Suggested Searches

Official photo of Deputy Chief Engineer, Launch Services Program

Akash Vangani

Deputy Chief Engineer, Launch Services Program

Akash Vangani is a deputy chief engineer supporting the Launch Services Program (LSP) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Since 2018, Vangani has been responsible for all engineering aspects related to design, integration and processing of flight hardware elements and facility/ground support equipment. He provides technical insight and approval for missions, with recommendations for final “Go/No Go” launch decisions.

In this position, Vangani is responsible for the implementation of the program technical oversight policy. Some notable missions that Vangani has supported recently include the Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite, Lucy, Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and Psyche.

Experience

Prior to this current role, Vangani was the certification manager for LSP and was responsible for implementation of the program launch vehicle risk mitigation policy and plan.

He established the organizational climate for the overall certification effort of emerging or modified launch vehicles, establishing strategic direction and political approaches as well as policy and process implementation. Vangani has successfully certified the Falcon 9, the Atlas V, and the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle which was used to launch Parker Solar Probe in 2018.

Vangani was also the Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer for the Delta II, Atlas V and Falcon 9 launch vehicles. On launch day, he served as the assistant chief engineer where he was responsible for leading the NASA engineering team through troubleshooting launch vehicle issues during the launch countdown and providing a “Go/No Go” for launch. 

Vangani has had a significant involvement in over 50 missions in various leadership roles during his 20-year career in launch vehicles.  Some of the most notable missions include the Mars Exploration Rovers, Pluto New Horizons, JUNO, Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Jason-3 Mission. 

Before coming to NASA, Vangani began his career at The Boeing Company on the Delta II Program where he worked as a stress analyst and later an integration/project engineer.

Awards

Vangani is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2024 Silver Achievement Medal for Engineering Excellence in support of Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), Lucy, and James Webb Space Telescope missions.

Vangani received the Kennedy Space Center Exceptional Service Medal in 2017 for successfully leading the Falcon 9 version 1.1 certification effort, serving as the lead NASA representative on the SpaceX Accident Investigation Team for the F9-20 Anomaly and acting as assistant chief engineer all in support of the Jason-3 mission.

In 2014, Vangani received the prestigious Kennedy Space Center Strategic Leadership Award, “For outstanding leadership and significant technical contributions to NASA certification of Expendable Launch Vehicles.”

Vangani has also been recognized with numerous Group Achievement Awards for certification as well as individual missions.

Education

Vangani earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Personal

Vangani is married with two children. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and traveling.

Biography updated August 2024