Heather Kline, PhD
Technical Lead, advanced systems engineer/aerothermodynamicist, and mission control operator at Virgin Galactic- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Private Pilot License
Federal Aviation AdministrationMar, 2019- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Virgin Galactic
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Technical Lead, advanced systems engineer/aerothermodynamicist, and mission control operator
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Apr 2020 - Present
• Led implementation of Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization, demonstrating its capabilities to chief engineers and applied to trade studies. • Gained leadership experience through acting as a liason between the flight sciences department and chief engineering for VSS Imagine, training of new console operators, and leadership of projects within the advanced systems department. • Evaluated transient aerothermodynamics analysis for SpaceShip TPS design. • Participated in… Show more • Led implementation of Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization, demonstrating its capabilities to chief engineers and applied to trade studies. • Gained leadership experience through acting as a liason between the flight sciences department and chief engineering for VSS Imagine, training of new console operators, and leadership of projects within the advanced systems department. • Evaluated transient aerothermodynamics analysis for SpaceShip TPS design. • Participated in requirements definitions and program planning efforts. • Gained high-pressure mission control experience as a console operator and trainer for flight test campaigns. • Mentored others in my organization both through training for specific technical tools and in broader professional skills. • Provided analysis and design for a commercial high-speed transport concept, evaluating supersonic inlets, aerothermodynamics, and sonic booms. Show less • Led implementation of Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization, demonstrating its capabilities to chief engineers and applied to trade studies. • Gained leadership experience through acting as a liason between the flight sciences department and chief engineering for VSS Imagine, training of new console operators, and leadership of projects within the advanced systems department. • Evaluated transient aerothermodynamics analysis for SpaceShip TPS design. • Participated in… Show more • Led implementation of Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization, demonstrating its capabilities to chief engineers and applied to trade studies. • Gained leadership experience through acting as a liason between the flight sciences department and chief engineering for VSS Imagine, training of new console operators, and leadership of projects within the advanced systems department. • Evaluated transient aerothermodynamics analysis for SpaceShip TPS design. • Participated in requirements definitions and program planning efforts. • Gained high-pressure mission control experience as a console operator and trainer for flight test campaigns. • Mentored others in my organization both through training for specific technical tools and in broader professional skills. • Provided analysis and design for a commercial high-speed transport concept, evaluating supersonic inlets, aerothermodynamics, and sonic booms. Show less
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NASA, National Institute of Aerospace
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Hampton, VA
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Research And Development Engineer
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May 2017 - Mar 2020
• Derived and implemented boundary layer stability for thermochemical nonequilibrium for LST, PSE, and NLPSE in 2 and 3 dimensions in the Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code (LASTRAC). • Expanded project requirements to add a flexible interface for arbitrary chemistry models. • Derived and implemented boundary layer stability for thermochemical nonequilibrium for LST, PSE, and NLPSE in 2 and 3 dimensions in the Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code (LASTRAC). • Expanded project requirements to add a flexible interface for arbitrary chemistry models.
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Stanford University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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NASA Space Technology Research Fellow / Graduate Student
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Mar 2012 - May 2017
I was a recipient of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for the maximum of 4 years, and through this fellowship I worked at multiple NASA sites as a 'Visiting Technologist'. Further detail is listed in separate experience entries. This fellowship allowed me to complete a PhD in the Aerospace Design Laboratory at Stanford University, working with Professor Juan Alonso. As a PhD candidate in the Aerospace Design Laboratory, I worked to develop methods related to the continuous… Show more I was a recipient of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for the maximum of 4 years, and through this fellowship I worked at multiple NASA sites as a 'Visiting Technologist'. Further detail is listed in separate experience entries. This fellowship allowed me to complete a PhD in the Aerospace Design Laboratory at Stanford University, working with Professor Juan Alonso. As a PhD candidate in the Aerospace Design Laboratory, I worked to develop methods related to the continuous adjoint method aimed at optimizing hypersonic inlets. I am a developer on SU2, an open source Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multi-Physics Simulation tool developed in this lab. Show less I was a recipient of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for the maximum of 4 years, and through this fellowship I worked at multiple NASA sites as a 'Visiting Technologist'. Further detail is listed in separate experience entries. This fellowship allowed me to complete a PhD in the Aerospace Design Laboratory at Stanford University, working with Professor Juan Alonso. As a PhD candidate in the Aerospace Design Laboratory, I worked to develop methods related to the continuous… Show more I was a recipient of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for the maximum of 4 years, and through this fellowship I worked at multiple NASA sites as a 'Visiting Technologist'. Further detail is listed in separate experience entries. This fellowship allowed me to complete a PhD in the Aerospace Design Laboratory at Stanford University, working with Professor Juan Alonso. As a PhD candidate in the Aerospace Design Laboratory, I worked to develop methods related to the continuous adjoint method aimed at optimizing hypersonic inlets. I am a developer on SU2, an open source Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multi-Physics Simulation tool developed in this lab. Show less
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NASA Glenn Research Center
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Visiting Technologist
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Jun 2015 - Sep 2015
As a portion of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, I ran unsteady CFD simulations using SU2, and modified MATLAB scripts, both in support of wind tunnel tests. As a portion of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, I ran unsteady CFD simulations using SU2, and modified MATLAB scripts, both in support of wind tunnel tests.
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Visiting Technologist
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Jun 2014 - Aug 2014
As a portion of a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship I implemented interpolation routines for fluid-structure interactions using Fortran90. As a portion of a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship I implemented interpolation routines for fluid-structure interactions using Fortran90.
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NASA Langley Research Center
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Visiting Technologist
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Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
As a portion of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, I conducted CFD simulations and mesh deformation to produce a response surface of various quantities of interest on a hypersonic inlet. As a portion of the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, I conducted CFD simulations and mesh deformation to produce a response surface of various quantities of interest on a hypersonic inlet.
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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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United States
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Defense and Space Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Intern
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Jun 2011 - Aug 2011
My responsibilities included python code development and spacecraft dynamics simulation with DSENDS. My responsibilities included python code development and spacecraft dynamics simulation with DSENDS.
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NASA Langley Research Center
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Intern
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Jun 2010 - Aug 2010
During this internship as part of the Aeronautics Scholarship Program, I conducted CFD simulations for a transonic airfoil with active flow control. During this internship as part of the Aeronautics Scholarship Program, I conducted CFD simulations for a transonic airfoil with active flow control.
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Education
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2013 - 2017
Stanford University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering -
2011 - 2013
Stanford University
Master's degree, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering -
2007 - 2011
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bachelor of Science (BS), Dual Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
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