Human Spaceflight and Mission Design (APPEL-vHSMD)

Dr. Jerry Jon Sellers, is author of Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, and is a contributing author and editor of Applied Space Systems Engineering. He was the director of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Space Systems Research Center. He has over 25 years of space systems experience including Guidance & On-board Navigation Officer in Space Shuttle Mission Control; Assistant Professor of Astronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy; and Chief of Astronautics for the Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research & Development. He is an Associate Fellow at AIAA and the former Chairman of the Space Systems Technical Committee. He is also an adjunct professor at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Peter Van Wirt develops/instructs courses in space systems engineering and consults to help improve SE capabilities. He is an Adjunct Professor with The Stevens Institute of Technology and instructs at the National Security Space Institute. He has served as a PM&SE for a variety of Air Force engineering developments and has over 29 years of aerospace engineering experience. He earned his doctorate at the Utah State in Control Theory.

Dr. John Turner is an experienced Analyst, Mission Planner, Program Manager, and Safety and Mission Assurance Executive. He began his career in space mission planning and operations. He served as the Risk Manager for the Space Shuttle Program after tragic loss of Columbia, then for NASA’s the Constellation Exploration Program. As Director of Safety and Mission Assurance for the Dram Chaser program, he built SNC’s S&MA program from the ground up and played a leading role in refining the design and operations concept for the Cargo and Crew variants of the Dream Chaser Spaceplane over ten years. John also served as a Senior Director of programs on several Satellite, Robotics and Human spacecraft. During his 26-year USAF Active and Reserve career, his assignments included Space Mission Operations, Aircraft Life Support Systems Engineering, Industrial Process Improvement, and Public Affairs. John also holds a Professional Project Management Certification.