Abigail Frank

Undergraduate Student, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

What are you are studying/what you are interested in studying and/or researching while at Purdue? If you have done internships or other applicable experiences, feel free to include them here.

Within the field of aeronautics and astronautics, I am interested in propulsion and engine design. I am particularly passionate about sustainability, and I am exploring the intersection of these two passions, learning about new, sustainable propellant technology emerging in the field. I am also interested in the complicated, yet important design of spacesuits and life support systems. Additionally, I am interested in mission design. I find psychology fascinating, and I am interested in how psychology affects long-term space travel in terms of crew formation, habitat systems, mission design, and isolation.

Currently, I am one of the Lead Propulsion Engineers for Purdue Space Program’s High Altitude Rocketry Team. I am learning the research, design, and testing process of solid rocket motors, as well as systems integration, organization, and leadership skills.

What made you want to join the Leading Women Toward Space Careers program?

I am most excited to work with the mentors in this program. I’m looking forward to learning from them and cultivating my leadership, negotiation, and conflict navigation skills, as well as receiving advice about finding and making the most of opportunities in my early career. It will be inspiring to connect with women who are established and successful in the field.

What area would you like to work in after graduation? (What career path, interests, opportunities, etc., would you like to accomplish? What field are you interested in?)

As a professional, I hope to contribute to the design of propellants that will make continued, sustainable exploration of space possible, and reduce the impact that space exploration has on Earth itself. Engineers will need to implement principles of reusability and reduce waste produced by space exploration, and I want to be part of the research and development of these new propulsion technologies.

I am also interested in developing mission overviews and protocols based on psychological research of the effects of isolation and long-term travel on the body and mind. Deep space exploration will require resiliency from astronauts and immense ground support, and the technologies and practices that support them psychologically are quite interesting to me.