Robert Osiander, an instructor in the Engineering for Professionals program in Materials Science and Engineering, is a principal professional staff physicist in the Space Exploration Sector at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, where he leads projects including the wind sensor (WIND) and surface thermal properties sensor (STHERM) on the Dragonfly Geophysics and Meteorology Sensor Suite (DraGMet) on the Dragonfly Spacecraft.
Osiander’s work focuses on solving the technical challenges of planetary exploration, particularly in developing materials and systems that can endure extreme conditions. For instance, Dragonfly, a quadrotor drone destined for Titan, must survive launch, endure more than 100°C in space, and operate in Titan’s -180°C nitrogen-methane atmosphere under 1.5 bar pressure. The spacecraft’s electronics and instruments need to function for over 10 years, some being turned on for the first time after eight years. Osiander also addresses challenges for future missions, like exploring Venus, where temperatures reach 470°C and the pressure is 93 bar in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.
What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding?
Some of the most rewarding aspects of my job include developing innovative concepts and systems and utilizing new materials to solve some of the challenges for spacecraft instruments while they travel in space.
How do you apply your professional experience in your role as an EP instructor?
I always like to provide my students with some of the challenges I’ve faced or have previously solved, encouraging them to develop proposals and solutions. I enjoy discussing these approaches with the group, allowing them to learn from real-world examples.
What do you enjoy most about teaching in the EP program?
I greatly enjoy helping my students find success in the class and in their professional lives. For instance, assisting them with writing papers, reviews, and proposals, and guiding them in seeking resources, all while teaching the aspects of nanomaterials.