The NASA Habitable World Program

Matt East, Mission Architect at L3Harris's Space and Airborne Systems

Presented in-person in Goergen 108 and on Zoom

Zoom Information

Zoom:https://rochester.zoom.us/j/93567219995
Meeting ID: 935 6721 9995

Park in the Intercampus Lot
See the Optica Rochester website for more information

Abstract

Not long ago, astronomers wondered if planets orbited around other stars in the night sky. In recent decades it has become abundantly clear that “yes they do” and, in fact, it is rather common. Thousands of planets have been confirmed orbiting other stars. Now astronomers are wondering, “Are any of these similar to Earth? How similar? Are we alone? How do the conditions for life originate?” Enter the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will answer these questions and more.

Biography

Matthew East is a Mission Architect at L3Harris’s Space and Airborne Systems in Rochester. His career began at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, developing the Lunar Laser Communication Demo, which shattered records for the fastest communication between the Earth and the Moon. At L3Harris, he develops stable telescope technologies to reveal parts of our universe that have never been seen before. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Clarkson University.