Ari Drake

Title: Aerospace Engineer – Space Mission Analysis Branch (SMAB)
Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD)
Technical Focus Area: Logistics Modeling & Analysis
Missions/Projects: HLS (Artemis III, IV, V), Campaign Analysis Team (CAT)

Ari Drake has supported SMAB Exploration since 2023, after graduating with their bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

They work as the alt. logistics lead for the HLS program supporting development of the vehicle flight manifests, tracking the cargo and performing analysis of logistics to support critical mission-development decisions and ensuring completion of Artemis objectives.

They additionally support the Campaign Analysis Team’s work modeling logistics and performing systems analysis on integrated campaign architectures to support NASA’s Strategy and Architecture Office (SAO).

Education/Professional Experience

• B.S Aerospace Engineering, University of Illiois Urbana-Champaign 8/2019-5/2023
• Aerospace Engineer (Binera, Inc.) 6/2023-present.