I am a passionate and enthusiastic space engineer by training, and planetary scientist by heart. Especially complex interplanetary space missions motivate me. My open, ambitious and cheerful character makes me a responsible, reliable and inclusive team-worker. I am a fast and eager learner constantly looking for new challenges.
I specialise in the exploration of our Solar System using robotic spacecraft, and am currently a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, USA. I am an active advocate for girls and women in STEM.
I have an Aerospace Engineering degree (Dipl.-Ing. aer) from the University of Stuttgart, a PhD in Space Technology and Systems Engineering (Dr.-Ing. aer) from the Bundeswehr University Munich, focusing on mission architecture, mission and spacecraft design, space technology, mission analysis and planetary science.
I am a ZONTA International Amelia Earhart Fellow of the year 2015. You can follow my research on Twitter.
Education
- Dr.-Ing. aer (PhD) in Aerospace Engineering
Bundeswehr University Munich, 2019 - Teaching in Higher Education of the Bavarian Universities
certificate ProfiLehrePlus, 2018 - Dipl.-Ing. aer in Aerospace Engineering
University of Stuttgart, 2013
Interests
- Interplanetary Science Missions
- Systems Engineering
- Planetary Science
- Mission Architecture
- Mission Analysis
- Spacecraft Design
Alena's Space 