Leo Sterling
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE — MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AEROSPACE & SPACE SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
Background:
Propulsion & Spacecraft
Systems Engineer
Email:
l.sterling@aerospace-
lab.org
Focus Area:
SmallSat Propulsion, Orbital Dynamics &
Reusable Launch Vehicles
I. EXECUTIVE MOTIVATION & VISION
The democratization of space access demands rapid innovation in low-cost satellite constellations, green propellants,
and autonomous orbital rendezvous systems. Modern space mission design hinges on optimizing fuel mass fraction
while ensuring structural resilience under extreme thermomechanical flight profiles. Having spent four years
engineering liquid propulsion test stands and CubeSat attitude determination systems, I seek to pursue a Master of
Science in Aerospace & Space Systems Engineering to master advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), orbit
trajectory optimization, and spacecraft thermal control systems.
II. ACADEMIC FOUNDATION & TECHNICAL TRACK RECORD
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (CGPA: 3.93/4.00), specializing in orbital
mechanics, compressible flow dynamics, and finite element stress analysis. As a Systems Integration Engineer at
Stellar Dynamics Laboratory, I led structural testing for CubeSat chassis, cold-gas thruster optimization, and orbital
thermal vacuum testing.
AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
TECHNICAL METHODOLOGY & SIMULATION SUITE
QUANTIFIABLE PERFORMANCE
OUTCOME
CubeSat Micro-
Propulsion
Designed electrospray thruster nozzles using Ansys Fluent
compressible CFD.
31% Specific Impulse Boost
Orbital Rendezvous
Simulation
Modeled autonomous station-keeping maneuvers using Hill-
Clohessy-Wiltshire equations.
18% Fuel Mass Savings
Thermal Vacuum Stress
Testing
Engineered multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets for simulated
LEO vacuum conditions.
Zero Structural Thermal Defect
Proposed Thesis Research Direction:
"Closed-Loop Autonomous Trajectory Control for Deep-Space SmallSat Swarms:
Integrating Low-Thrust Electric Propulsion with Machine-Learning Guidance Systems."
III. ACADEMIC PROGRAM FIT & RESEARCH SYNERGY
Your university’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Space Systems Institute are internationally renowned for
breakthrough advancements in propulsion technology and satellite constellation architecture. I am eager to contribute
to research in the Space Propulsion and Autonomous Dynamics Laboratory, leveraging your high-vacuum simulation
chambers and hardware-in-the-loop orbital simulators.
Leo Sterling | Statement of Purpose
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