Graduate School
As an aerospace engineering masters student at CU Boulder, I have taken coursework on astrodynamics, algoirthm development, and project managment in addition to doing research in a space domain awareness laboratory.
Katie Melbourne
Space policy researcher
systems engineer, and
advocate for gender minorities in STEM
Hi! I'm Katie Melbourne. I grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa and
I am now an Aerospace Engineering grad student at CU Boulder.
My career goal is to work on the development of space policy
that will ensure continued access to space for decades to come.
James Webb Space Telescope
Systems Engineering
I helped commission the James Webb Space Telescope as a Wavefront Sensing Scientist at Ball Aerospace. I was on shift in the control room throughout the 24/7, 4-month mirror alignment process.
Aerospace Engineering and
Astrophysics Research
As a graduate research assistant, professional engineer, and undergraduate intern, I have gained essential technical skills that I will apply to all my future work.
Space Policy
I have explored my interests in space policy through an internship at NASA, in the classroom, and through engaging in the public comment process for agency rulemaking.
Outreach and
Community Involvement
I am an active member of my community, both in supporting minorities in STEM and volunteering as a companion for the elderly, helping with trail reconstruction in Colorado, and supporting events of local nonprofits.
Writing and Featured Articles
Explore below for a sample of recent articles
relevant to my mission in STEM.
-
FAA Comment: December 2023
I wrote a public comment on the FAA's NPRM on mitigation of orbital debris from launch vehicles.
-
SPIE Conference Paper: August 2022
I managed one contingency response in the JWST commissioning procedure that was included in this paper.
-
CU Aerospace Feature: January 2022
I worked at Ball Aerospace full-time commissioning the James Webb Space Telescope while pursuing my graduate degree at CU part-time.
-
The Astronomical Journal: November 2020
I published a first-author paper in The Astronomical Journal on my undergraduate research at NASA.
-
Grand Strategy: September 2019
I received a grant through the Brady-Johnson Grand Strategy program at Yale to write a research paper on space policy.
-
YaleNews Feature: May 2019
A summary of my experience advocating for women in STEM and finding a community within the Yale Astronomy Department.
-
Yale Scientific Undergraduate Profile: April 2017
The Yale Scientific Mazagine focuses on communicating important news in STEM on campus.
-
Sky and Telescope Magazine Astronomy Outreach Feature: October 2016
The Horkheimer/Smith Award through the Astronomical League is given annualy to one student under age 19 who has made a signifcant contribution to outreach in astronomy.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, ideas, or opportunities you would like to discuss, please feel free to leave me a message!