The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched on December 25, 2021, to become the world’s premier space science observatory. JWST is the culmination of collaboration from engineers and scientists around the world to collect observations of planets, stars, and the formation of galaxies across the universe. This international mission will launch from Kourou, French Guiana in South America on the Ariane 5 launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace as part of the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission will be operated from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD using the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) to communicate with the spacecraft.
The James Webb Space Telescope undergoing preparations by its crew. Source: NASA
The Flight Dynamics Experts of a.i. solutions
The a.i. solutions JWST flight dynamics team brings a variety of subject matter experts to support the pre-launch analyses, flight dynamics operations, and aspects of mission planning for the JWST project. Our launch window analyses helped to determine the optimal day and time to launch. The available launch windows for JWST are selected to conserve propellant, reduce over-burn risk given launch vehicle performance, and achieve NASA’s trajectory requirements. Our flight dynamics team uses this analysis to create backup plans that can be implemented in the event of a launch delay. Once JWST has separated from the upper stage of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, a.i. solutions uses the Flight Dynamics Ground System (FDGS) to enable the mission to achieve its science orbit. a.i. solutions has developed the FDGS where it is predominately powered by FreeFlyer®, an a.i. solutions developed application for satellite mission analysis, design, and operations with a seasoned history of flight heritage on many missions, including the International Space Station (ISS).
The FDGS is deployed at NASA Goddard’s Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) in Greenbelt, Maryland. a.i. solutions engineers will be stationed here to monitor the progress of the mission, evaluate its status, and report recommendations to the Mission Operations Control (MOC) at the Science and Operations Center (S&OC) in Baltimore, Maryland. The FDGS consists of several tools providing capabilities such as Contact Analysis, Maneuver Planning, Maneuver Monitoring, Maneuver Reconstruction and Calibration, and Orbit Determination.
The Contact Analysis tool computes the windows of time each ground station antenna will be available for sustaining communication with the satellite. Because the Earth is constantly rotating, deep space missions like JWST benefit from having ground stations spread around the world. NASA’S DSN will support JWST with facilities in California, Spain, and Australia. This allows these distributed ground stations to hand over communication as they are completed by the previous station. The Maneuver Planning tool plans the maneuvers to define the safest and most fuel-efficient path to its final orbit while meeting all project requirements. Once a maneuver has been planned and executed, operators will continue supporting the mission by monitoring the burn for its entire duration. The Maneuver Monitoring tool provides a visual of a maneuver’s progress in near real-time using tracking data. The Maneuver Reconstruction and Calibration tool is a valuable post-maneuver assessment of the actual maneuver performance versus the planned maneuver performance. The Orbit Determination tool is responsible for processing tracking, attitude, and maneuver data to estimate the position and velocity of the observatory while considering the effects that solar radiation pressure (SRP) has on the spacecraft due to its large sunshield.
Front view of the JWST Primary Mirror. Source: NASA
What Will Happen During JWST’s Launch and Early Orbit Phase?
During the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of the mission, a.i. solutions engineers at the GSFC FDF will use the FDGS to plan the three mid-course correction (MCC) maneuvers that enable the spacecraft to reach its target orbit near the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2). The a.i. solutions flight dynamics team will plan the first two MCC maneuvers to adjust the spacecraft’s velocity based upon the performance of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Between the second and third maneuvers, a series of spacecraft hardware deployments will occur. JWST launches in a collapsed form that will unfold as it travels to L2. Its sunshield, antennas, and 6.5-meter primary mirror will all emerge during the deployment period. A second set of thrusters will be used to maneuver JWST due to the changes in the center of gravity of the spacecraft after it completes these deployments.
The a.i. solutions flight dynamics team will plan for the last MCC maneuver of JWST’s to inject the observatory into the optimal orbit for its science mission. The final orbit around L2 is almost 1,000,000 miles from Earth, almost four times the distance between Earth and our Moon. During science operations, the “bottom” of JWST, where the solar panels are located, will face the Sun to power the spacecraft. This also allows the massive five-layer sunshield to protect the primary mirror from heat and light as it looks out into deep space. A cold and dark environment will help maintain the sensitivity of the instruments onboard the observatory allowing scientists to collect the best data possible. After achieving its orbit about the Sun-Earth L2, JWST will perform stationkeeping maneuvers every 21-days planned by the FDGS to maintain science requirements.
