8 Questions with Astrolab's Luke Walker
Meet Astrolab's LTV Certification Lead and FLIP Program Manager
From supporting Astrolab’s work on NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program to leading the FLIP rover program, Luke Walker is a big part of everything Astrolab is working on right now. Since he’s now been with the team from more than a year, we figured it was time you got to know him!
1. How did you get started at Astrolab?
I've known Astrolab’s CEO, Jaret, since I started my career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). I followed along as he went to SpaceX and then started Astrolab. When I knew it was time to look beyond JPL, I reached out to see how I could fit in.
2. What does your day-to-day work look like?
A lot of my work involves planning and organizing, especially with other people. For LTV, we are in the early stages of design and very early stages of Verification and Validation (V&V), so there's a lot of looking to the future for what we will eventually do. My other main role is bridge-builder: working between technical disciplines and between program management and engineering to make connections, identify dependencies, and integrate our design.
3. What’s a unique challenge you're trying to solve at Astrolab?
As Certification Lead, one of my main responsibilities is to figure out how we're going to prove our vehicle can handle driving on the lunar south pole. It's a complex story to tell because we can't recreate all of the conditions here on Earth. Weaving the individual strands of analysis, simulation, and testing together to create a robust verification story is my unique role.
4. Why are you passionate about working in the space industry?
I wanted to work in the space industry from the time I was little and visited NASA Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center. That enthusiasm continues and is primarily related to exploration. I love the idea of being the first human to see a piece of the solar system. When FLIP and FLEX land on the lunar south pole, our operations room will be the first people to see those rocks and craters up close!
5. What is your most memorable moment at Astrolab?
A few months into my time at Astrolab I got to organize a test for several active astronauts to come out and give feedback on our drivable prototype, SN-1. We had such great and natural discussions on geological surveying, lunar logistics, and general space operations - it was such a quick affirmation that I made a good decision on my next job.
6. What do you enjoy doing outside of work when you aren't building rovers?
I have four kids under the age of 8, so I spend most of my time with my wife and kids. I've been pretty active in their activities - I've now coached baseball, basketball, and soccer teams. I'm also active in my church.
7. Have you worked on something that has been to space before? If so, what?
Several spacecraft at JPL: Cassini, SMAP (an earth science mission), Juno, Perseverance (the Mars rover), and Europa Clipper
8. Star Trek or Star Wars?
My name is Luke Walker - it has to be Star Wars.
Hear more from Luke in our recent video on the change in our FLEX rover’s driving direction:
Check out Astrolab’s currently open positions and how you can join the team here.