Dr. David Spencer joined the faculty of the Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering in August 2008. Expanding upon SSDL’s core strength in space systems design, he is leading a new educational and research program focused on space flight projects and mission operations through development of the Georgia Tech Center for Space Systems. Dave is developing laboratory space that will eventually house a mission operations center, tracking station, and space flight hardware development facility. This year, Dr. Spencer will also co-teach senior space systems design (AE 4356 and AE 4357) with Professor Bishop.

SSDL graduate student, Jarret Lafleur was awarded first place in the AIAA student paper competition at this year's Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference and Exhibit (August 18-21, 2008 in Honolulu, HI). His paper, AIAA 2008-6213, is entitled, "Mars Entry Bank Profile Design for Terminal State Optimization," and reports on research he conducted in collaboration with personnel at the NASA Johnson Space Center. This is the second consecutive year that an SSDL student has won this AIAA award.

SSDL graduate students Jarrett Lafleur and Ashley Korzun were awarded first and second place in the student paper competition at the 6th International Planetary Probe Workshop in June 2008.

Congratulations to SSDL graduate students Kevin Flaherty, Mike Grant, Ashley Korzun, and Brad Steinfeldt who each completed their M.S. in May 2007.

Georgia Tech and the Planetary Society co-hosted a Town Hall forum devoted to the future of the U.S. Space Exploration program in Atlanta Georgia on May 7, 2008. Over 150 members of the public attended this event, providing input on subjects ranging from the future of our nation's human space flight program, to robotic exploration, to space commercialization, energy and climate change. The Atlanta Town Hall was moderated by Planetary Society Vice-President Bill Nye, and included three kickoff speakers: Lon Levin (a member of the Planetary Society Board of Directors), Atlanta businessman Bob Schack, and Georgia Tech graduate student Jarret Lafleur. Dr. Braun served as the local organizing chair for this public forum. The Planetary Society is conducting a series of these forums to facilitate communications and engage the public in our nation's space exploration program.

In Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, SSDL faculty and/or graduate students will be giving technical presentations on our work at the AIAA AFM/GNC/Astrodynamics Conferences (Honolulu, HI), AIAA Space 2008 Conference (San Diego, CA), 12th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference (Victoria, B.C., Canada), 54th International Astronautical Congress (Glasgow, Scotland), 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (Orlando, FLA), IEEE Aerospace Conference (Big Sky, MT), 20th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference (Seattle, WA), 5th AIAA MDO Specialists Conference (Palm Springs, CA), 27th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference (San Antonio, TX) and the 7th International Planetary Probe Workshop (Barcelona, Spain).