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Patrick Chai

Title: In-Space Transportation Analysis Lead, Mars Architecture Team

Technical Focus Area: System Analysis, Trajectory Optimization, Spacecraft Design

Missions/Projects: Mars Architecture Team

Study Topics/Expertise: Orbital Mechanics, Optimization, Spacecraft Design, Astrodynamics

Dr. Patrick R. Chai is the Langley Center lead for NASA’s Mars Architecture Team and leads the In-Space Transportation Assessment Team as part of the agency’s Exploration System Development Mission Directorate. He’s also the co-lead of the Campaign Assessment Team for ESDMD’s Moon to Mars Architecture Development Office. He is a current member and former chair of the AIAA Space System Technical Committee and chairs the AIAA Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition. 

Awards

  • 2021 – NASA Early Career Achievement Medal

Education/Professional Experience

  • Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014
  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012
  • B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007

Virtual Presentations 
Rendezvous with Mars, Houston We Have a Podcast, Episode 151. July 3, 2020.  

Publications
Google Scholar ​​​​​​​