Thomas Lambot

Belgian engineer expatriated in the US, I am working as a propulsion research engineer at the NASA Ames Research Center on a DARPA-funded project called "Millimeter-wave Thermal Launch System" or MTLS. The MTLS is a new concept of rocket propulsion using a heat exchanger and a beam of energy coming from the ground, instead of a conventional combustion chamber.

Objective of the project? Launch nano-satellites (CubeSat size) several times a day.

I studied mechanical engineering in fluid mechanics at UCL/EPL (Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium) and I have an additional master degree in aerospace propulsion systems from ISAE/Supaero (Toulouse, France).

I spent one year at the VKI (Von Karman Institute for fluid dynamics) for my master thesis, where I did experiments in a high enthalpy plasma wind tunnel called "Plasmatron".

Passionate about everything that flies, I have a soft spot for unconventional propulsion systems and "exotic" air/spacecraft. I am also looking forward to the new developments of private space companies.