For more details on the FDGS and flight dynamics operations supported by a.i. solutions, you can read our white paper “The JWST Flight Dynamics Operations Concept and Flight Dynamics Ground System.”
Click the image below to download the white paper.
With 25 years of expertise in flight dynamics, a.i. solution’s primary goal is to always provide our customers with the highest standards for support. Our efforts will be critical to the success of the JWST mission and we are honored to be part of this monumental step towards scientific discovery. Join a.i. solutions by watching the JWST launch on NASA TV’s live stream to see one of humankind’s most-ambitious accomplishments take flight.
Kajal Pancholi serves as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Avatar Technologies. Founded in 2006, Avatar specializes in systems engineering, mission assurance and software development solutions for federal government and commercial customers in the space exploration, civil aerospace, national defense, and intelligence sectors.
Kajal is a licensed professional engineer with over 20 years of space and defense industry experience as a business development executive, aerospace engineer, program manager, and quality assurance professional. Prior to her current position, she was Millennium Engineering and Integration Company’s Business Development and Marketing Director. In this role, she led Millennium’s proposal development and corporate marketing initiatives to include industry partnerships, client opportunity management, and corporate branding & marketing strategy.
Kajal started her career as an aerospace engineer focused on infrared sensor development and flight testing for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), for which she earned the MDA Annual Award for Program Management. She progressively supported various space and defense systems design, development, integration and testing projects for the NASA, MDA, US Navy and US Air Force. She has also helped establish and manage college-level STEM Internship, Engineering Quality Management (as a certified ISO 9001 & AS9100 Lead Auditor), and DoD Mentor-Protégé programs.
Kajal has both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and currently resides in Ellicott City with her husband, daughter, and pet tortoise. She currently serves on the University of Maryland’s Women-In-Engineering Advisory Board, advocating for and supporting women and minorities in STEM fields, as well as a Clark School Corporate Sponsor, sponsoring scholarships and promoting various student organizations.
Deborah Hickox
Chief Financial Officer
Deborah Hickox has over 35 years of professional experience in the fields of finance and accounting. She has deep expertise in strategic planning, accounting, and mergers and acquisitions.
In 2010, Deborah joined the a.i. solutions leadership team to provide strategic financial and contractual leadership in support of a.i. solutions’ growth objectives. Partnering with executive leadership, Deborah developed financial guidance that contributed to a growth rate of over 300%. Deborah is a shareholder of a.i. solutions.
Prior to joining a.i. solutions, Deborah led the finance team at Analex Corporation, a publicly traded company. During her time at Analex, she supported obtaining a Wall Street venture capital investment to fund the company’s growth strategy. Deborah was integral to the completion of multiple acquisitions, leading to the sale of Analex to Qinetiq, NA.
Deborah has earned a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and subsequently achieved her Certified Public Accountant status.
Deborah has led teams of up to 50 members and is passionate about mentoring team members through promoting education and providing opportunities for professional development. Several of her former team members have gone on to hold senior financial leadership positions at various companies around the metropolitan DC area.
As a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Deborah enjoys the outdoors with her husband and their 3 rescue pups.
Marisa Achée
Vice President of Business Development
Marisa Achée has over 33 years of professional experience in engineering and the development of launch vehicles for earth-observation spacecraft. She possesses exemplary expertise and background in business development, operational services, and project management.
In 2018, Marisa was named the Vice President of Business Development at a.i. solutions. In this role, Marisa leads a team of strategic, capture, proposal, and marketing professionals, in multiple locations, to support the operating units’ opportunities. She is responsible for developing business relationships, interacting with the company’s Operating Unit Directors to support their business development activities, maintaining a healthy opportunity pipeline, and ensuring adherence to the company’s Business Development Process. In 2016, Marisa led the capture team that submitted the winning proposal for the company’s largest contract to date, Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated Support 3 (ELVIS 3). Most recently, Marisa directed the effort to win the Prototype Operations-I (POPS-I) contract.
