PETE KLUPAR. DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, BREAKTHROUGH STARSHOT
Pete Klupar is interested in low cost, high technology efforts with an emphasis on space systems. He has developed and launched more than 50 spacecraft missions. He has spent time in industry, helping to grow a spacecraft startup from 4 employees to over 500. He has also worked in large organizations such as Boeing and Space Systems Loral.
He has been involved in government space and aviation programs, most recently at NASA Ames as the director of Engineering. He has been instrumental in reducing the cost of high technology missions, developing several Faster Better Cheaper and Operationally Responsive Space efforts.
Presentation Synopsis:
‘BREAKTHROUGH STARSHOT: A PATH TO THE STARS USING ULTRA-LOW-MASS SPACECRAFT’
An introduction and update on the status of the Breakthrough Starshot Program to send gramscale spacecraft to our nearest stellar neighbors. In particular, this talk will focus on the upcoming developments in our interstellar communications research area and on near-term plans to test and launch ultra-low-mass spacecraft.
This talk will also provide an overview of the Starshot program with a focus on ultra-low-mass spacecraft and on our latest deep space communications efforts, for which a broad request for proposals will be released in Q3 2020.