SpaceX
My Work
Starship Life Support Systems
Starship Engineering Intern
At SpaceX, I designed and released the thermal control system (TCS) custom motor and fluid pump for the crew starship. Compared to dragon TCS pumps and comparable COTS components, I cut assembly mass by 35% and improved battery to fluid efficiency by 15% while meeting all necessary requirements to support life onboard starship.
I also owned the development of the raptor motor controller enclosure, integrating 20 units at the first crew starship module build, where they continue to operate on the air sanitation, humidity, thermal control, and pressure control systems.
Learnings
Question Requirements
Continuously testing assumptions revealed an operational temperature requirement driven by a decommissioned component designed five years prior to my internship. By eliminating unnecessary requirements, I reconstructed the motor packaging architecture, resulting in a lighter and more cost-effective component. Always challenge requirements no matter who gave them to you.
Delete the Part
Each component must serve a clear purpose. Starship operates on extremely tight margins and avoiding unnecessary components is a crucial step towards making it to orbit. It is especially wasteful to spend time optimizing a component that shouldn’t exist in the first place.
SpaceX
My Work
Starship Life Support Systems
Starship Engineering Intern
At SpaceX, I designed and released the thermal control system (TCS) custom motor and fluid pump for the crew starship. Compared to dragon TCS pumps and comparable COTS components, I cut assembly mass by 35% and improved battery to fluid efficiency by 15% while meeting all necessary requirements to support life onboard starship.
I also owned the development of the raptor motor controller enclosure, integrating 20 units at the first crew starship module build, where they continue to operate on the air sanitation, humidity, thermal control, and pressure control systems.
Learnings
Question Requirements
Continuously testing assumptions revealed an operational temperature requirement driven by a decommissioned component designed five years prior to my internship. By eliminating unnecessary requirements, I reconstructed the motor packaging architecture, resulting in a lighter and more cost-effective component. Always challenge requirements no matter who gave them to you.
Delete the Part
Each component must serve a clear purpose. Starship operates on extremely tight margins and avoiding unnecessary components is a crucial step towards making it to orbit. It is especially wasteful to spend time optimizing a component that shouldn’t exist in the first place.
SpaceX
My Work
Starship Life Support Systems
Starship Engineering Intern
At SpaceX, I designed and released the thermal control system (TCS) custom motor and fluid pump for the crew starship. Compared to dragon TCS pumps and comparable COTS components, I cut assembly mass by 35% and improved battery to fluid efficiency by 15% while meeting all necessary requirements to support life onboard starship.
I also owned the development of the raptor motor controller enclosure, integrating 20 units at the first crew starship module build, where they continue to operate on the air sanitation, humidity, thermal control, and pressure control systems.
Learnings
Question Requirements
Continuously testing assumptions revealed an operational temperature requirement driven by a decommissioned component designed five years prior to my internship. By eliminating unnecessary requirements, I reconstructed the motor packaging architecture, resulting in a lighter and more cost-effective component. Always challenge requirements no matter who gave them to you.
Delete the Part
Each component must serve a clear purpose. Starship operates on extremely tight margins and avoiding unnecessary components is a crucial step towards making it to orbit. It is especially wasteful to spend time optimizing a component that shouldn’t exist in the first place.