Madhusudan V
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Iowa State University
Expertise
Aerospace Engineering, Astronautics, Space Research
Bio
Hi! I am Madhu, an Astrodynamics researcher at Iowa State University. I study how gravity and other invisible forces affect the way spacecraft move. My work is to figure out the best paths for spacecraft to take so they can reach where they need to go. It's like planning a fun road trip to the stars. It is where science meets space exploration to study stars, explore planets, and place satellites in the right spots, making phones, GPS, and other technology possible. Outside work, I like exploring nature on hiking trails or just traveling. I plan to visit all 63 national parks. Sports and music are also big passions of mine. Whether on the court playing racquetball or jamming with my buddies in the band, I'm always up for some fun and excitement outside of work.Project ideas
Designing Spacecraft Trajectories with Newton's Laws
Whether it is exploring other worlds or simply going on a trip around the Earth, one of the fundamental task is to design the trajectory our spacecraft has to take. In this project, we'll learn how gravity influences spacecraft movement and how to calculate the force needed to send a spacecraft from one place to another. Then, we'll put our newfound knowledge into action by creating a cool computer program to help us visualize and design spacecraft trajectories. Ready to take off on this cosmic journey? Let's explore the wonders of orbital mechanics together!
Space Debris Problem
Have you ever wondered what happens to the remains of a rocket that goes into space? Or a satellite that is no longer in use? They remain in space as floating junk forming a layer around Earth. They even have a name, Spcae Debris. In this project, we will investigate the problem of space debris and its impact on spacecraft and satellite operations. Develop a project to analyze and classify the orbits of known debris objects using publicly available data from organizations like NASA. We will identify regions of space that need more attention and look at possible ways of reduce and eliminate space debris. We will learn to write computer programs that will help us visualize the debris floating in space.