Development of a Wind Tunnel to Study Fundamental Processes in Aerodynamics and Propulsion in Very Low Earth Orbit

Abstract:  

Bio:

Steven Berg is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rutgers University, since 2023, and earned his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology for his work in developing multimode chemical-electric spacecraft propulsion systems and novel electrosprayable ionic liquid monopropellants. Post-PhD he was a Propulsion and Test Engineer at SpaceX, working on various development projects for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, some of which contributed to the first ever return of an in-tact booster following an orbital launch. He was also the co-founder of a small business, Froberg Aerospace, LLC, which focused on R&D for novel in-space propulsion systems and was a performer on contracts for NASA, DARPA, and NRO. He is now the director of the Rutgers Space Propulsion with Advanced Chemistry and Energetics (SPACE) Lab, focused on experimental research in novel methods of propulsion and spaceflight. He received a DARPA Young Faculty Award in 2024 to pursue research in the nascent area of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) aerodynamics and propulsion.