Introduction to the Rocket Scientist
As the title says, I am an aspiring rocket scientist. More precisely, I am Aerospace Engineering student. And that little descriptor about sums up my favorite things.
I am in my final semester of college and absolutely cannot wait to graduate. I am more than ready to get into the work force and start building the future. To prepare for this future, I have done a lot of stuff in my college career. This includes, but is not limited to, building rockets, robots, and cleaning up asbestos. Don't worry, I'll explain more in a minute.
Starting from the easiest thing on that list; robots. I am the vice-president of the Sooner Competitive Robotics here at OU. This means I get to be a technical adviser for each of the robotics teams and make that they have everything they need to succeed. I also get to help them when they mess up their robots, and cant get them to work right. Robots are great, but coding really kind of sucks, which is why I prefer to stick with my rockets and pressure systems.
Some of my proudest moments have come from rocketry. This last year, the team and I were able to go to the Spaceport of America down in New mexico, and compete with our rocket "Show me what you got." For this rocket I had to learn an incredible amount of junk. This includes how to properly make carbon fiber components, how to use a CNC machine properly, and most importantly, how to take it easy and not stress when everything seems to be falling apart. Ultimately, we had one of 22 perfect flights, with over 100 teams registered, so I'd say it paid off.
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| That's me in the back, celebrating finding our rocket (Boomer Rocket Team, 2017) |
Rockets are so important to me, that I decided to start a new senior capstone project at OU, rather than work on an airplane project. Working over the summer, our small group was able to get a grant from NASA's Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium to fund a little research into rocket nozzles. So far we have completed our designs of test stands and pressure systems for testing these parts. This is where the asbestos comes in . Apparently, the university had some abandoned jet testing buildings lying around near the airport on North campus, and we get to use them, as long as we clean them up a little. Which we have. The facility we acquired seems like a piece of Chernobyl, and we aren't sure if there was any asbestos, but it was kind of fun to clean up for our tests anyways. I'm looking forward to making our designs a reality this semester.
Anyways, that's my life in a nutshell. Robots and a large platter of rocket stuff.
I am so excited to learn about your rockets and robots, Geoff! That is so cool! If you are having any events or public demos that I can include in the announcements, or news about competitions, let me know. That would be really fun to share with the whole class. India is very proud of its ISRO (that's their NASA), so maybe that is something you will want to learn about in class. Here's an article in Mashable: Here's why you should pay close attention to India's space program... and in ancient mythology, there were already the flying vehicles called vimanas! You will see the famous pushpaka vimana coming up in the Ramayana very soon, in fact: Wikipedia: Vimana. Lift-off!
ReplyDeleteI've actually heard about the Vimanas before from a friend. They look really neat. Although most aerospace people might complain about aerodynamics of the depictions, I personally enjoy them, and think they are pretty elegant. Also that article is fantastic! In our space community, it was huge news when Mangalyaan was launched, and again when it settled into orbit around Mars.
DeleteHi Geoff, I am a fellow student in your Indian Epics course! That is so neat about your rocket that was one of only 22 in 100 to have a perfect flight! It sounds like you have really found a path that you are passionate about that. I am also a senior this year and can agree with you that I want to graduate ASAP!
ReplyDeleteHey Geoff! Aerospace engineering is not for the faint of heart, and creating a new Senior Capstone project is an accomplishment in and of itself! I'm curious though: What's the farthest you've had to go to retrieve a fallen rocket? Are there occasions when you can't find it afterwards? Very impressive stuff, and I am right there with you on the "I can't wait to graduate" bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff, We might have nothing in common but you seem to love your work and be some what goofy. I am the same way. I loved learning a little bit about rockets and so on. I hope one day I'll see you on the new!! I can relate on the fact that I am ready to graduate! This last semester should be fun. I hope yours is also. Good luck with building rockets.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with pursuing your aerospace engineering degree Geoff, I totally understand the struggle through this degree path, particularly with capstone and working with the professor in charge in order to achieve a project or goals in order to best help the students. Hopefully the Rocket test stand project reaches a point where you can do some testing before leaving the University of Oklahoma, so you can see and enjoy the results of all the hard work.
