NASA Asian American Pacific Islander History Month – Alex Chin, Armstrong Flight Research Center

TL;DR

An aerospace engineer at NASA Armstrong discusses his experiences growing up in an aerospace-focused area, his educational background, and his work on green aviation and flutter suppression.

Transcript

So growing up here in (inaudible) Valley there's a lot of aerospace and flight research. We would have sonic booms all the time; get all kinds of cool fighter jets flying overhead. The B2 Bomber would you know be flying over. >> To line him up for Edward's runway. >> One of the most unique things though was whenever the Space Shuttle would land ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 The speaker's childhood in an aerospace-focused area instilled an early passion for flight research and aircraft.
• ✋ He highlights the importance of education and the high expectations placed on him and his academic success.
• 🧑‍🏭 The speaker's work at NASA Armstrong is centered around studying the forces acting on structures during motion, with a focus on green aviation and the challenges of flutter suppression.
• 😒 The X-56A project is highlighted as a means of exploring the use of existing control flaps to suppress flutter and improve flight dynamics.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some distinctive memories the speaker has of growing up in an area with flight research?

The speaker recalls experiencing frequent sonic booms from fighter jets and being impressed by the double sonic boom made by the Space Shuttle when it landed in his area.

Q: Why is education important to the speaker and his family?

Education was highly valued in the speaker's family, and they had high expectations for academic success. However, the speaker never felt pressured but rather had internal expectations for himself to do well.

Q: What is the speaker's role as an aerospace engineer at NASA Armstrong?

The speaker works in the Aerostructures Group at NASA Armstrong and focuses on studying the forces acting on structures during motion, specifically in the context of aircraft wing dynamics.

Q: What is the current focus of NASA Aeronautics in terms of green aviation?

NASA Aeronautics is currently focused on making flight more efficient through initiatives like green aviation. This involves exploring ways to reduce the weight of aircraft, particularly by making wings longer and more flexible.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker grew up in an area with a lot of flight research and recalls memories of seeing fighter jets, the B2 Bomber, and the Space Shuttle landing with double sonic booms.

• He emphasizes the importance of education in his family and shares his academic journey of earning a double major in Physics and Aerospace Engineering, as well as a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering.

• As an aerospace engineer at NASA Armstrong, he works in the Aerostructures Group and focuses on research in structural dynamics, particularly in the context of green aviation and flutter suppression.