Hi, I'm Morgan, and since I was a kid I've been obsessed with space. These days, I've found myself totally fascinated by the idea that in my lifetime, we could become a multi-planetary species, and that's incredibly exciting to me.
I think one of the biggest ways that we can make an impact in the world today, is to contribute to the goal of helping humans live on the Moon and Mars. And while, there won't be huge colonies on either planet in any of our lifetimes, we do have the opportunity to contribute to exploring, building initial bases, and setting the stage for multi-planetary life.
The more I think about this future, the more I want to contribute to it in some way. And well, my background is in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science, so my mind immediately went to Rocket Engineering. Which yes, is a little different from Rocket Science.
For anyone wondering, here's the breakdown between the two:
Rocket Scientist
- Primarily a scientist — focuses on the fundamental science and theory behind rocketry.
- Works on understanding "why" and "how" things work at a deep physical/mathematical level.
- Typical work includes:
- Orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization
- Propulsion physics (thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, combustion)
- Aerodynamics and atmospheric re-entry modeling
- Advanced simulations and mathematical modeling
- Research into new propellants, plasma physics, or exotic concepts (e.g. nuclear propulsion)
Background: Usually has a strong physics or applied mathematics degree (often a PhD).
Rocket Engineer
- Primarily an engineer — focuses on designing, building, testing, and operating actual rockets.
- Works on the "how do we make this real" side.
- Typical work includes:
- Structural design and materials
- Propulsion system engineering (engines, turbopumps, nozzles)
- Avionics, guidance, navigation & control systems
- Thermal protection, manufacturing, and testing
- Systems integration and launch operations
Background: Usually has an aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering degree.
So yeah, since I have a background in Electrical and Computer Engineering, not a PhD in Physics or Math, I think this is the best path for me. I'm also a lot more interesting in all the innovation happening now when it comes to actually building rockets.
The tipping point for me here, to go from someone who loves space and rocketry to someone who wants to actively contribute, really has been SpaceX and the development of the Raptor rocket engine and Starship space shuttle. It's just too freaking exciting, I can't get enough of it.
As to where this journey takes me, I don't know, but I know that I want to learn what makes rockets go brrrrr, and I'm going to do that.
My current learning path is:
- Using LLMs like SuperGrok Heavy to develop a custom rocket engineering learning path
- Building a custom application for learning and that includes some interactive labs so I can experiment with concepts
- Reading the first seven chapters of the book Rocket Propulsion Elements, which seems to be the go-to for Rocket Engineers
I wanted a place to share my journey, from the beginning, because I think that will both help me stay on track, and maybe along the way, inspire a few other people to contribute because I think we need all the people we can get, this is a big mission for humanity.
Okay, that's all I've got for this first post. I have no plan on any kind of cadence, I'll just write when I want to write, but I'll do my best to share my journey as much as I can. Thanks for reading, now it's time for me to go read more about rockets.
