Academic CV

Education

Ph.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics, Purdue University
Graduate minor in Aerospace Systems

Aug. 2016 - Aug. 2021; GPA: 3.90/4.00. Dissertation: A Systems Framework and Analysis Tool for Rapid Conceptual Design of Aerocapture Missions

Dual Degree (B.Tech + M. Tech ) in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras with Honors.

Jul. 2011 - Jul. 2016. GPA: 9.16/10.00.
Dissertation: Passive Control Of Combustion Instabilities Using Multiple Flames / Distributed Combustion Zone

Publications

See Google Scholar for full and updated list of publications.

• A. P. Girija, ADEPT Drag Modulation Aerocapture: Applications for Future Titan Exploration, Journal of Aeronautics, Astronautics and Aviation, Vol. 55, No. 4, 2023. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, R. Agrawal, Y. Lu, A. Arora, M. de Jong,S. J. Saikia, and J. M. Longuski, A single wheel test rig for Ocean World rovers, Journal of Terramechanics, Vol. 109, 2023. [PDF]

• L. Iorio, A. P. Girija, and Daniele Durante, One EURO for Uranus: the Elliptical Uranian Relativity Orbiter mission, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 523, No. 3, 2023. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, and J. M. Longuski, Aerocapture: Enabling Small Spacecraft Direct Access to Low‑Circular Orbits for Planetary Constellations, Aerospace, Vol. 10, No. 3, 2023. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, A Flagship‑class Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission concept using aerocapture, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 202, 2023. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, Y. Lu and J. A. Cutts, Quantitiative Assessment of Aerocapture and Applications to Future Solar System Exploration, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Articles in Advance, February 2022. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, J. A. Cutts, AMAT: A Python package for rapid conceptual design of aerocapture and atmospheric Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) missions in a Jupyter environment, Journal of Open Source Software (6)(67), November 2021. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, S. Bhaskaran, M. S. Smith, and J. A. Cutts, Feasibility and Performance Analysis of Neptnune Aerocapture Using Heritage Blunt-Body Aeroshells, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 57, No. 6, July 2020. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, Y. Lu, and S. J. Saikia, Feasibility and Mass-Benefit Analysis of Aerocapture for Missions to Venus, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 57, No. 1, January 2020. [PDF]

• S. Jarmak, E. Leonard, A. Akins, E. Dahl, D. R. Cremons, S. Cofield, A. Curtis, C. Dong, E. T. Dunham, B. Journaux, D. Murakami, W. Ng, M. Piquette, A. P. Girija, K. Rink, L. Schurmeier, N. Stein, N. Tallarida, M. Telus, L. Lowes, C. Budney, K. L. Mitchell, QUEST: A New Frontiers Uranus Orbiter Mission Concept Study, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 170, May 2020. [PDF]

Conferences and Presentations

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. A. Cutts, and J. M. Longuski, A Unified Framework for Aerocapture Systems Analysis, AAS 19-811, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Portland, ME, August 2019. [engrXiv]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, S. Bhaskaran, M. Smith, and J. A. Cutts, Aerocapture Performance Analysis for a Neptune Mission using Blunt-Body Aeroshell, AAS 19-815, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Portland, ME, August 11–15, 2019. [engrXiv]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, and M. de Jong, Candidate Mechanisms and Fabric Layup Materials for the Mars Surface Tunnel Concept”, IEEE Aerospace Conf., Big Sky, MT, March, 2018. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, S. Bhaskaran, M. Smith, and J. A. Cutts, Ice Giant Aerocapture Using Low-L/D Aeroshells: Uncertainty Quantification and Risk Assessment”, 16th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW), Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, July 8–12, 2019. [PPT]

• A. P. Girija, Y. Lu, S. J. Saikia, J. M. Longuski, and J. A. Cutts, Feasibility and Mass-Benefit Analysis of Aerocapture for SmallSat Missions to Venus, 16th NASA Venus Exploration Group (VEXAG) Meeting, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL), Laurel, MD, November 5–8, 2018.

• A. P. Girija, A. Arora, S. J. Saikia and J. A. Cutts, Hybrid Aerocapture using Low L/D Aeroshells for Ice Giant Missions, 15th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW), Boulder, CO, June 11–15, 2018. [PPT]

• Y. Lu, A. P. Girija, S. J. Saikia, and J. A. Cutts, Venus Aerocapture Assessment, 15th NASA Venus Exploration Group Meeting, Johns Hopkins University APL, Laurel, MD, November 14–16, 2017. [PPT]

• A. P. Girija, E. Shibata, Y. Lu, S. J. Saikia and J. A. Cutts, Considerations for Atmospheric Sample Return form the Habitable Zone of Venus, 14th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW), The Hague, Netherlands June 12–17, 2017. [PPT]

Poster presentations

• S. Jarmak, E. Leonard, A. Akins, E. Dahl, D. R. Cremons, S. Cofield, A. Curtis, C. Dong, E. T. Dunham, B. Journaux, D. Murakami, W. Ng, M. Piquette, A. P. Girija, K. Rink, L. Schurmeier, N. Stein, N. Tallarida, M. Telus, L. Lowes, C. Budney, K. L. Mitchell, QUEST: A New Frontiers Uranus Orbiter Mission Concept Study’’, 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), The Woodlands, TX, March 18–22, 2019. [Abstract]

• Y. Lu, M. Rajapakshe, R. Agrawal, A. P. Girija, and S. J. Saikia, A Single-Wheel Test Rig for Ocean Worlds, NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Meeting, Pasadena, CA, Sept. 11–12, 2018. [PDF]

• R. Agrawal, B. Aiken, M. de Jong, A. P. Girija, J. M. Longuski and S. J. Saikia, A Surface Mobility System with Large Deployable and Conformal Tires for Ocean Worlds Exploration, 15th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW), Boulder, CO, June 11–15, 2018. [PDF]

• A. P. Girija, R. Agrawal, Y. Lu, B. Aiken, M. de Jong, and S. J. Saikia, A Novel Surface Mobility System for Ocean Worlds, NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Meeting, Hampton, VA, February 21–22, 2018. [PDF]

• Y. Lu, M. Rajapakshe, R. Agrawal, A. P. Girija, and S. J. Saikia, A Single Wheel Test Rig for Ocean World Rover”, NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Meeting, Hampton, VA, Feb. 21–22, 2018. [PDF]

• E. Shibata, Y. Lu, A. P. Girija, J. A. Cutts, and S. J. Saikia, A Venus Atmospheric Sample Return Mission Concept: Feasibility and Technology Requirements, Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop, NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C., February 27–28, 2017. [PDF]

Planetary Decadal Survey 2023-2032 White Papers (co-author)

• Alexander Austin et al. (NASA Jet Propulsion Lab), Enabling and Enhancing Science Exploration Across the Solar System: Aerocapture Technology for SmallSat to Flagship Missions. [PDF]

• Soumyo Dutto et al. (NASA Langley Research Center), Aerocapture as an Enhancing Option for Ice Giants Missions. [PDF]

• Sanjay Limaye et al. (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Venus Observing System (VOS): Monitoring Climate, Surface, Atmospheric Escape and Search for Bio-signatures. [PDF]

• Ian Cohen et al. (Johns Hopkins University-Applied Physics Lab), New Frontiers-class Uranus Orbiter : Exploring the feasibility of achieving multidisciplinary science with a mid-scale mission. [PDF]

• James Arnold et al. (NASA Ames Research Center), Heatshields for Aerogravity Assist Vehicles Whose Deceleration at Titan Saves Mass for Future Flagship Class Exploration of Enceladus. [PDF]