INCOSE NE Membership April Monthly Meeting: WebEx Only

Agenda: 

6:00-6:30 PM: Introductions of Attendees and Chapter Business

6:30-7:15 PM: Invited Speaker

7:15-8:00 PM: Open Discussion

Title: Living and Working in Space: Lessons for the Systems Engineer

Abstract:   Over the 6-decade history of the US space program, the missions, platforms, systems and the crews themselves have evolved.  Mission durations have grown longer and crew on-orbit activities now increasingly emphasize scientific research and maintenance.  A new generation of spacecraft are about to be fielded to return human launch capability to the US after a 9-year hiatus.  Spaceflight is increasingly an international and a commercial endeavor and that’s reflected in the character and culture of the spaceflight operations.  The size and complexity of spacecraft such as the International Space Station (ISS) require teams of flight controllers around the world to “fly” the vehicle and have raised awareness for the need to incorporate autonomy into future spacecraft systems.  NASA’s Artemis program is targeting a return to the Moon in 2024 with heavy reliance on industry and international partners to enable permanent, sustained surface operations.  This lecture will take you on a “customer-perspective”, SE-focused tour of spacecraft systems and spaceflight operations as they have evolved over time.

Bio:  Dan Burbank is a Senior Technical Fellow and the Systems Engineering Discipline Lead for Collins Aerospace. In this capacity he provides leadership in advancing execution excellence across Collins Aerospace through quality assurance reviews, new technology and methods development and employee development. Quality assurance reviews include non-advocate reviews, technology readiness reviews and design assurance reviews across the entire business. Mr. Burbank is a leader in Collins Aerospace’s Mission Systems SBU’s spaceflight hardware design and development efforts for spacesuits and spacecraft systems, including for the International Space Station (ISS), Orion, Space Launch System, Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Gateway and other Artemis platforms. 

Prior to joining United Technologies in July 2018, Mr. Burbank served for 22 years as a NASA Astronaut. During his NASA career he flew two Space Shuttle missions (STS-106 and 115) to assemble and outfit the ISS. He also flew aboard Soyuz 28 and served as Flight Engineer during ISS Expedition 29 and as Commander of ISS Expedition 30 with a combined spaceflight mission duration of over six months. Other NASA assignments included Chief, Vehicle Integration Test Office, NASA Director of Operations – Russia, and Chief, Astronaut Office EVA (spacewalk) and Robotics Branch. Prior to his NASA career, Mr. Burbank served in the U.S. Coast Guard as an aviator and aeronautical engineer for 11 years, logging over 4000 flight hours in Coast Guard H-60 and H-3 helicopters including over 300 search and rescue missions.

Mr. Burbank is a member of the Association of Space Explorers, the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Association, the Daedalians Society, the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Mr. Burbank earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.