I'm Samuel Haas, an aerospace engineering student.

I study aerospace engineering with a focus in astronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach and expect to graduate in spring 2026.  I am currently on a co-op with Peraton where I work as a Launch Vehicle Engineer on the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC).

Work Experience

I am on a co-op where I work on the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC), currently operated by Peraton.  In this position, I have been responsible for the full design lifecycle, from defining requirements, to design and validation in FEA, to creating drawings of hardware that will one day fly as a critical part of an upcoming vehicle stack. 

I have also undertaken major updates to our post-flight analysis code, increasing our capabilities while dramatically reducing runtime, required user oversight, and significantly improving code documentation.

For more detail on my work as a launch vehicle engineer, please visit the NSROC section.

Vail Resorts: Camp Counselor, Ropes Course Facilitator

I oversaw groups of 8-11 campers per week and provided them with positive outdoor experiences ranging from teambuilding to paintball.  I was responsible for ensuring my group moved from one activity to the next in a timely manner as well as running the activity once we arrived.

I also took on a role as a high ropes facilitator.  Here, I took responsibility for the operations of our high ropes course.  I assisted in rigging the course twice a day, as well as belaying and mentoring children, ensuring the area was clear and safe, and other operations as needed. 

NASA L'SPACE Academy: Mechanical Engineer, Safety Officer

I worked with 10 project members across disciplines to complete the preliminary design of the Mars Subterranean Astrobiology and Radiation Explorer (MASTADON-XL) rover, a system designed to enable the exploration of Martian lava tubes.  I also adapted heritage components from previous NASA Mars missions to use in the novel cave environment.

Additionally, I worked as the mission safety officer, identifying and mitigating risks during the manufacturing, system integration, and testing phases and creating procedures for safe operations.  I also developed failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) charts for mechanical systems and science payloads, determined root causes for potential failures and developed modified surface operations plans to allow for continued mission operations in the event of a system failure.