Abstract
As a doctoral student at MIT, Danielle bridges aerospace engineering and international development to enhance the benefits that countries gain from space technology. Her work explores the challenges and successes of implementing satellite projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Danielle's story begins with her experiences as an undergraduate at MIT, majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Danielle volunteered on three occasions at a shelter for homeless children in Kenya. Danielle felt strongly that she wanted to apply her engineering knowledge to the needs of Kenyan communities. It was unclear to her, however, how knowledge of space engineering could help her Kenyan friends. The desire to apply her engineering knowledge to African needs stayed with Danielle as she started graduate school at MIT in 2005. As a graduate student, Danielle did find a way to combine her interest in space technology with her interest in international development. Her graduate research focuses on the use of space technology in developing countries. Danielle's Master's thesis analyzed the ways African countries use satellite remote sensing, communication and navigation to meet a variety of national needs. For example, remote sensing satellites provide data that is valuable to manage disasters, monitor crops, facilitate urban planning, and supervise water resources. Danielle is currently researching the evolution of new space programs in developing countries. She is particularly interested in the process by which these countries gain expertise in space technology. In the long term, Danielle hopes to work with NASA to shape projects that apply space technology to development challenges.
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