Parul Agrawal

Parul Agrawal is currently the Project Manager for Orion/MPCV operations at NASA Ames Research Center. Orion is part of Artemis program and its mission is to build spacecraft to transport people, cargo to lunar orbit and return people, cargo and lunar samples back to Earth.  Ames is a key contributor in Orion heatshield development, aerothermodynamics and aerodynamic modeling of the vehicle. In addition, she conceptualized and formulated the Celestial Mapping System platform to provide 3D globes for the moon and other celestial bodies:

Celestial Mapping System video, Part 1

Celestial Mapping System video, Part 2

Prior to her current role with Code PX, she worked at the Entry Systems Division, Code TS, for several years. She designed, analyzed and tested heatshield materials and systems in support of programs like Orion, Mars entry, descent, and landing, Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology, (ADEPT), Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology, (HEEET) and In-Space Propulsion Technology, (ISPT). 

She has guided a team of engineers and scientists for Ice Giants probe concept studies, served as Principal Investigator for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts, (NIAC) and Homesteader proposals and supported New Frontier’s Comet Surface Sample Return proposal. Parul earned her Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Management from the Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur, India. Subsequently, she received a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University.