Category Archives: Graduate school

First spacecraft from my graduate lab launched!

Posted on 30 September 2013 by josephshoer

Just a quick note to share some exciting news: the first spacecraft to come out of my graduate research lab – Cornell University’s Space Systems Design Studio – launched with the SpaceX Falcon 1.1 debut yesterday. SpaceX says that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Space | 5 Comments

Spacecraft Research is at it again

Posted on 10 May 2013 by josephshoer

It’s been a little while since I checked in with the goings-on back at my Cornell research lab. Totally unsurprisingly, some very cool things are happening there! One is that the Sprite and KickSat project has gone all the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Concepts, Graduate school, Research, Science Fiction, Space | 1 Comment

Original Fiction: “Conference” (final draft)

Posted on 20 January 2013 by josephshoer

I had been trying to sell this story for a while now, but was not successful. There’s a bit of a catch-22 to selling a short story for the first time: without any feedback from editors and readers, there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Original fiction, People, Science, Science Fiction, Space, The Cathedral Galaxy | 3 Comments

Support

Posted on 26 January 2012 by josephshoer

I am a member of the “millennial” generation. You know, the stereotypical hipster kids who like some band you’ve probably never heard of and are living with their parents, unemployed. Except…that’s not me. I graduated from college and immediately went to … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Politics | Leave a comment

Kick Yourself into Orbit!

Posted on 26 October 2011 by josephshoer

Ah, I’ve only been out a few months, but I already miss some things about being in grad school! For instance, I miss all the crazy brainstorming of new and wild space systems, missions, and technologies. No doubt you, dear … Continue reading →

Posted in Concepts, Graduate school, Research, Space | Leave a comment

It’s How You Use It

Posted on 24 June 2011 by josephshoer

A couple years ago, I was at a house party in Ithaca where I met a first-year grad student who asked me what I was studying. “Aerospace engineering,” I said. “Cool,” he replied. “Just don’t ever work for Lockheed Martin.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Politics, Science, Social commentary | 3 Comments

The Television Episode Experience

Posted on 15 June 2011 by josephshoer

I finally got a chance to watch the episode of the National Geographic Channel’s “Known Universe” that filmed partly in my Cornell research lab. The episode is about how we currently build stuff in space, and how we might build … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Research, Science | 2 Comments

I’m…on…TV!

Posted on 2 June 2011 by josephshoer

Next Thursday, 9 June, an episode of “Known Universe” will air on the National Geographic Channel entitled “Construction Zone,” about the ways humans build things in space – or might build them in the future. For a couple-minute segment about … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Research | 4 Comments

I Guess That’s It

Posted on 28 February 2011 by josephshoer

I have successfully defended my dissertation. I would appreciate it if you would address me by my correct title, now: Doctor of Rocket Science. (I’m kidding.) The funniest thing about this to me is that I know that the research … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate school, Research | 2 Comments

How to Build a Tractor Beam

Posted on 3 February 2011 by josephshoer

Hello, Intertubes! I have been slacking off on the blog in favor of preparing my dissertation and the presentation for my defense. I know, excuses, excuses… To keep all eighteen of my intrepid readers happy, here is a video that … Continue reading →

Posted in Concepts, Gadgets, Graduate school, Research, Science | 2 Comments