ReplyDeleteHey Geoff! I think it is pretty cool that you are able to have found your passion and love in rockets and yet apply it to what you want to do in the future. I also think it is pretty cool that you have gotten to travel with it like when you went to New Mexico. I too am in my final semester of school and ready to pursue the next stage of my life.
ReplyDeleteHey Geoff!
ReplyDeleteThe Robotics team sounds like it has been an incredibly fun experience for you! Building a rocket sounds like it would be a lot of fun (and stress) to do. Thankfully rocket science goes way over my head (pun-intended) and I don't have to try and figure that out for my major. Good luck on this semester though! I'm graduating this semester as well and very much looking forward to getting into the workforce.
Hey Geoff,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea OU had jet testing buildings on the North Campus! That's pretty awesome, it makes me wonder what other cool stuff is just lying around waiting for someone to take initiative to get it going again. I too am ready to be finished with this last semester so that I can move on into a professional setting.
Hi Geoff!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I really like the design and layout of your blog and I think your use of personal photos makes your introduction page a lot more relatable and enjoyable to read. I think it’s so cool that you want to be a rocket scientist! Also, Congratulations on finishing up your last semester here at OU. I hope you have a great semester and I look forward to revisiting your blog throughout the course!
Hi Geoff! I'm very impressed with all that you do in the aerospace world. That area is so needed in research and technique, as I am sure you know. It is encouraging to listen to your passion about such a unique place of study and one day future career. I will also be graduating this semester and am excited someone like you will be going out into the world making such a huge difference! Have a wonderful last semester at the University of Oklahoma!
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff!
ReplyDeleteYour passion for rockets is amazing. It is great that you're able to incorporate designing, building, and testing your rocket into your capstone. From what I have heard aerospace engineering is no easy fleet, but I hope you get to make rockets that will one day be in space! Please post an update on how your capstone turns out, I'm excited to hear what all you accomplish! I have no doubt you'll make your last semester the best!
Hey Geoff!! It is so cool that you are into rockets and robots. I actually did robotics in high school and went on to place second at nationals! I agree, coding can be a pain. I have never done any rocket work but it looks exhilarating! Also, congratulations on your last semester! I look forward to reading some of your stuff this semester. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Geoff! Rockets and robots always cool. As a male, you always have certain fantasies and rockets and robots are definitely one of mine. As a former aerospace mechanic, i know that aerospace engineering is a hard field, but i believe with your passion, you will do just fine.
ReplyDeleteHello Geoff. The stuff you work on sound really cool and beyond my scope of understanding. I can not even fathom trying to code or build a robot. I did not know that the university even had competitive robotics. It is really impressive that you were able to make your own rocket. Best of luck with all of this after you graduate and following your passions.
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff, it is nice to meet you! Wow, your passion and interest in rockets and robots is amazing and extremely unique! Congrats on the perfect flight of your rocket in the Spaceport of America - hard work truly does pay off, right?! It is so cool that you started a new senior capstone project at OU and that you even got a grant from NASA's Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium. I believe that goes to show how much you love and enjoy what you do. Best of luck on your last semester and life after you graduate!
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I am also in my last semester and am aching to be out in the field making a difference. I find it amazing that, even in this final stretch of college, you still are chasing your dreams. It's amazing that you are staying so involved in areas you love and are continuing to grow your knowledge in the subjects. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to keeping up with your stories this semester!
Hi Geoff! Congratulations on almost making it all the way through college! That's a huge accomplishment and I'm sure you are so excited and ready to walk across that stage. I'm sure cleaning up that building at the airport north of campus was really cool. Did you find anything interesting? I think I would like to do that because it's a little bit of OU history that you got to be a part of. Good luck for the rest of this semester! I look forward to reading more of your posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff congratulations on graduating in a few weeks! It's awesome that you have found something that you really enjoy doing. Aerospace engineering seems like a very difficult major, but I bet enjoying what you are learning makes it a little bit easier. It really seems like you know what you are doing post graduation as well which is awesome. Good luck with finals!
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