A Career in Motion: A Maneuver Analyst's Journey Across the Colar System

Abstract:  

This presentation provides a firsthand look at applied astrodynamics through real NASA missions. Dr. Powtawche Valerino will share her career journey from internships to engineering roles at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center, highlighting contributions to both robotic and human spaceflight. A featured case study from the Cassini-Huygens mission examines trajectory analysis for an Enceladus flyby, demonstrating the challenges of spacecraft navigation and operations within a complex multi-body gravitational environment. The presentation also connects these experiences to engineering activities supporting the Space Launch System (SLS), Human Landing System (HLS), and Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) programs, illustrating how astrodynamics, systems engineering, creativity, and collaboration enable exploration across our Solar System.

Bio:

Dr. Powtawche Valerino is an Aerospace Engineer at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in the Guidance, Navigation, and Mission Analysis Branch (EV42), supporting the Space Launch System and Human Landing System programs. She is currently on detail and serves as the System Integration Manager for the Space Nuclear Propulsion office, leading cross-disciplinary integration to advance propulsion development. During her time as the EV42 Deputy Branch Chief and Flight Dynamics Team Lead, she held roles in HLS Systems Engineering and Integration and Artemis II certification efforts. Previously, she spent over a decade at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, conducting flight path control analysis for missions such as Cassini-Huygens, Europa Clipper, and the Parker Solar Probe. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and graduate degrees from Rice University. She is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society.