicosis.

In other cases, the potential health consequences are much less well-known.

Martian dust carries large quantities of highly oxidizing compounds called perchlorates, which are made up of one chlorine and multiple oxygen atoms. Perchlorates are rare on Earth, but some evidence suggests that they can interfere with human thyroid function, leading to severe anemia. Even inhaling a few milligrams of perchlorates in Martian dust could be dangerous for astronauts.

Wang noted that the best time to prepare for the health risks of Martian dust is before humans ever make it to the planet. Iodine supplements, for example, would boost astronauts’ thyroid function, potentially counteracting the toll of perchlorates—although taking too much iodine can also, paradoxically, lead to thyroid disease. Filters specifically designed to screen out Martian dust could also help to keep the air in living spaces clean.

“Prevention is key. We tell everyone to go see their primary care provider to check your cholesterol before it gives you a heart attack,” Wang said. “The best thing we can do on Mars is make sure the astronauts aren’t exposed to dust in the first place.”

Co-authors of the current study include USC medical students Jeremy Rosenbaum, Ajay Prasad and Robert Raad; Esther Putnam, former graduate student in aerospace engineering sciences at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder now at SpaceX; Andrea Harrington at the NASA Johnson Space Center; and Haig Aintablian, director of the Space Medicine Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, also affiliated with SpaceX.

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Smead Aerospace recognizes 2025 alumni award honorees

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:58:12 +0000

Smead Aerospace recognizes 2025 alumni award honorees Jeff Zehnder Thu, 03/20/2025 - 12:58

Jeff Zehnder

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is honoring eight alumni for outstanding contributions to industry, for technical achievement, and public service.

The 2025 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Academy inductees are being recognized for work in business, civil, and military aerospace spheres.

Honorees are being recognized in three categories:

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Commercial Enterprise

Under 40

Sarah Gillis (AeroEngr BS’17) - An astronaut and Senior Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, Gillis has played a key role in creating SpaceX’s astronaut training program and flew aboard the Inspiration4 Polaris Dawn, which took humans farther from Earth than any mission since the Apollo program.

Over 40

Zach Hazen (AeroEngr BS’07) – Hazen is a leader in the UAS industry, having sized, configured, and provided detailed aerodynamic designs for 10 different aircraft achieving first flight. He also directed the development of five operational aircraft serving both commercial and defense sectors.
Maciej Stachura (AeroEngr MS’10, PhD’14) – As the co-founder and CTO of Black Swift Technologies, Stachura has built a career developing uncrewed aircraft systems for extreme environments, including wildland fires, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service

Over 40

Michael R. Dickey (AeroEngr BS’87, MS’88) – Dickey co-founded Elara Nova, a global space consultancy, and is a career aerospace leader with two stints in public service, including as an Air Force officer and at the civilian senior executive level supporting the stand-up of the United States Space Force.
Bruce Haines (AeroEngr BS’86, MS’87, PhD’91) – A principle research technologist at NASA JPL, Haines is a leader in the fields of precise orbit determination and calibration/validation of satellite radar altimetry, with over 250 published research papers.
David B. Spencer (AeroEngr PhD’94) – Across a long career in education and research, Spencer has made major contributions to space flight dynamics, trajectory optimization, and orbital debris research. He is the lead author of the Interplanetary Astrodynamics textbook and has served in key roles in multiple industry associations.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership

Under 40

Álvaro Romero-Calvo (AeroEngr PhD’22) – A professor at Georgia Tech, Romero-Calvo’s fundamental and applied engineering research is developing space technologies for reduced-gravity environments and advancing the fundamental understanding of their underlying physical principles.

Over 40

David Wiese (AeroEngr MS’07, PhD’11) – As a space geodesist at NASA JPL, Wiese has played key roles in multiple remote sensing missions, including GRACE and ICESat-2. He has conducted authoritative research into the changing state of Earth’s hydrosphere and his papers have been cited over 11,000 times.

All of the honorees will be officially recognized at the 2025 AeroBuffs Club alumni banquet and awards ceremony on April 18. Registrations are still being accepted for �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder aerospace alumni who would like to attend.

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