Virgil Mireles
Payload Thermal Engineer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA

SKILLS:

Experience in spacecraft system thermal design and analysis, thermal testing, launch and mission operations. Proficient with various thermal analyzer software packages (SINDA, TRASYS, TSS and NEVADA).

EDUCATION:

M.S.M.E., Cal State Los Angeles, 1992.
B.S.M.E., Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, 1987.

EXPERIENCE (JPL):

1997-Present
Genesis Payload thermal engineer. Responsibilities include analysis, testing and implementation of thermal design. Mars 05 Study Thermal lead and architect. Responsibilities include Mission trade studies and establishing thermal design approach with preliminary resources (mass, power and cost).

1989-1997
Technical Group Leader/Propulsion System Thermal Engineer. Responsibilities included thermal design of Cassini propulsion system and various other spacecraft hardware and conducting the System-Level Solar Thermal VacuumTest.

1986-1989
Thermal design and testing of GALILEO Spacecraft. Led instrumentation effort for GALILEO's Solar Thermal Vacuum Test (STV). Member of GALILEO's Orbiter Engineering Team that supported Temperature Control area in Flight Operations and thermal analysis/modeling of spacecraft hardware. Supported small cogeneration energy system study involving upgrading of a cogeneration analysis program with computer-aided techniques.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:

American Society of Mechanical Engineers- L.A. Section Secretary (1994)
JPL Mentor for Cal State L.A. M.E.S.A. Program (1989)

HONORS AND AWARDS:

NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2000)
Process Improvement Award - Thermal Re-Engineering (1999)
NOVA Award for STV Leadership (1997)
NASA Manned Flight Awareness Award (1992)
Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Nomination (1992)
Cal State LA Engineering Award of Honor (1992)
NASA Special Award for Galileo (1990)
NASA Group Achievement Award for Galileo (1991)

PUBLICATIONS:

"Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Waste Heat System for the Cassini Propulsion Module," with James W. Stultz (SAE #941269). Presented at the 24th International Conference on Environmental Systems and 5th European Symposium on Space Environmental Control Systems, Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 20-23, 1994.