Abstract
My technical thesis focuses on the design of a Mars Ascent Vehicle, which is the vehicle
that would carry astronauts off the surface of Mars so they could meet an Earth return vehicle in
orbit. The project explains that a full return vehicle would be too difficult and risky to land
directly on Mars, so a smaller ascent vehicle is a more realistic option. The main design question
was how to redesign the vehicle so it could fit inside the smaller 7-meter payload fairing of Blue
Origin’s New Glenn while still supporting a four person crew. The report also explains the main
mission plan, including launch, time in orbit, descent to the Martian surface, time waiting on
Mars, and then ascent back to low Mars orbit.
A big part of this thesis is that the design was not only about making the vehicle fit. It
also had to meet safety needs, structural needs, and mission limits. The report lays out design
requirements for volume, crew access, rendezvous and docking, and structural soundness during
liftoff, entry, descent, and landing. It also discusses mass and fairing size as major constraints. In
other words, the final design was shaped by real limits, not just by what would look best on
paper. The project shows that engineering decisions were tied to mission safety, launch vehicle
limits, and the practical goal of getting astronauts back home reliably.
My STS thesis focuses on how Gen Z uses social media to express values through
buying, boycotting, and supporting brands. It explains that platforms like TikTok and Instagram
have become major places where younger people react to companies, share opinions, and
organize around issues they care about. The thesis argues that a lot of online activism now
happens through consumer choices. People may stop buying from companies they see as
harmful, or they may support brands that seem more ethical or sustainable. The paper uses this to
show how social media has changed the way activism, identity, and consumer behavior connect
to each other.
The STS thesis also argues that there is a contradiction in how this works. Social media
gives people tools to organize and pressure companies, but those same platforms are built around
advertising, engagement, and visibility. The Zara case shows how online backlash can turn into
boycott behavior, while the sustainability case shows how social media can also push people
toward zero waste and upcycled products. Both examples show that social media can influence
what people buy and how they respond to brands. At the same time, both examples also show
that these actions still happen inside systems that profit from attention and consumer activity.
That is the main connection between the two theses. Both show that technology works inside
larger systems and that design always affects people in ways that go beyond the technical object
itself.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Technical Advisor: Chris Goyne, Michael Mcpherson
STS Advisor: Karina Ripley
Technical Team Members: Craig Kalkwarf, David Truong, Nayeon Son, Anne Marie Branch, Amen Alemu, Matthew Herring
