Ralph Ewig
An innovative problem solver and results oriented engineering professional, Dr. Ewig has 15 years of experience across all areas of space systems design, analysis, development, and testing.
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- 1/26/2010
Education/Experience
BA/MS/PhD @ University of WashingtonMotto
To understand, is to transform what is.Affiliations
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Displaying Results 1 - 19 (of 19) for Yahoo! Voices
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Book Review - "The First Space Race"Before Apollo, there was Sputnik; and the events leading to the first satellites were no less dramatic than the race to land on the Moon. This fascinating account captures the world's first space race which ignited humanity's expansion into space. -
The Evils of PowerPoint EngineeringEngineers are supposed to create gizmos which do something. However, the ubiquity of chart based presentations has made them increasingly acceptable as the end-product of even very large aerospace engineering programs. Where did it go wrong? -
The Death Spiral of Commercial Space / NASA RelationsAs a government agency, NASA has limited trust in New Space organizations. The additional controls put in place to monitor contractor performance however, can quickly become the primary impediment to contractor productivity. -
Book Review - "Mobility: Engines and Institutions"This book looks at the history and physical limits of what makes us (as a society) mobile. Whether it's global travel within hours or moving mind-boggling amounts of material, all of it is bounded by physical laws and highly entangled in social context. -
Book Review - "The Invisible Universe"This 160 page book by radio astronomer Gerrit Vershuur is a great overview of radio astronomy, and a fun read. The author's interspersed anecdotes of his personal experiences with the various topics make it especially engaging - highly recommended! -
An Unsuspecting Entrepreneur in the Space BusinessAlthough I never pictured myself as a small business owner when going through college, it is where I ended up anyway. When you combine entrepreneurial creativity with no-nonsense business practices and the opportunity for serious money, magic happens. -
Gentlemen, (Don't) Start Your (Rocket) Engines?All space visions need to address the issue of space launch; yet national policies and profit-driven universities have shrunk the number of launch vehicle design tools; severely limiting the education and creativity of aspiring rocket scientists. -
The IPad's Fundamental Flaw is Also the Reason for the Downfall of NASAApple's latest gadget has no purpose other than consuming content created by others; it's a one-way window for the internet. NASA's way of doing business puts on a show for others to watch with no way to participate. Both are doomed, unless they change. -
Book Review - "Two Paths to Heaven's Gate"This memoir of radio astronomer Nan Dieter Conklin spans the beginnings of radio astronomy in the 70s to the present day. It is an account of the history of ground-based space exploration, and a poignant reminder that science is above all very hard work. -
The Importance of Space-Age Looks in the Age of Space ExplorationThe driving factor behind NASA's Constellation Program having no supporters outside of the inside engineering crowd, was that it was ugly. Any space program funded by public money needs to inspire dreams as much as it should return more tangible results. -
Book Review - "Life in Space: Astrobiology for Everyone"This book on the discipline of astrobiology crosses many scientific disciplines. Like astrobiology itself, it struggles a little with defining itself, but in doing so provides a wealth of insights on the topic of life from the perspective of space. -
The Tail Who Wagged the Dog - or the Tale of NASA's Mission Ops DirectorateAs the Shuttle retires and space crew transport transitions to private enterprise, the ratio of ground support to flight operations needs to transition as well. The goal of "airplane like operations" applies to the vehicle as much as mission control. -
Systems Engineering in the Entrepreneurial Space IndustryAs entrepreneurial space companies grow up, systems engineering becomes increasingly important. Choosing your tools carefully and introducing practices incrementally makes all the difference between project success vs. open revolt and mission failure. -
Reverse Technology Transfer in the Space IndustryThe low numbers of aerospace technology products result in high unit costs when compared to other industries. There are many opportunities to adapt non-aerospace solutions to aerospace applications that enable cost-savings and performance gains. -
Book Review - "Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts"This large format book is a photo essay of the Apollo space program, with each image selected and commented on by one of the astronauts. It is as inspiring as it is beautiful, and a great reminder why we explore and just what an achievement Apollo was. -
What Makes a Space Program Sustainable?We are once again at the start of a new cycle in the US space program. Sustained human space activities will only be achieved if we evolve ourselves just as our technologies. Here's why we should take the long-road: because in Space shortcuts go nowhere. -
Space Volunteers - Space Exploration by the People, for the PeopleIf you are passionate about Space, help to realize its promise. No matter what your views are, there are efforts underway that need your support, and that will provide you the means to not only talk about Space, but also advance us towards getting there. -
Book Review - "Living Off the Land in Space: Green Roads to the Cosmos"While not as focused on space resources as the title implies, this book is an informative read. With all the buzz about US space policy and NASA's role in the future, this is a worthwhile read to learn what options are available going forward.
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A Journey of a Million Miles Begins with One StepSince the election of President Obama, U.S. space policy has been floundering in a vacuum of leadership. While the new NASA administrator is nowhere to be seen, speculation on NASA's future abound; however, all of them ignore one fundamental problem.