OT: Space, Bitches. Space - UM Prof name head of NASA Science Directorate

Submitted by kdhoffma on

https://science.nasa.gov/thomas-zurbuchen-named-head-nasa-science-missi…

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has named Thomas Zurbuchen as the new associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, effective Monday, Oct. 3.  Zurbuchen is a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Never had him for a course, but Prof. Zurbuchen helped with our aero senior project back in '05... so it was pretty exciting to see him receive this appointment.

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DualThreat

September 28th, 2016 at 12:09 PM ^

We also have UM alums at key positions within the Space Launch System (SLS) program:

> One works in the lead/chief engineer's office.

> Two more work as both the lead developers for the prelaunch and ascent mission timelines, respectively.

> Yet more helped lead development of the Orion spacecraft.  (The first launch of Orion back in December 2014 contained a UM flag onboard.  It was the only collegiate flag that flew.)

Joined: 05/04/2012

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MotownGoBlue

September 28th, 2016 at 1:05 PM ^

Even better in space... The University of Michigan is one of three non military institutions (UofM, MIT, Purdue) to have had more than one alum walk on the moon. Considering only twelve people have walked on the moon, that tidbit is fairly impressive. And then of course, Jabrill Peppers.

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mGrowOld

September 28th, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^

I wonder if this is somehow connected to that post about 6 threads down on the ranking of public universities in the US.  

I'm guessing nobody from University of Nebraska was under consideration for the post.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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gbdub

September 28th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^

Oh, there's also CYGNSS, a NASA mission going up later this year with a UM prof as principal investigator.

Prof. Dahm (now at ASU) was the chief scientist of the Air Force.

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PeteM

September 28th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^

Cool story - thanks for posting.  When i was in high school in the early 80s I had a chance to meet Charles Bolden.  He was (I believe) the first African-American astronaut, and was speaking both on campus and at my high school in connection with Black History Month.  I asked to do a quick interview for the high school paper, and instead was invited to shadow him all day both on campus and my school.  As a kid who grew in the 70s fascinated by astronauts this was exciting (plus I got to miss school).  Anyway, Bolden was a great guy back then and obviously knows how to appoint the right people at NASA.  Congrats to Prof Zurbuchen.

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PopeLando

September 28th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^

Where's the party David Bowie? In spave, Bret. In space. Yeah, it is pretty freaky, isn't it? Yeah. No... (Flight of the Conchords was maybe the best show ever. After Firefly)

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BlueMichigan

September 29th, 2016 at 1:34 AM ^

There are more than 30 U-M graduates that have been or are currently employed by SpaceX in their Hawthorne, CA Headquarters

 

The Michigan Aerospace Engineering department celebrates its 103rd anniversary, making it the longest-running university aerospace program in the country.

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