The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) successfully launched onboard an Ariane 5 rocket on December 25, 2021, at 12:20 UTC – a Christmas miracle for more than 1,000 contributing scientists, engineers, and technicians over the last 30 years. This global collaboration included NASA, partners, and contractors from at least 14 countries and 29 US states, including partner agencies European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
A FreeFlyer 3D projection simulating the JWST halo orbit about the Sun-Earth L2 point with RLP X along the horizontal axis and RLP Y along the vertical axis.
The observatory orbits the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2), collecting infrared data from planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and beyond – clueing scientists into the secrets of the cosmos. To carefully store the observatory in the Ariane 5 payload fairing, the structure is composed of multiple moving segments that fold like origami. The sunshield, several antennas, and an array of mirrors are just a few appendages of the craft that were folded into Ariane 5 and deployed while in space.
Artist rendering of JWST highlighting the telescope and other major hardware components. NASA
a.i. solutions® currently supports JWST’s flight dynamics at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) on the Flight Dynamics Support Services (FDSS) III contract, but our company’s support of the mission has spanned nearly two decades, providing initial trajectory design, launch window and other prelaunch analyses, maneuver planning, operational support, and the development of the Flight Dynamics Ground System (FDGS).The FDGS software was developed by the Flight Dynamics Team to integrate a suite of tools into one accessible interface to support the life of the mission. These tools include maneuver planning, monitoring, reconstruction, and calibration, as well as contact analysis, slant range calculations, and orbit determination. Release 6 of the FDGS was completed eight days earlier than required and has been used to support pre-launch, launch, early orbit, and station-keeping operations of the JWST spacecraft. FreeFlyer 7.4.1 is used as the astrodynamics tool within FDGS for contact analysis and maneuver planning, reconstruction, and calibration. This version of FreeFlyer has remained consistent since FDGS’s conception to maintain consistency throughout development. Today, FreeFlyer 7.7.1 is available with many more robust capabilities such as flat plate SRP modeling, relative motion and constellation enhancements, as well as trajectory and maneuver optimization.
An example of the JWST launch window analysis at 10-minute increments between 11:30 and 14:00 UTC for each day in a 30-day month. The ephemerides used to plot the JWST trajectories traced in blue were generated by FreeFlyer. Each square shows the JWST trajectory propagated for 10 years with RLP Y along the horizontal axis and RLP Z along the vertical axis.
Beginning on launch day, the Flight Dynamics Team provided six days of 24-hour operational support at GSFC through the completion of the first two mid-course correction (MCC) maneuvers, MCC-1a and MCC-1b at Launch+12.5 hours and Launch+2.5 days, respectively. To mitigate the risk of an overburn scenario, which was critical because of the spacecraft’s inability to efficiently remove energy from its transfer orbit due to the configuration of its thrusters and limitations on its attitude, MCC-1a and MCC-1b were purposefully biased down to 93% of the delta-v magnitude required to reach the target science orbit. The MCC maneuvers were closely monitored in near real-time, giving the Flight Dynamics Team the ability to recommend an abort as a last line of defense against the risk of applying too much delta-v to the transfer orbit. These maneuvers were years in the making, as the team iterated on a careful balance of changing constraints and requirements. The main goal was to minimize fuel consumption, thereby allowing for the longest possible science mission, one that was planned for a minimum of 5.5 years with a goal of 10.5 years. These maneuvers were so well planned and executed that the current estimates of mission duration as a function of remaining fuel are “over 20 years.” A live NASA TV interview was held with Keith Parrish, the JWST Commissioning Manager, where he discussed the early stages of the mission and specifically the launch and maneuver results. During this interview, Mr. Parrish called out a “big shout out to our Flight Dynamics Team!”
Deployment of the folded JWST structure took place over the two weeks following the conclusion of MCC-1b. As the deployment of all parts of the JWST spacecraft completed successfully, the Flight Dynamics Team prepared for the final maneuver to place JWST into its desired science orbit about L2. This maneuver, MCC-2, was planned and executed flawlessly by the team at Launch+30 days, with JWST successfully achieving its target orbit about L2. Originally, MCC-2 was planned for execution at Launch+29 days, but due to the success of MCC-1a and MCC-1b, the project was able to delay MCC-2 to a more operator-friendly time without any significant impact to the mission lifetime.
The burn direction of each Mid-Course Correction maneuver along the JWST trajectory to the final orbit about the Sun-Earth L2 point.
The Flight Dynamics Team then transitioned to daily support for the Commissioning Phase of the mission (Launch+30 days through Launch+180 days) and continues to perform orbit determination, station-keeping maneuver planning, and other analyses as necessary. During this period, the Flight Dynamics Team began the nominal 21-day station-keeping maneuver cadence designed to maintain the orbit about L2. The team has also started development for the final release of the FDGS before transitioning to the NASA GSFC Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) for future maintenance and operational support. FDGS has performed so well that the methodology used for its development and maintenance has been recommended to the NASA GSFC Navigation and Mission Design Branch for future mission support.
A FreeFlyer 3D projection simulating JWST sensors targeting various stars for science data selection.
To experience the power and flexibility of FreeFlyer for your next mission, register with an account at FreeFlyer.com and request a free, trial license today! Contact our tech support and sales team members for more information.
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