Marisa joined a.i. solutions in 2002 as the Director of Launch Services in the company’s regional office in Cape Canaveral, Florida. She managed a staff of over 40 Systems Engineers and IT professionals responsible for providing expendable launch vehicle support, mission assurance, and mission-critical IT services on several major contracts for customers. During her tenure as Director, Marisa grew the Launch Services Division from nine people supporting one contract in 2002 to 86 people supporting five contracts in 2011. Marisa is a shareholder of the company and serves on the Board of Directors for a.i. solutions.
Prior to joining a.i. solutions, Marisa held several senior-level management positions at companies including Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) and Boeing.
Marisa earned her Master of Science in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University and her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. She holds a number of professional certifications, spanning Program and Business Management to Performance Measurement. She is the recipient of several awards for professional excellence, including the NASA Recognition Award and Office of Space Systems Development award. Marisa is an active member of Women in Aerospace. In addition, Marisa serves as the Executive Vice President for the Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR) and as a member of Goddard Contractors Association (GCA).
Marisa lives in Cocoa Beach, Florida with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and is active in her church.
Christy Fenner
Chief Human Resource Officer
Christy Fenner has over 25 years of professional experience as a Human Resources business partner, developing and executing strategy in support of the overall business planning and strategic direction of organizations. She has developed comprehensive total compensation, talent acquisition, and innovative benefit plan designs, while championing large-scale leadership, and career development initiatives.
In 2005, Christy joined a.i. solutions to lead the critical alignment of total compensation and talent performance to business objectives at a.i. solutions. As an early adopter of the wellness and healthcare cost containment connection, she has received recognition from across the industry. She was highlighted in the Wall Street Journal for the creation of a benefit market where employees shop for coverage, known today as a private marketplace exchange. A fearless disruptor and proponent for diversity, equity and inclusion, Christy serves as the Affirmative Action Officer for a.i. solutions. In this role she advocates and oversees inclusion efforts, external partnerships, and overall engagement strategy to ensure the a.i. solutions workforce reflects the ever-increasing STEM population across the globe. Christy is a shareholder of a.i. solutions
Prior to joining a.i. solutions, Christy served as the founding Director of Operations at Adams Communication Engineering Technology (ACET). She successfully grew the four-employee Veteran Owned company to a 100+ person 8(a) graduate. After more than twenty years in business, ACET is a multi-million dollar services provider in the Intelligence, Defense, and Federal IT market space.
Christy holds several professional certifications and memberships including an active role in the Society of HR Managers Executive Network and the National Association of African Americans in HR. She serves in varying capacities as a panelist, guest speaker, and executive roundtable contributor for her experience as an early adopter of human capital strategies and change agent in modernizing HR functions. Christy is an alumnus of Bowie State University, Co-Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of everfourward, LLC – a partnership with her husband, Derrick Fenner, committed to uplifting the underserved and underrepresented in their community. As a resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, she is a wife, mother to four adult children, a certified yoga instructor, and endurance athlete.
Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd
Gwendolyn E. Boyd joined AGB Search in 2017 as an executive search consultant. Dr. Boyd is an engineer and a prominent advocate of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. She is described as a dynamic and relevant leader, a prolific motivational speaker, and a powerful preacher. Since joining the firm she has assisted in senior leadership searches for:
Edward Waters University (FL) – President
Chicago State University – President
Tougaloo College (MS) – President
Dr. Boyd’s professional career of more than three decades at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics laboratory was highlighted by exemplary leadership and dedicated services as part of engineering teams. Boyd was a direct report to the President of Johns Hopkins University serving as chair of the Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council from 2001-2014.
Dr. Boyd returned to her alma mater, Alabama State University, in 2014 to serve for three years as the 14th and first female president of ASU. Highlights of her presidency included establishing the university’s first engineering degree program with approval for a BS in biomedical engineering. She and her team had the university removed from SACSCOC warning status from previous financial instability. The largest freshman class was documented during her tenure.
Dr. Boyd is a nationally recognized champion of education, especially in the STEM disciplines. She was nominated by President Barack Obama and was confirmed by the Senate to serve as a trustee to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in 2009. She later served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans in 2014.
