Mission Operations
Cross-functionally building the hardware and software systems for advance aerospace control.
What We Do
Our highly experienced Flight Dynamics and Mission Operations Engineers are experts at full lifecycle spacecraft operations supporting complex programs for NASA, the military, and other government agencies.
Our areas of expertise include Pre-Mission Support, Flight Dynamics and Conjunction Assessment, Orbital Mechanics, Ascent Trajectories, Rendezvous Proximity Operations, Flight Operations, Ground Systems Engineering, and all aspects of Spacecraft Subsystem Engineering.
Our engineers have been an integral part of pre-launch to on-orbit operations across NASA and other government agencies, developing CONOPS, testing Simulators, conducting Readiness Testing, supporting Lights Out Operations, and developing Automation.
Our multidisciplinary experience and multifunctional approach have gained award worthy recognition from our customers, including NASA and NOAA, for high fidelity operations support across missions.
Our engineers have been an integral part of pre-launch to on-orbit operations across NASA and other government agencies, developing CONOPS, testing Simulators, conducting Readiness Testing, supporting Lights Out Operations, and developing Automation.
Our multidisciplinary experience and multifunctional approach have gained award worthy recognition from our customers, including NASA and NOAA, for high fidelity operations support across missions.
Our Recent Projects
Click on each project below to learn more about what we did to drive it to success.
EOS - Aqua, Aura, Terra
NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) is comprised of several low inclination, polar-orbiting satellites. This system of satellites provide long-term global study of Earth's land, atmosphere and oceans which gives scientists and researchers a deeper understanding of Earth as an integrated system.
Relative Dynamics provides real time satelitte operations, and subsystem engineering support for all spacecraft subsystems including Flight Software, GNC, EPS/TCS.
The Aqua satellite is tasked with providing a 6-year time-lapse of the planet and its processes with a focus on precipitation, atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles and radiative balance.
Relative Dynamics provides real time satelitte operations, and subsystem engineering support for all spacecraft subsystems including Flight Software, GNC, EPS/TCS.
The Aqua satellite is tasked with providing a 6-year time-lapse of the planet and its processes with a focus on precipitation, atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles and radiative balance.
USGS - LandSat
The US Geological Survey LandSat program allow scientists to use high-level data and imaging to better document changes to the terrestrial environment of Earth.
Relative Dynamics provides spacecraft systems expertise & ground systems development for this program.
Since 1972, this program has been cataloging images of Earth's surface and provide uninterrupted data that have not only helped scientists, but also policymakers to make informed decisions about Earth's resources and our environment.
Relative Dynamics provides spacecraft systems expertise & ground systems development for this program.
Since 1972, this program has been cataloging images of Earth's surface and provide uninterrupted data that have not only helped scientists, but also policymakers to make informed decisions about Earth's resources and our environment.
GPM - Flight Dynamics
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission that is documenting and observing global precipitation every three hours. GPM was launched as a collaboration between NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2014, setting the new standard for precipitation measurement from space.
The GPM mission improves the forecasting of extreme events that cause natural disasters by advancing our planet's water and energy cycles.
Relative Dynamics has the privilege of leading the Flight Dynamics group and providing expertise on CARA and Collision Avoidance systems.
The GPM mission improves the forecasting of extreme events that cause natural disasters by advancing our planet's water and energy cycles.
Relative Dynamics has the privilege of leading the Flight Dynamics group and providing expertise on CARA and Collision Avoidance systems.
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.
