Elevator Pitch - Acura Project

Me: How are you doing today Professor Okutsu?
Okutsu: Good, and you?
Me: Great! The other day I was reviewing you publication on "Mars Free Return Gravity Assist From Venus" and I was intrigued.
Okutsu: I am pleased to know you read my article
Me: Yes, it just so happens I am an Aerospace Engineer major, and first year student. And I know that your Ph.D. relates to my major.
Okutsu: Yes, it does.
Me: My name is Ptah-Raet Craig, and I have been looking into gravity assist trajectories and flyby missions. I would love if I could work under you in ACURA, if you needed someone with some knowledge of astrodynamics and has read your publications. I am the perfect person, here's my business card, I can email you my resume and course history.
Okutsu: Sure.
Me: Have a great day.
Okutsu: Same to you.

WP2 & Elevator Pitch

	Did Not Meet Goals	Meet Goals	Surpassed Goals
Background, relates it to research
Analyze articles
Discuss the professor
Presentation is organized and shows effort, proper formatting
Elevator pitch Effective 90 seconds or less Engaging Introduction Persuasive Body language "Sells product"
Genre is discussed
Length is between 5-7 mins
Total
Comments

Pitch #1

1. Prepare ahead of time
2. Brief 
3. To the point 

Pitch #2

This one was from a movie scene, it was a little bit long for an elevator pitch. It did not give much background or fully meet the requirements of a good elevator pitch.

Pitch #3

1. Who you are
2. Background
3. Explain briefly 
4. Connection 
5. Ask
6. Closeout

Thanks for tuning in ! Next time take the stairs. 

PB2B - Analyze 2 Scholarly Journal Articles

Journal #1 - Orbital Mechanics about Small Bodies

• Scheeres, D. J. "Orbital Mechanics about Small Bodies." Acta Astronautica, vol. 72, 2012, pp. 1-14. (Link)

Journal #2 -

• Paul, SN, and C. Frueh. "Space-Object Charging and its Effect on Orbit Evolution." Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 40, no. 12, 2017, pp. 3180-3198. (Link)

Both of these articles are looking at small bodies and how they react to spacecraft. Small bodies being, asteroids, comets, etc. They both are trying to find a solution to predict how these bodies will react with the spacecraft. The problem being that they would want to avoid satellites or spacecraft getting hit by these objects. Journal 2 is different in the sense that they are looking at how these small bodies at the in different zones of Earth's magnetosphere, while Journal 1 is just looking at objects in general floating in space. Journal 2 looked at currents, plasa conditions, and simulations. While Journal 1 looked at actual spacecraft floating through space. Both articles imposed that small bodies in space are unpredictable and a solution needs to be put in place to prevent these small bodies from hitting important objects in space.
Both journals had relatively the same structure, opening with the abstract, then introduction. They both do some explaining of how they would measure these things, and then they include the results of the matter, and end with a conclusion, followed by the references. 

PB2A - Parts 3-5

Discipline - Astrodynamics

Possible Research Questions:

• What are the different ways we can get spacecraft to travel through space?
• Are the known methods of space travel efficient enough?
• How does magnetic force effect the orbit of a satellite?

Keywords:

1. Astrodynamics
2. Gravity Assist
3. Spacecraft Velocities
4. Engineering
5. Space
6. Orbit
7. Satellite

Journal Articles:

• Scheeres, D. J. "Orbital Mechanics about Small Bodies." Acta Astronautica, vol. 72, 2012, pp. 1-14. (Link)
• Ferreira, Alessandra F. S., Prado, Antônio F. B. A, and Othon C. Winter. "A Numerical Mapping of Energy Gains in a Powered Swing-by Maneuver." Nonlinear Dynamics, vol. 89, no. 2, 2017, pp. 791-818. (Link)
• Sadler, D. H. "Satellite Orbits Astrodynamics (Orbit Determination, Space Navigation, Celestial Mechanics), Volume II. Samuel Herrick, 348 Pp., 6½ × 9¼ in., D. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., Ltd., London, 1972. £11.50." The Journal of Navigation, vol. 25, no. 4, 1972, pp. 540-540. (Link) 
• Paul, SN, and C. Frueh. "Space-Object Charging and its Effect on Orbit Evolution." Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 40, no. 12, 2017, pp. 3180-3198. (Link)
• AZIMOV, DILMURAT, and ROBERT BISHOP. "New Trends in Astrodynamics and Applications: Optimal Trajectories for Space Guidance." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1065, no. 1, 2005, pp. 189-209. (Link) 

PB2A - Part 1 & 2

Some disciplines that I interesting is Aerospace Engineering, Aeroacoustics, and Astrodynamics. After looking through Penn State Abington's professors, I found a professor that researches Aerospace Engineering, and Astrodynamics. Profesor Okutsu is currently interested in researching astrodynamics and gravity assist. He also designed a number of gravity assist trajectories for NASA's missions. And spent time researching human exploration of Mars.
For starters I find all of these topics equally interesting, due to my love for space and NASA. So picking just one to dedicate time and research in is not a easy pick. As a kid I've always been interested in space exploration, and the laws of gravity. But if I had to pick one I would love to do research in Astrodynamics, just because that is a topic I do not have prior knowledge of, and I love being exposed to new concepts in science. I think it would be a great opportunity for me to get an idea of the different aspects my major of Aerospace Engineering can cover. I would love to dive deeper into my major and personally, Astrodynamics could be the starting point for me.