Steve Chappell, Ph.D.

Expertise: 23 years professional experience in systems design, engineering, integration, & test of space & ground systems; Utilizing operationally-driven system development philosophies to optimize vehicles and systems for astronaut crew use in achieving mission and science objectives ; reduced gravity human locomotion energetics/biomechanics; surface EVA system design, operations, and testing, including access and rescue systems for surface EVA
Affiliation: NASA/Wyle Science, Technology, & Engineering
Certification/Education:
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering Sciences (Bioastronautics), University of Colorado, 2006
M.S., Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, 2003
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 1991
Research Link(s):

See Bio…

FINESSE Research Objectives

Systematic evaluation of recommended operations concepts, protocols, and capabilities for Near-Earth asteroid, Phobos/Deimos, and Mars surface scientific exploration while operating in a real scientific exploration environment under different space-to-ground communication bandwidths and communications latencies.

Biography

Dr. Chappell grew up in Lako Orion, MI, and attended the University of Michigan and earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Steve also earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado, studying human performance in simulated reduced gravity. Steve currently works for Wyle Science, Technology, and Engineering Group at NASA JSC. He is helping to define and execute the research needed to optimize human performance in the next-generation human space exploration systems, including leading and taking part in studies in exploration analog environments.

He was an aquanaut member of the crew for NEEMO 14. For NEEMO 15, he was a major contributor to the design of the equipment and methods the crew used and served as the Deputy Mission Manager for the mission. He was the Exploration EVA Technical Director for NEEMO 16, with responsibility for proper planning, preparation, and execution of all the mission’s in-water studies. He has been a participant in other analogs including the Haughton Mars Project and Desert RATS.

In addition, Dr. Chappell has been an active member of Rocky Mountain Rescue in Boulder, CO, since 1998. Rocky Mountain Rescue is one of the busiest all-volunteer mountain rescue teams in the United States. He has progressed in recent years to be the teams Operations Director and has taken part in more than 450 mountain rescue missions during his rescue career.

Research Links

Chappell, S., and Klaus, D., “Enhanced Simulation of Partial Gravity for Extravehicular Activity,” Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, vol. 10(1), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/2327-2937.1052, 2013.

Chappell, S., Abercromby, A., Gernhardt, M., “NEEMO 15: Evaluation of Human Exploration Systems for Near-Earth Asteroids”, Acta Astronautica, vol. 89, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.03.002, 2013.

Abercromby, A., Chappell, S., Gernhardt, M., “Desert RATS 2011: Human and Robotic Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids”, Acta Astronautica, vol. 91, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.05.002, 2013.

Chappell, S., Abercromby, A., Todd, W., Reagan, M., Gernhardt, M., “NEEMO 16: Evaluation of Systems for Human Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids”, Proceedings of the 43rd International Conference on Environmental Systems, Vail, CO, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2013-3508, 2013.

Abercromby, A., Chappell, S., Litaker, H., Reagan, M., Gernhardt, M., “NASA Research and Technology Studies (RATS) 2012: Evaluation of Human and Robotic Systems for Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids”, Proceedings of the 43rd International Conference on Environmental Systems, Vail, CO, 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2013-3506, 2013.

Reagan, M., Janoiko, B., Parker, M., Johnson, J., Chappell, S., Abercromby, A., “NASA’s Analog Missions: Driving Exploration Through Innovative Testing”, Proceedings of the Space 2012 Conference, Pasadena, CA, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-5238, 2012.

Chappell, S., Abercromby, A., Gernhardt, M., “NEEMO 15: Evaluation of Human Exploration Systems for Near-Earth Asteroids”, Proceedings of the 2012 Global Exploration Conference, Washington D.C., 2012.

Abercromby, A., Chappell, S., Gernhardt, M., “Desert RATS 2011: Human Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids”, Proceedings of the 2012 Global Exploration Conference, Washington D.C., 2012.

Chappell, S., Abercromby, A., Todd, W., Gernhardt, M., “Final Report of NEEMO 14: Evaluation of a Space Exploration Vehicle, Cargo Lander, and Crew Lander during Simulated Partial-gravity Exploration and Construction Tasks”, NASA Technical Report TP-2011-216152, pp. 178, 2011.

Chappell, S., Norcross, J., Clowers, K., Clark, T., Cowley, M., Harvill, L., Desantis, L., Morency, R., Vos, J., Gernhardt, M., “Final Report of the Integrated Parabolic Flight Test: Effects of Varying Gravity, Center of Gravity, and Mass on the Movement Biomechanics and Operator Compensation of Ambulation and Exploration Tasks”, NASA Technical Report TP-2010-216137, pp. 127, 2010.

Chappell, S., Norcross, J., Abercromby, A., Gernhardt, M., “Life Sciences Implications of Lunar Surface Operations”, NASA Technical Report TM-2010-216138, pp. 32, 2010.

Norcross, J., Chappell, S., Clowers, K., Clark, T., Cowley, M., Harvill, L., Desantis, L., Morency, R., Vos, J., Gernhardt, M., “Characterization of Partial-Gravity Analog Environments for Extravehicular Activity Suit Testing”, NASA Technical Report TM-2010-216139, pp. 60, 2010.

Mulugeta, L., Chappell, S.P., Skytland, N.G. “The Effect of Center of Gravity and Anthropometrics on Human Performance in Simulated Lunar Gravity”, 39th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Savannah, Georgia, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2561, 2009.

Chappell, S., Scheuring, R., Jones, J., Lee, P., Comtois, J.M., Hodgson, E., Wilkinson, N., Braham, S., Torney, S., Sullivan, P., and A. Rafiq, “Access Systems for Partial Gravity Exploration and Rescue: Results from Prototype Testing in an Analog Environment”, International Conference on Environmental Systems, 07ICES-89, Chicago, IL, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2007-01-3033, 2007.

Chappell, S., Klaus, D., and S. Parazynski, “Access Systems for Partial Gravity Exploration and Rescue: Engineering Analysis and Design”, International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2006-01-2291, Norfolk, VA, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-2291, 2006.

Chappell, S., “Energetics and Resource Optimization for Planetary EVA Operations in Steep Terrain”, AIAA Space 2004 Conference, AIAA 2004-6078, San Diego, CA, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2004-6078, 2004.