Richard Pappa

Space Structures Engineer @Nasa Langley Research Center

Hampton, VA, US

Currently working on 10-50 kW deployable solar arrays for the Moon and Mars surface, kW solar arrays for in-space electric propulsion, large solar arrays for small satellites, and ultra-lightweight solar arrays (<1 kg/m2) for Saturn missions.Structural Dynamics Branch, Research Directorate (42 yrs)Structural & Thermal Systems Branch, Engineering Directorate (4 yrs)Mr. Richard S. Pappa has over 40 years of experience at NASA Langley as both a space structures research engineer and as a structural engineering loads and stress analyst. He is the author of over 100 papers in many areas including structural dynamics, modal and system identification techniques, photogrammetry, deployable structures, innovative structural test methods, and space flight experiments. In his NASA career, Mr. Pappa has worked primarily in the field of large space structures and has broad knowledge of structural dynamics as well as the related technologies of vibroacoustics, quasi-static & coupled loads, transient & frequency response analysis, stress analysis, fatigue, material properties, damping, nonlinear analysis, modal and system identification, and ground and flight tests. In recent years he\'s worked primarily on large deployable solar array structures and manages the Lunar Surface Solar Array Structures SBIR subtopic for ESDMD. He is also P.I. for the FY21-24 project on Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) sponsored by NASA\'s Game Changing Development Program.Email: R••••••••@nasa.gov

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

BS, MS, Mechanical Engineering