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The Andromeda Movement
Congratulations to our recent scholarship recipients:
Geetika Chitturi (Carmel High School), 2023
Kaustubh Ray (Purdue), 2021, 2022
Lauren-Ann Graham (Florida Tech), 2021, 2022
Caroline Kren (Purdue) 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Jaymin Patel (Purdue) 2021
Monica Mah (Purdue) 2021
Ian Marrs (IUPUI) 2021
Adrienne Rudolph (Purdue) 2021
Alexander Leven (Purdue) 2021
Congratulations to our 2018-2020 recipients:
Alex Perry, Syam Evani, Kevin Wallace, Neal Ottinger, and Zachary Marshall
Adrienne Rudolph, Purdue University (2021-2022)
"I graduated from Purdue University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and your generous scholarship helped me graduate debt free, among several other things. In my senior year, I finished up my research on Martian volcanism for which I am now completing a paper for publication and was also chosen by my peers to run a class experiment on the zero-gravity jet plane down in Florida. After graduation, I moved to Maryland for a summer internship and as of 2023 I started a new job as a Space Systems Software Engineer! Over the last year, I have worked on projects related to space domain awareness, connected and collaborated with industry and field experts, presented to a Staffer at Capitol Hill, started my own research paper that was accepted to the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance conference in Hawaii, and am even managing an intern this summer. The real kicker is that I will be starting my full-time master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland in 2023 while continuing to work part time. I will be studying methods of orbital debris detection via plasma physics. Optical and radar methods don’t work so well when trying to detect and track debris smaller than a centimeter. However, the space environment that surrounds Earth is filled with plasma, and just like boats make waves in the ocean, spacecraft make waves in plasma, and we are working on ways to detect those waves. Space, for all it encompasses, has been and will forever be my passion and deep inner life force. The unknown must be known, the unexplored must be traversed, and humanity must acknowledge the fragility of our home. I am working hard to make those things happen. Thank you again for the generous TAMI scholarship."
Caroline Kren, Purdue University (2018-2021)
"Thanks to the Andromeda Movement Scholarship, I was able to focus on my studies and extracurriculars while attaining my Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering undergraduate degree at Purdue University. I enjoyed applying what I have learned in the classroom to practical applications, such as my work on the propulsion team of Purdue Space Program Liquids: to design, build, and test a liquid bipropellant rocket that will reach the Karman line, and as a research assistant at Zucrow Labs. I was also fortunate to learn and apply my knowledge at two internships with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in their Propulsion department and an internship with Blue Origin in their Engines group. I have found great satisfaction in sharing my love for Aerospace Engineering with potential freshman and current Purdue students through being Outreach Chair and President of the Purdue Women in Aerospace organization. I find rocket propulsion to be a blast, and I am very grateful to the Andromeda Movement for their support through my undergraduate degree attainment!"
Ian Marrs, IUPUI (2020-current)
"I have long had a passion for the study and exploration of outer space and The Andromeda Movement Inc. (TAMI) scholarship allows me to pursue that passion. As a TAMI scholar, I have served as a leader of space-science organizations at my university, participated in academic competitions for NASA funding, and published a paper on the potential use of lunar-derived fuel to aid space exploration. I am completing my Master’s degree in geology and intend to also pursue a doctorate. Professionally, I plan to stay deeply connected to the space-science field and it is my goal to participate in the colonization of the Moon, Mars, and the Solar System. I am grateful for the support of this scholarship; my academic career and professional trajectory would not be the same without the support of The Andromeda Movement."
Jennifer Pouplin, Purdue University (2017-2018)
Jennifer was a PhD student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in France, and has interned with the German Aerospace Center as well as with Airbus (France). From Jennifer: "As a PhD student at Purdue University, I have been working on laser sailing. Laser sailing is a novel and exiting propulsion method that propels a spacecraft, theoretically up to relativistic speed, without the need for an on-board propulsion system, but rather a large sail that collects photonic energy coming from a laser beam. I hope to contribute to planetary mission design after I finish my degree to expand our current scientific knowledge of our planetary system, but also our galaxy. I would like to thank the Andromeda Movement for supporting me towards those goals and contribute to space exploration."
Steve Zusack, Purdue University (2017-2018)
Steve was a Master's student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from IUPUI, and has interned with NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, and the NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. From Steve: "My research has taken me through mechanical design, materials science, additive manufacturing (3D printing), human-robotic interaction, systems engineering, and mission architecture. Currently, I am part of a research group analyzing the development and operations of systems that would allow humans to travel to the Moon and Mars. I hope to continue with large scale systems engineering and mission architecture and analysis after I finish my degree. However, no matter where I find myself, I believe I have gained the knowledge necessary to make a difference in this incredibly complex field and help expand humanity beyond Earth."
Ashwati Das (2015-2016)
Ashwati was a PhD student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University.
From Ash, "My research interest is in alternative propulsion methods for space exploration in multi-body regimes, in particular solar sails and hybrid (low/high) thrust propulsion. Some of these interests were kindled during my internship at NASA JPL, and I am looking forward to more exciting work with them. I aspire to make significant contributions to the growth and direction of the space industry. As I work towards this goal by building experience and knowledge in graduate school, I am very grateful to the Andromeda Movement Organization. Their support has helped me maintain focus on my classes/research and has allowed me the time and ability to pursue extra-curricular projects which has nurtured my personal development and leadership skills. To know that there are people and organizations willing to support and encourage students like myself who are passionate about space exploration is very re-assuring and adds even more meaning to all my efforts."
Michael Bilyeu
Michael graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Aeronautical & Astronautical engineering. During his undergraduate studies Michael interned with NASA at the Johnson Space Center, where he worked on propulsion and spacecraft design. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue and later hopes to return to NASA to work on nuclear propulsion technologies. From Michael, "I was able to have all of these experiences thanks to the Andromeda Movement. The Andromeda Movement allowed me to focus primarily on my studies by relieving the the financial burden of attending college."
Korey Lemond
"The scholarship was a blessing for me in that it allowed me to pursue my Astronautical Engineering degree at Purdue University. I wouldn't be where I am today without Purdue, and I wouldn't have been able to be so successful at Purdue without the Andromeda Movement scholarship. The scholarship allowed me to focus on important projects such as design of a lunar rover and deployment system, which my team presented to the deputy administrator of NASA in 2009. It is a lifelong goal of mine to further space exploration in any way possible, and the Andromeda Movement was crucial in helping me achieve the early stages of that goal."
Previous Recipients:
Jeffrey A. Stuart
Geoffrey R. Brueggen
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