THE FIRST FEMALE AEROSPACE ENGINEER IN THE GCC

STARTED HER OWN ROCKET COMPANY AT AGE 26

INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2015
{ARAB WOMAN AWARDS}

AWARDED FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT BY HRH KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD, NOVEMBER 2018

Mishaal Ashemimry – Aerospace Engineer and Founder of MISHAAL Aerospace

Mishaal Ashemimry is a Saudi-American Aerospace Engineer, Aerospace Entrepreneur, commercial pilot, speaker and influencer, who was born in the US and spent a few years of her early life in Saudi, where her fascination with space started. More specifically, she was inspired at the age of six while gazing at the stars in the Unayzah desert. To feed her curiosity, she decided to learn how to build rockets that will enable her to explore space and one day take her there.

As the First female aerospace engineer in the GCC, she realized that this title comes with an enormous responsibility to inspire others to join her field as well as other STEM programs. To reach the youth, she used social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube to educate her follower about her field, experiences, and to inspire them to have a dream and perseverance to pursue it. As a result, she became a public figure and speaker at many events in the GCC and globally. Her influence garnered the attention of Macy’s, Pepsico and Dubai TV in campaigns to educate and empower youth.

Ashemimry is a consultant in her field and was a professor at the University of Miami Mechanical and Aerospace Department. Currently, Ashemimry is an International Astronautical Federation Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and a special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency with a strong focus on developing Saudi’s role in the global space market. Prior to joining the Saudi Space Agency, Ashemimry was a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman in the US. Moreover, she is living her passion everyday by educating and inspiring others through conferences, webinars, and her social media channels. While based in Miami, Florida, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace at age 26, to pursue her ultimate dream of building rockets. Her company’s objective was to design and build their own rockets to launch small satellites (500 kg) or less to Low Earth Orbit. Previously, she worked for Raytheon Missile Systems’ Aerodynamics Department and contributed to twenty-two different rocket programs. Her professional experience and areas of expertise include aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis and rocket stage-separation analysis, with a strong focus on computational tool development.

She earned a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, and two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Aerospace Engineering and in Applied Mathematics, also from Florida Institute of Technology. Her academic focus included: experimental and analytical aerodynamics, rocket design and nuclear thermal propulsion.

International Astronautical Federation | Paris, France, Remote from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Vice President for Diversity Initiatives
September 2022 - Present

Cofounded the Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Administrative (IDEA) Committee
Created a plan to incentivize statistical transparency for IAF Member Organizations
Developed a plan to engage with IAF member organizations to ensure commitment to IDEA goals

Saudi Space Agency (Formerly the Saudi Space Commission) | Remote from Miami, FL (Sept 2021 – May 2022), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (May 2022 – Present)

Technical Advisor/Consultant
September 2021-Present

Consulted on developing Saudi’s National Space Strategy
Created and lead specific space programs and initiatives including Saudi’s Human Space Flight Program
Developed strategies, roadmaps and budget for these space programs and initiatives
Advised leadership on national space strategy direction and execution

Northrop Grumman Corporation | Space Systems | Redondo Beach, CA (remote Miami, FL)

Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant
November 2020 - Present

Assessed feasibility of space nuclear power and propulsion (NEP and NTP) technologies
Developed a strategy and roadmap to achieve these space technologies
Determined development effort and cost required
Devised space nuclear power and propulsion technology applications for national security and commercial missions
Proposed a nuclear electric propulsion and power system as a demonstrator using NGC payload for AFRL/USSF
Analyzed NASA and DOD budgets to highlight key focus areas for capture
Provided an analysis of scientific missions enabled by different propulsion systems
Identified potential industry partners to setup teaming or venture agreements with
Evaluated Chinese and Russian capabilities in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion as well as overall capabilities

University of Miami | Mechanical and Aerospace Department| Miami, FL

Adjunct Professor
August 2019 - December 2019

Taught junior and senior level courses, namely MAE 471 Flight Dynamics and MAE 446 Aircraft Design

The Astronauts

Finalist
March 2019 - June 2019

Participated as a contestant for “The Astronauts” a television production for Dubai TV under Col. Chris Hadfield (Canadian Astronaut)
Col. Chris Hadfield conducted the show as a real astronaut selection process with 30 challenges and eliminations
Selected from a large pool to participate and made it to the top three finalists

