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Hemil Modi

The headshot image of Mark V. Vorobets

Mark V. Vorobets

Jan 30, 2020
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Contents

Hemil Modi

650-604-0331
hemil.c.modi-1@nasa.gov
Title: Sr. Research Scientist-Engineer

Education:

MSc. 2012, Space Studies, Human Spaceflight, International Space University, France
B.E. 2011, Civil Engineering, University of Pune, India

Research Interests:

Hemil is a renowned technical leader and recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal. He transforms scientific vision into reality and is passionate about developing advanced autonomous systems for life here on Earth and exploration of the universe. He plays a key role in some of NASA’s most coveted R&D projects including:

  • UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Upper-Class E Traffic Management and Space Launch and Re-entry Traffic Management
  • Autonomous flight systems (drones) for Earth, Moon, Venus, and the Moons of Saturn
  • Space weather and radiation characterization from Sun to Earth, Moon, Mars, and beyond
  • Automated and remote-operated biological incubators for supporting cell culture research on the International Space Station
  • Autonomous plant growth habitats (CubeSat greenhouse) for Moon and Mars
  • Small spacecraft missions and technologies for astrobiology
  • Robotic arms and in-situ sample acquisition, handling, and processing systems for life detection missions to planetary bodies like Venus, Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and Titan

NASA Missions:

Hemil is a core team member of NASA’s eXtensible Traffic Management project, leading the exploration of air and space domain traffic management systems including Upper Class-E Traffic Management and Space Launch and Reentry Traffic Management. Previously, he was the technical lead for Data Management on NASA’s flagship Aeronautics project, Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM). Before UTM, he led a dynamic engineering team to develop the Principal Investigator Startup Kit in support of NASA’s International Space Station based Cell Science mission. He has led the engineering design, development, and Lunar gravity testing of the Lunar Plant Growth habitat on NASA’s reduced gravity flight aircraft (aka parabolic flight aircraft). He is an avid aviator and a NASA pilot for uncrewed fixed-wing, helicopter, and multirotor vehicles (aka drones). He is also a distinguished member of NASA’s scientific and technical review panels.

Awards & Recognition:

  • NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, 2021
  • AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Team of the Year Award, UTM Team, 2020
  • NASA Honor Award for UTM Technical Capability Level-4 (TCL-4) Team, 2020
  • Nominee, Robert J. Collier Trophy, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Team, 2019
  • UTM Project Flight Test Team Award, 2019
  • AIAA/IEEE DASC Best of Session (UTM-2) Award, 2019
  • Most Valuable Person on NASA’s UTM project, 2018
  • NASA Group Achievement Award for UTM Project, 2018
  • NASA Certificate of Appreciation for International Space Station based Cell Science Validation Mission, 2018
  • UTM Project Universal Utility Award, 2018
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, UAS Traffic Management Team, 2017
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, UAV Multicopter Wind Tunnel Test Team, 2017
  • SGT Certificate of Achievement for contributions to the UTM Project, 2017
  • SGT Safety Award, 2017
  • UTM Project Certificate of Acknowledgement, 2016
  • Lockheed Martin Special Recognition Award, 2015
  • NASA Ames Center Innovation Fund, 2013
  • NASA Ames Center Innovation Fund, 2012
  • International Project Presentation and Appreciation at the International Scientific and Practical Conference on architecture, construction and transport, Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan, 2011
  • Youth Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, 2010
  • All India Best Cadet, Air Wing, National Cadet Corps, India, 2009. This award is given to 1 out of 1.3 million highly trained Army, Navy, and Air Wing cadets of India’s National Cadet Corps and awarded by the Prime Minister of India.
  • Special Nomination by Chairman ISRO to represent India at the International Astronautical Congress, 2007
  • Aerospace Researcher under then Chairman Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Mr. Madhavan Nair, and Former Director Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, (VSSC-ISRO) Mr. Pramod Kale (2005 onwards)
  • Aerospace researcher under then President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2005 – 2015)

Websites:

NASA UTM https://utm.arc.nasa.gov/index.shtml
NASA Ames Cell Science https://www.nasa.gov/ames/cell-science
Lunar Plant Growth Habitat https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarunwadhwa/2013/11/20/nasas-next-frontier-growing-plants-on-the-moon/#4bf26bf3473f
Former President of India Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam http://abdulkalam.nic.in/profile.html