Elizabeth A. Frank

  • Home
  • Experience
  • Blog
  • Media
  • Fun
    • Travel Photos
    • Music Analytics
    • Living on the Edge
  • Contact

Space and Sustainability: Maintaining Sustainable Space Environments

March 21, 2022 by Elizabeth Frank in Space Exploration, Space, Commercial Space

Now is an exciting time for space exploration. In our excitement, we should recall the mistakes made in the past here on Earth and work intentionally to ensure we are not repeating them. An absence of regulation does not mean there is an absence of ethical obligation to maintain sustainable space environments for future generations and for the intrinsic value of space itself.

Read More
March 21, 2022 /Elizabeth Frank
commercial space, sustainability
Space Exploration, Space, Commercial Space
Comment

Space and Sustainability: An Introduction to Their Four Key Intersections

October 26, 2021 by Elizabeth Frank in Sustainability, Space Exploration, Commercial Space

Is the current level of commercial space growth sustainable? What does sustainability even mean? As chief scientist at an engineering firm specializing in space and sustainability systems, and as a human who enjoys the serenity of the wilderness, I feel obligated to grapple with these questions.

Read More
October 26, 2021 /Elizabeth Frank
spacecraft, commercial space, environmentalism, sustainability
Sustainability, Space Exploration, Commercial Space
Comment

White Paper: Commercial Space & Planetary Science

September 15, 2020 by Elizabeth Frank in Commercial Space, Space Exploration

We describe the relationship between mission cost and risk, examine the state of low-cost missions in the PSD, list the benefits of further commercial involvement to planetary exploration and its community, and provide a set of incentives that would evolve beyond the CLPS program by attracting further engagement by commercial space companies.

Read More
September 15, 2020 /Elizabeth Frank
missions, NASA, commercial space
Commercial Space, Space Exploration
Comment

My Rejected LPSC 2020 Abstract

January 31, 2020 by Elizabeth Frank in Commercial Space, Space Exploration

My Lunar & Planetary Science Conference 2020 abstract was rejected for related to policy and not science or missions. In my continued effort to bridge the gap between planetary science and commercial space, here’s my rejected abstract.

Read More
January 31, 2020 /Elizabeth Frank
commercial space, planetary science
Commercial Space, Space Exploration
1 Comment

Five Steps to Go from Science to Product

July 10, 2019 by Elizabeth Frank in Space Exploration

After a few years of working with engineers, I look back on my MESSENGER experience with a fresh perspective and an appreciation for the engineers I never met who created and operated the spacecraft. Now at First Mode, I use this experience to bridge the communication gap between scientists and engineers.

Read More
July 10, 2019 /Elizabeth Frank
NASA, spacecraft, commercial space
Space Exploration
Comment

Why commercial space companies need scientists

November 16, 2018 by Elizabeth Frank in Commercial Space

Many commercial space companies don’t seem to think they need planetary scientists on staff. They are wrong.

Read More
November 16, 2018 /Elizabeth Frank
newspace, hiring, commercial space
Commercial Space
Comment