Military Industries Corporation| Paris, France

Consultant
November 2015 - May 2018

Called upon for the transition of MIC into a private defense company
Consult on matters related to rockets/missiles
Created several initial projects to facilitate transfer of know-how and technology
Provided a missile systems upgrade roadmap for a specific program

Beauty Box Ltd| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Co-founder and Partner
October 2010 – Present

Invested in a cosmetics distribution company with my sisters
Distribute several exclusive brands including hair products and treatments, enhancers, and beauty supplies
Offer our brands to end-consumers through more than 1,500 authorized distributors and retailers in Saudi Arabia

MISHAAL AEROSPACE | Miami, FL

President & CEO | Aerospace Engineer
May 2010– November 2020

Started my own aerospace company
Developed launch vehicles (rockets) dedicated to the launch of small satellites (<=500kg) to orbit
Designed, developed and tested our own line of rockets: the M-Rocket Series
Created and managed multi-million dollar budget for the entire business
Directed all activities in the company including team selection, engineering, finance and business
Successfully completing our first static test of the M-SV hybrid rocket propulsion system
Worked together with potential clients and received several Letters of Intent to launch their satellites
Put rocket development on hold, until new investors are found
Provided aerospace consultancy globally

RAYTHEON MISSILE SYSTEMS | Aerodynamics Department | Tucson, Arizona

Systems Engineer II
June 2008–April 2010

Worked on 22 different rocket/missile programs
Planned, conducted, and analyzed data from wind tunnel tests
Wrote pre- and post-test reports and statements of work for model vendors and wind tunnels
Wrote computer programs to read and process wind tunnel data
Created math models of missile aerodynamic data for autopilot, control, and structural analysis
Developed aerodynamic models for 3- and 6-degree-of-freedom trajectory simulation
Created code wrappers and modules to run prediction codes and predict missile performance
Assessed effects of model-configuration changes on vehicle aerodynamics
Improved existing computational tools and made them more robust and generic

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Mechanical and Aerospace Department | Melbourne, Florida

Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Chelakara Subramanian
August–December 2007

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Studied impinging jets and employed flow-visualization techniques
Determined major and minor losses in channel bends

Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory

Ran boundary layer experiments in a wind tunnel
Experimented with a shock tube
Determined the pressure distribution over a cylinder and evaluated airfoil performance
Quantified drag by conducting a wake survey

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Mechanical and Aerospace Department| Melbourne, Florida

Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Daniel Kirk
August 2006–December 2007

Research conducted for and funded by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Created analytical and idealized models of NERVA-type reactors
Analyzed a novel grooved-ring reactor concept for nuclear thermal propulsion
Developed analytical models for that reactor, based on a NASA power-density model
Optimized reactor design geometry to reduce thermal gradients and improve performance
Investigated properties of para- and ortho-hydrogen

Recognized and awarded for Scientific Achievement By HRH King Salman Bin Abdulaziz AL Saud, November 2018
Inspirational woman of the year 2015 | ARAB WOMAN AWARDS
Awarded the Outstanding Senior Award in Aerospace Engineering, 2005–2006
Awarded the Outstanding Junior Award in Aerospace Engineering, 2004–2005
Awarded Florida Tech grants, 2003–2005
Awarded four Florida Tech Faculty Scholarships, 2002–2005
Awarded four Florida Medallion Scholarships, 2002–2005

Certified in Executive Leadership Development by Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Certified Commercial Pilot with Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings
Certified in General Space Training Elements on the base of Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Certified in Unique Test Flight on board the Laboratory plane IL-76 MDK and trained in conditions of zero-gravity corresponding to conditions of real space flight
Certified Open Water SCUBA Diver
Certified Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diver
Certified Rescue SCUBA Diver
Certified Nitrox SCUBA Diver

Masters of Science, Aerospace Engineering

Florida Institute of Technology
2006 - 2007

Research: Analyzed and re-designed a grooved-ring reactor concept for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Thesis: "Analysis of a Grooved-Ring Reactor Concept for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion". View publication abstract

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering

Florida Institute of Technology
2002 - 2006

Awarded the Outstanding Junior Award in Aerospace Engineering, 2004-2005.
Awarded the Outstanding Senior Award in Aerospace Engineering, 2005-2006.

Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics