Software used during Artemis II mission developed by graduate students, professor at University of Alabama – WBRC

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – One man with an Alabama connection was, like many, glued to his TV on Friday afternoon, April 10, watching as the Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific. However, his interest in Artemis II went beyond just general excitement for the landing because he had a connection to the mission.
Dr. Rohan Sood is an associate professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics at the University of Alabama (UA). He also serves as director of UA’s Astrodynamics and Space Research Laboratory, according to UA’s website.
Sood and his team of graduate students invented computer software for NASA engineers. In simple terms, the software calculates and designs trajectories to destinations in space, and according to Sood, the software was used not just for the current Artemis II mission, but also for the unmanned Artemis I mission.
“As far as the Artemis goes, we first started exploring with Artemis I and the success we saw, the software shows we continued working with Artemis II and Artemis plus missions as well as on-going missions, not just for NASA but other partners in the industry exploring the software and using for deep space missions as well,” said Sood.
Sood told WBRC he would be watching the Artemis II splashdown while on work assignment in Texas.
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