Rev. Dr. Boyd is an ordained itinerant elder in the African American Methodist Episcopal Church. She serves on the ministerial staff of Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, MD.
Dr. Boyd was elected to serve from 2000-2004 as the 22nd National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Known as the “Technology President”, Boyd helped to establish technology in all facets of the sorority’s activities and administration. Her four-year tenure included transformative accomplishments, such as the launching of Project SEE (Science in Every Experience), an initiative funded by a $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant with a goal of promoting math and science for middle school African-American girls. She led the sorority’s humanitarian and education advocacy efforts in various African nations. In 2013, Boyd served as chair of the sorority’s Centennial Celebration, culminating in its Washington, DC-based convention that drew more than 40,000 participants from around the world.
Dr. Boyd has been awarded four honorary doctorates; Congressional recognition; 32 “Keys to the City”; a Key to the “State of Florida”; declaration of Gwendolyn E. Boyd Day in eight cities; leadership awards, and professional awards, and professional awards for her achievements in the fields of engineering and higher education. She is a member of the Capital City Chapter of the Links, Inc., the Washington, DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Leadership Greater Washington.
Dr. Boyd earned her B.S. from Alabama State University with a major in mathematics and a double minor in physics and music. She received a fellowship and was the first African-American female to earn an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University. She has earned both the M. Div. and D. Min. Degrees from Howard University.
Jackie Schmoll
Jackie Schmoll is Vice President for Requirements and Capabilities for the Raytheon Space Systems strategic business unit at Raytheon Intelligence & Space. As the Requirements and Capabilities Executive for Raytheon Space Systems, Jackie is responsible for developing and executing growth strategies across the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Communities, international and civilian space, and command and control markets. She provides critical thought leadership to shape and lead market trends while maintaining a thorough understanding of customer environments.
Before coming to Raytheon Technologies, Schmoll was General Manager and P&L executive for the ISR Space division in the Space Systems sector at L3Harris Technologies in their Space and Airborne Systems segment. She was responsible for over $300M in annual sales for multiple end-to-end space mission prime contracts across the DOD and Intelligence customers, driving 50% year over year growth for the previous two years. Schmoll assumed this position in 2020, reporting to the president of Space Systems. The ISR division provides high performance, end-to-end responsive space solutions for critical missions on reduced timelines for National Security Space customers. Reconfigurable, multi-mission payloads within the business provide on-orbit mission flexibility solutions for responsive satellites & hosted payloads.
Schmoll is a member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and supports the Modeling and Simulation Technical Committee. She received her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor’s Degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. She successfully completed a L3Harris leadership development program from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2018, and was recognized for the Space Coast Business 40 Under 40 Award in 2019.
Lisa McLeod
Lisa is an advisor, consultant, and speaker who works with senior executives and sales teams around the world. She is the author of five bestselling books and a sought-after keynoter. Known for her authenticity and humor, Lisa has been the #4 Sales Guru in the world by Global Gurus.
Lisa has inspired millions of learners on LinkedIn Learning with courses on sales, leadership, and purpose at work. Her work has also been featured in Forbes, Fortune and The New York Times.
Colonel Yvonne Spencer
Colonel Spencer is the Senior Air Force Advisor to the Office of Local Defence Community Copperation (OLDCC), a field activity under the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), responsible for assisting state and local governments to respond to impacts from Defense activities. Prior to joining OEA, Colonel Spencer served as the Detachment 6 Commander for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center which serves as the single intermediate-level headquarters supporting Air Force wide installations and expeditionary support activities for 177 bases. In this role, she led a 43 member staff in providing security, emergency services, communications, engineering, logistics and financial services for eight bases nationwide with a $55 billion infrastructure supporting 90,000 civilian and military members.
Colonel Spencer holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in Environmental and Engineering Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Throughout her 26 year career, she has served in a variety of positions at the installation, major command and headquarters levels to include six command assignments. Her deployments include contingency support of Operation DESERT STORM, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Education
1994 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Mechanics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Co.
1999 Basic Developmental Education, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Master of Science, Environmental and Engineering Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2004 Intermediate Developmental Education, Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Senior Developmental Education, Air War College, by correspondence
