Christopher Volk

About Christopher Volk

A hardworking aeronautical engineer currently supporting deep space navigation at NASA\'s…

Experience

1. Navigation Engineer

   NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

   Jan 2018 — Present · Pasadena, CA, US

   Navigation Engineer within the Deep Space Network Tracking group at JPL. Responsible for performing and processing Delta-Differential One-Way Ranging (DDOR) measurements for deep space missions. This ranging technique has improved orbit accuracy on JPL missions since the 1970s, and is critical for accurate landings on the surface of Mars and for missions to the outer planets. DDOR measurements involve understanding of RF engineering (downconversion, phase measurements, EM wave propagation effects) and Radio Astronomy techniques (VLBI, Quasar Astrometry, Radio Interferometry). Scheduling and processing DDOR data involves close collaboration with the Navigation teams who perform orbit determinations based on the output data. DDOR is a growing field within the deep space networks of foreign space agencies (ESA, JAXA, etc.) who to look to JPL as the leader in DDOR technology, and foreign collaboration has become a critical part of the position.

Education

• University of Southern California

  Master’s Degree

  2014 — 2015

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  Bachelor's of Science

  2010 — 2014

Skills

• Programming
• Microsoft Office
• Communication
• Stk
• English
• Delegation
• Labview
• Matlab
• Spanish
• Aerodynamics
• Testing
• Leadership
• Ni Labview
• Dreamweaver