When passions meet career goals

Launching Success

Alexander Kaplan, a 2017 aerospace engineering graduate, is the spacecraft mechanisms lead for Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, named Ghost Riders in the Sky. Blue Ghost is among a number of commercial space projects designed to deliver science and technology to the moon through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. The uncrewed missions will perform science experiments, test technologies, and help NASA explore the lunar surface, laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting presence on the moon.

Blue Ghost Mission 1 launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, and performed the first fully successful commercial moon landing on March 2. Firefly then successfully completed more than 14 days of surface operations (346 hours of daylight) and just over 5 hours of operations into the lunar night with the final data received around 6:15 p.m. CDT on March 16. This achievement marks the longest commercial operations on the Moon to date.

As the lead mechanisms engineer for Blue Ghost Mission 1, Kaplan was responsible for everything that moved independently of the rest of the lander.

“Firefly Aerospace had four different mechanisms on the first mission that support our payloads,” he said.

“Firefly’s mechanisms on Blue Ghost also support our high gain antenna that allows us to capture 4K video and help improve our power efficiency. When you’re going to the moon, you will be dealing with an extreme range of temperatures. We developed a passively controlled radiator cover system to conserve as much heat as possible when the lander is cold. As the lander warms up, it passively opens up these radiator covers to expose them, helping us cool off when we need it and save a lot more power without adding a lot of weight.”

 As a Virginia Tech student, Kaplan spent a lot of time with different design teams.

“Working on the Astrobotics team was most directly applicable to working on a NASA space robotics mission,” he said. “Getting exposure to different disciplines and having extensive design team support was a huge benefit and sets Virginia Tech apart from other schools.”

Third-generation Hokie Morgan Bright ’23 is making her mark on the world of packaging design as an associate packaging engineer for Newell Brands, which works to develop innovative products for consumers.

“I work with brands like Rubbermaid to develop packaging designs for new products and coordinate with suppliers for packaging production,” said Bright, who works at Newell’s Huntersville, North Carolina, location.

Bright’s journey to Virginia Tech began with her father, Don Bright ’98. He studied wood science in the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) and is now the president of Meherrin River Forest Products. Morgan’s mother, Kimberly Bright ’98, also attendedVirginia Tech, and her grandfather John David Barrett ’71, M.S. ’73 served as an associate professor, associate dean, and director of Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Aside from her family background, Morgan Bright, who graduated with a degree in packaging systems and design from CNRE, was drawn to Virginia Tech because of the academic offerings that fueled her passion for sustainability.

“I chose packaging because I wanted to make an impact on plastic pollution in packaging design and reduce waste,” Bright said.

Bright’s role at Newell Brands requires an understanding of manufacturing. She uses her expertise to help design products that meet the needs of consumers while reducing negative impacts on the environment. Bright started at Newell Brands as a packaging engineering intern in the summer of 2023. At the end of her internship, she was offered a full-time position, which allowed her to build meaningful relationships with mentors across both experiences.

“Everyone is very interested in teaching me, and I love learning about this field,” she said.

At Virginia Tech, Bright interned for Assistant Professor Eduardo Molina in the Corrugated Materials Testing Laboratory. She also completed undergraduate research with funding from the International Safe Transit Association.

“I now use their testing standards in my everyday work, so my research was a great opportunity to build a knowledge base,” she said.

Setting the pace

Tommy Doubleday ’24, a former Virginia Tech Triathlon club officer, placed first in the Long Course TriathlonNational Championship in Daytona,Florida, on Dec. 8, 2024.

For Doubleday, who spent years preparing to launch a professional triathlon career, the win was essential to securing the points necessary to apply for his elite license. He finished the race in 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 59 seconds.

“There were a lot of things I could’ve let kill that race, and I said no,” said Doubleday. “I trusted my fitness, my coach, and I knew my friends would be there.Everything fell into place.”

Doubleday graduated from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design with a degree in industrial design. An Illinois native, he didn’t start participating in triathlons until he joined Virginia Tech Triathlon. Triathlon, one of 30 sport clubs advised and funded by Virginia Tech Recreational Sports, is made up of athletes of all skill levels who love to swim, bike, and run.

Joining Triathlon kick-started Doubleday’s passion for the sport and introduced him to a team that would become his community. Doubleday’s win contributes to the program’s legacy of nine national team championships and two individual championships.

In his sophomore year, Doubleday became Triathlon’s vice president of apparel and travel. As an industrial design major, he took his role seriously. He designed professional-grade suits to help team members look and feel like a team.

When he isn’t competing, Doubleday designs and develops sports apparel for sporting goods company Boombah.

Now, with his elite license in hand thanks to his national championship win, he is set to make his professional athletic debut.

Morgan Bright profile written by Mollie Coogan, employer relations intern for the College of Natural Resources and Environment.