The orbital mechanics experts utilizing theoretical and practical knowledge.
Mission Assurance
What We Do
Our Mission Engineers and Asset Managers are experts in Lifecyle Management, Sustaining Engineering, Asset Management, and Operations. We provide end-to-end design, testing, and operational support including launch operations and mission planning support across multiple platforms.
Our Quality team has over 25 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Audits, ISO Certifications, QMS, Process Improvement, Configuration Management, and Risk Management, supporting functions across various NASA Programs.
Our Recent Projects
Click on each project below to learn more about what we did to drive it to success.
Quality Assurance
Our QA team provides expertise in auditing each service area of a given contract for conformance to the International Standard Organization. We are well-versed in non-conformance, corrective actions, observations, opportunities for improvement. And we can take this information to produce real results.
Each program has its own Quality Management System, Quality Policy, and Quality Objectives. Our job is to intimately understand, enforce and follow those.
We also help our customers evaluate new vendors, follow those policies, and ensure quality compliance metrics with existing vendors. We are a cross-functional team that interacts with several groups. For example, we work with the Risk Management team to ensure contract, project and mission risks are regularly reviewed and addressed. We work with the training and service area managers to ensure that all required training is maintained and up-to-date. Finally, we work with health and safety managers to follow safety guidelines and identify any opportunities for error or injury.
Each program has its own Quality Management System, Quality Policy, and Quality Objectives. Our job is to intimately understand, enforce and follow those.
We also help our customers evaluate new vendors, follow those policies, and ensure quality compliance metrics with existing vendors. We are a cross-functional team that interacts with several groups. For example, we work with the Risk Management team to ensure contract, project and mission risks are regularly reviewed and addressed. We work with the training and service area managers to ensure that all required training is maintained and up-to-date. Finally, we work with health and safety managers to follow safety guidelines and identify any opportunities for error or injury.
Mission Planning
Our Mission Planning team is responsible for the radar, telemetry, and command & control systems.
We support a wide range of projects, from engineering, to maintenance to upgrade, to acquisition and disposal projects. Ultimately, we are responsible for all aspects of project management, assets, and the overall lifecycle management of these systems.
We support a wide range of projects, from engineering, to maintenance to upgrade, to acquisition and disposal projects. Ultimately, we are responsible for all aspects of project management, assets, and the overall lifecycle management of these systems.
Launch Operations
Our Launch Operations team designs and coordinates the range telemetry and radar signal processing plan with the customer for each unique launch.
We design the instrumentation packages and program the telemetry signal processing. We also interface with the telemetry crews at external sites across the globe and implement testing to ensure successful launches of sounding rockets and multi-stage launch vehicles.
We design the instrumentation packages and program the telemetry signal processing. We also interface with the telemetry crews at external sites across the globe and implement testing to ensure successful launches of sounding rockets and multi-stage launch vehicles.
Employee Spotlight
Phil Caffo
Deputy Ground Systems Manager
SEAS II
SEAS II
Here at Relative Dynamics, I am currently the Deputy Ground System Manager supporting the ESMO GSM in maintaining a continuous operational foundation for the Terra, Aqua, Aura, GPM, ICESat-2, and PACE missions. Relative Dynamics provided an unmissable opportunity to advance my career at NASA.
Working at NASA is a dream come true. It is an amazing honor to have an opportunity to support these satellite missions and Science writ large.
Working at NASA is a dream come true. It is an amazing honor to have an opportunity to support these satellite missions and Science writ large.
Diane Ngo
Opto-Mechanical Engineer
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
AT RD, I do mechanical design for our optical communication terminals and any lab work associated with it. One of my current projects is an optical communication terminal on a drone to be able to communicate with a ground terminal. I love the research and development environment, as well as aerospace.
What excites me most about my work is the freedom to express my creativity in engineering and the ability to work with friendly, like-minded individuals. It is a great immersive environment and with state-of-the-art technology, there is always something new to learn.
What excites me most about my work is the freedom to express my creativity in engineering and the ability to work with friendly, like-minded individuals. It is a great immersive environment and with state-of-the-art technology, there is always something new to learn.
Tia Brittingham
ROC II Quality Assurance Analyst
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
Here at Relative Dynamics, I am a Quality Analyst. My responsibility is to perform audits for the Range Launches, Missions, Projects, and Service Areas to ensure that we are meeting our Customer Requirements and ISO Standards.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting in on the NG-18 Rocket Launch to the space center to refuel supplies there. I was sitting in the Range Control Center watching and listening to the launch sequence count down and experiencing the rocket launch up close. This was an amazing experience for me, and I do plan to sit in on more launches in the near future.
This year I will be conducting an audit on this Launch/Mission, and I am so excited to do so being that this was my first launch to space that I was able to see in person.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting in on the NG-18 Rocket Launch to the space center to refuel supplies there. I was sitting in the Range Control Center watching and listening to the launch sequence count down and experiencing the rocket launch up close. This was an amazing experience for me, and I do plan to sit in on more launches in the near future.
This year I will be conducting an audit on this Launch/Mission, and I am so excited to do so being that this was my first launch to space that I was able to see in person.
Kevin Heesh
Electro-Optical Engineer
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
At RD, I perform Optical and Fiber Optical system integration and testing, Optical Communication Terminal testing and integration, and Internal Research and Design for Compact Optical Laser Terminal (CoLT) UAV payload.
The diverse optical technical challenges is what attracted me to work at RD. Cutting edge optical technology and making things work keeps my work exciting.
The diverse optical technical challenges is what attracted me to work at RD. Cutting edge optical technology and making things work keeps my work exciting.
Dr. Michael Krainak
Chief Technology Officer
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
Advanced Development Group (ADG)
As Chief Technology Officer (CTO), I manage, develop and enhance the Internal Research & Development portfolio, people, projects, funding (won 10 SBIR grants > $3.5M), proposals, laboratories and equipment. Primary focus is the development of commercial optical communication terminals for use in terrestrial, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), High Altitude Platform (HAP) and satellite markets.
The type of work and opportunity to lead hardware product development efforts was one of the main attractions for me at RD.
The type of work and opportunity to lead hardware product development efforts was one of the main attractions for me at RD.
