# S1E58 NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space | David Oh

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-12-23
- Length: 52m
- Episode: 58
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/nasa-systems-engineering/

## Summary

David Oh, former flight director for the Mars Curiosity rover and current systems engineering manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), discusses the complexities of deep space missions. He details the technical challenges of the Curiosity landing, including the autonomous Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) sequence and the 'sky crane' mechanism, as well as the unique physiological and logistical demands of living on 'Martian time.' Oh also outlines the rigorous proposal process for the Psyche mission to a metal asteroid and explains how systems engineering and risk management mitigate the high failure rates of interplanetary travel.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=0) Introduction: David Oh and JPL's Role in Deep Space Exploration
- [9:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=599) Living on Martian Time: The Curiosity Rover Operations
- [16:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=993) The Sky Crane and Autonomous Landing Challenges
- [21:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=1289) The Psyche Mission: Exploring a Metal Asteroid
- [27:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=1631) NASA's Discovery Program Proposal Process
- [35:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=2120) Systems Engineering and Risk Management at JPL
- [37:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=2237) Communication, Facilitation, and Team Dynamics
- [43:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh#t=2599) Future Missions and Work-Life Balance

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- NASA (company)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (company)
- Curiosity rover (product)
- Psyche (product)
- Perseverance rover (product)
- Caltech (company)
- MIT (company)
- Space Systems/Loral (company)
- Lucy mission (product)
- Dawn mission (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [371: All Martian Things Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-04-29-371-all-martian-things-considered) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu) (Robot Talk)
- [94. NASA’s Plan to Crash Land on Mars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-11-01-94-nasas-plan-to-crash-land-on-mars) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Ep. 31 | NASA Astronauts Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins Talk Engineering at 17,000 mph](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-09-24-ep-31-nasa-astronauts-victor-glover-and-michael-hopkins-talk-engineering-at-17-0) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Mars, System Design & NAND - Mercurial Mars Mission](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-03-20-mars-system-design-nand-mercurial-mars-mission) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.