Coverstone Elected to Chair National Space Research Group

4/1/2013 Written by Susan Mumm

Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Prof. Victoria Coverstone elected Chair of the Council of Institutions for the University Space Research Association.

Written by Written by Susan Mumm

Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Prof. Victoria Coverstone has been elected Chair of the Council of Institutions (COI) for the University Space Research Association (USRA).

Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Prof. Victoria Coverstone
Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Prof. Victoria Coverstone
Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Prof. Victoria Coverstone

With 105 member institutions, COI forms the largest and most technically diverse university association serving the space research community. USRA is dedicated to advancing space sciences and exploration through innovative research, technology, and educational programs. USRA provides a collaborative membership organization where universities and other research organizations cooperate effectively with each other, with the United States government, and other entities to develop knowledge associated with space science and technology.

In AE, Coverstone directs the Computational Astrodynamic Research Lab. Her research contributes to space mission design, especially involving novel and state-of-the-art propulsion systems. Coverstone has established a close working relationship with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers and continues to work on space mission planning software.

She earned all her degrees from AE at Illinois: a bachelor’s in 1985, a master’s in 1986, and a PhD in 1992, after which she became an assistant professor in the Department.

In addition to her faculty position with AE, Coverstone also is Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs for the College of Engineering at Illinois. The Office of Engineering Graduate and Professional Programs oversees graduate education programs in the college, including online courses and extramural programs, diversity programs for graduate students, professional degree programs, and other issues affecting the 2700 graduate students in the College of Engineering.

Among honors, Coverstone has been recognized frequently for her teaching skills, including an Honorable Mention in the Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2001) and the College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award (2001), and for her advising abilities, including advising six first-place teams in the national Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition (1994-95, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2007-08).

Coverstone also was recognized in 2008 with the NASA Space Act Award for technical innovation of the “Ultra-Large Solar Sail Technology.”


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This story was published April 1, 2013.