#1 – Dr Chauncey Wu on NASA, rocket science and advanced composite materials

Today's conversation features Dr Chauncey Wu who is a research engineer at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Chauncey has worked at NASA for more than 30 years, predominantly in the field of structural mechanics, and has been responsible for designing and testing a number of space structures that have been launched into space. Some examples of his work include structural analyses on the LITE telescope that was launched into space in 1994, as well as optimisation of rocket propellant tank structures, and conceptual design studies of lunar lander vehicles and habitat structures for the colonisation of the Moon. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Chauncey’s path to NASA as an undergraduate student, the history of NASA and the cultural shift compared to its predecessor the NACA. We answer the question of why rocket science is so hard, and finally we talk about Chauncey’s recent research on a new type of lightweight composite material: tow-steered composites, which could be a game-changer for rocket booster designs.

If you want to learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, then you can find show notes with links to more in-depth material on my blog. The Aerospace Engineering Blog Facebook site is the best place to get in touch with me if you have suggestions for the podcast or want to leave comments about this episode. Thanks a lot for listening!