Splash Biography



MAX LUO, Cornell grad student launching frogs into space




Major: Aerospace Engineering

College/Employer: Cornell

Year of Graduation: G24

Picture of Max Luo

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Hi there. I'm a grad student in aerospace engineering at Cornell University, focusing on propulsion and trajectory optimization - which is a fancy way to say that I try and make spacecraft move to a place, in the most efficient way possible. I'm also a competitive ballroom dancer, a musician, and a gamer - and I hope to show that you can, and should embrace all of the nerdy things you like.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

E856: Rapid Unplanned Disassembly: Using Kerbal Space Program to Learn Rocketry and Orbital Mechanics in Splash Fall 2023 (Nov. 11, 2023)
Space is really cool, but it's also really hard to figure out. So why not play video games while you learn about it? This class is designed to help students explore orbital mechanics in an accessible way, by way of the video game Kerbal Space Program. We will introduce the "how" and "why" of spacecraft, using the game to explain how spacecraft engineers exploit natural phenomena to achieve scientific and exploratory goals. Students will ideally exit the class having planned, built, and launched their very own space mission, keeping certain design parameters in mind. Furthermore, students will also gain an initial understanding of the design challenges faced by real spacecraft engineers. This class will take place in a computer lab.