About

Me

My name is Leon Chen. I am currently a graduate student at Georgia Insitute of Technology major in Aerospace Engineering with research focus on modeled base system engineering in space habitat design and in space vehicle design, and satellite constellation optimization.

Education

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineer with Aerospace Engineer Minor, Louisiana State University, May 2016
    • GPA 3.9 - Class Rank (2/130)
  • M.S. in Aerospace Engineer, Georgia Insitutue of Technology, May 2022 (expected)

Work experience

  • Life Support System Engineer Intern - SpaceX - May 2021 - Aug 2021

    • In charge of Fire Suppression System (FSS) for crew dragon
    • Lead Crew Dragon Portable Fire Extinguisher (PFE) failure investigation
    • Design and analyze Starship Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)

  • Graduate Research Assistant - Georgia Institude of Technology - Sept 2020 - Present

    • NASA Project: Sustainable and Resilient Space Habitats for Long-Term Spaceflight Operation
    • Explored and identified appropriate methods/techniques for resilience assessment on different configuration strategies against different scenarios
    • Explored and develop additional recovery/reconfiguration strategies
    • Explored and design lunar exploration habitats and lunar rovers
    • Developed a parametric, flexible and MBSE-enabled total habitat system model

  • NASA ISS Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Engineer - NASA/The Boeing Company - January 2018 – August 2020

    • ISS Expedition 61/62/63/64 Increment Lead
    • ISS Resupply Vehicle HTV-9 Team Lead
    • ECLSS -MERLIN console Team Lead
    • Supervised and advised MERLIN team member to support real time operation in the MCC
    • Set up and managed MERLIN on console schedule to ensure operation support
    • Helped design, test, launch the first ever 3D printed hardware used in the ISS
    • Supported development and maintenance of Temperature and Humidity Control team
    • Created/Upgraded MATLAB/VBA script to improve upon current ECLS performance trending
    • Provided failure and root cause investigation analysis, engineering analysis to THC-FDS hardware
    • Prepared/validated technical documents for mechanical system hardware
    • Managed supplier test and production activities
    • Directed supplier to perform TT&E on failed hardware
    • Certified MERLIN on Console to provide Engineering Support in the MCC-MER (MER)

  • United State Air Force System Engineer - U.S. Air Force/Advanced Project Consulting - September 2016 – January 2018

    • Researched factors that degrade system reliability and developed means to better predict reliability
    • Provided Integrated Engineer Support to various platforms: C-130, E-3, B-52, C-5, F15, & F16
    • Analyzed and Created Engineer drawings providing alternate parts to qualify for Fit, Form and Function
    • Developed test criteria, procedures and design test apparatuses in support of system parts development
    • Designed obsoleted system parts with multiple CAD tools including Solidwork and ProE
    • Provided failure and root cause engineering analysis and integration support for USAF hardware

Graduate Research Projects

  • Graduate Research Assistant - Georgia Institude of Technology - Sept 2020 - May 2021

    • AF Project: DoD Next Generation Weather Satellite Constellation
    • Evaluate the impact of alternative satellite architectures and sensor configuration on DoD space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) capability
    • Investigate potential technology or operational solutions to address capability gaps
    • Analyze a 6x2 LEO constellation that leverages assess for coverage, refresh rate, and latency
    • Develop cost model and perform trade study on key elements such as cost, performance on the constellation
    • Optimize a HEO orbit for EOIR coverage in the arctic with ABI imager as a baseline

  • Graduate Research Assistant - Georgia Institude of Technology - Sept 2020 - May 2021

    • NASA Project: Mode Based System Engineering for In Space Vehicle
    • Develop MBSE approach and framework for space vehicle system architects utilizing the multi-disciplinary design process to deal with pervasive system complexity problem
    • Develop model-based MEL, PEL and mission profile for lunar lander cargo mission
    • Enhance the design convergence process through explicit integration of architecture sizing and synthesis tool - DYREQT (developed by GT ASDL and MSFC)
    • Develop Lunar Lander model in MagicDraw, OpenMBEE, and DYREQT
    • Perform use case and error potential reduction to demonstrate the benefit of using MBSE

  • Graduate Research Assistant - Georgia Institude of Technology - Sept 2020 - May 2021

    • FAA Project: Jet Noise Modeling to Support Low Noise Supersonic Aircraft Technology Development
    • Selected Jet Noise Reduction Technology
    • Provided boundary conditions for CFD simulation
    • Minimized thrust degradation due to noise reduction technology
    • Designed better supersonic aircraft inlet to minimize thrust loss due to installation effects
    • Modeled inlet performance using zero-order methods for different inlets to minimize installation effects

Undergraduate Research Projects

  • NASA/LASPACE Aerospace Catalyst Experience (ACES)
    • Successfully designed, built and flied small payloads up to about 100000 feet altitude on a helium-filled latex sounding balloons to investigate atmospheric science, remote sensing and cosmic ray. BalloonMan was awarded.
  • NASA Friction Stir Welding
    • Performed team-based FSW projects at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility using National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM) machines and tools
    • Analyzed results of FSW projects through metallurgical mechanical, and electrical testing
    • Reinforced Analyzed macrograph coupons for gain structure, defects and anomalies
  • SAE Aero International Design Competition
    • Successfully designed and manufactured radio-controlled Regular class model aircraft that will lift the largest payload while still maintaining structural integrity.
  • Rocket Propulsion System Study
    • Numerically compared and optimized the propellant mixture and flow control devices for Rocket’s Main Propulsion System feed line
      • Compared different propellant mixture by comparing the pressure drop during the Fanno flow process as well as the flow control element by comparing the requirement of tank pressure

Skills

  • Python
  • ANSYS
  • Solidworks
  • Matlab
  • LabView
  • JEDMICS
  • VBA
  • ProE
  • Python
  • ModelCenter
  • MagicDraw
  • OpenMBEE
  • JMP

Membership

  • Americana Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Boeing Asian Professional Association
  • Chinese Student and Scholar Association
  • Engineering Without Border

Contact

The best way to reach me is via email: leon_sty@hotmail.com