Staff/About / Support Staff

NATHAN KOGA – ILLUSTRATOR

Nathan Koga works on visual effects in Los Angeles, Nathan has contributed to films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek Beyond and Shazam! He provides critical support in terms of graphics, logo design and video efforts. Koga believes that space flight is a unique challenge in that it often involves ideas, plans or concepts that are very unintuitive and difficult to visualize. Koga enjoy taking those concepts and bringing a sort of reality to them in a way that people can appreciate. The world of space flight is often dominated by technical terminology, and his efforts tend to focus on artistically highlighting the truly awe-inspiring aspects of even the most mundane activities. Some of his work can be viewed here: okan170

JAMES VAUGHAN – ILLUSTRATOR

James Vaughan studied both photography and journalism and while still a student his freelance work appeared in many of the city’s major magazines and newspapers. After he earned his degree Vaughan took a job as an assistant with a large commercial studio. Then in 1977, during a long and cold Chicago Winter, he converted an entire floor of an old factory into his first studio. Over the next 25 years Vaughan worked at the forefront of Chicago’s advertising and fashion industry and was commissioned for a variety of advertising and editorial assignments. His work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Playboy, Science Magazine and other publications. Wanting to bring his imagery to SpaceFlight Insider’s audience, Vaughan has joined our team and produce exclusive imagery for SFI. His work can be viewed here: James Vaughan Photo

Joel Haland – ILLUSTRATOR

Joel Haland is a mechanical engineer currently residing in Gothenburgh, Sweden. He got his bachelor in mechanical engineering at the university of Halmstad. Haland’s interest in space and science sparked at an early age and he follows advancements in space as much as he can. Although there are not rocket launches in his part of the world he hopes to  get the opportunity to see one up close and perhaps experience space flight himself if technology progresses well enough. Aside from his professional work he also spends time modeling and visualizing space missions. It was in this capacity that he caught the eye of SpaceFlight Insider. Haland was asked if he would like to join our growing team and he jumped at the opportunity.

David Collins – ILLUSTRATOR

David Collins is a married, father of 2 and is an award winning multimedia content producer working professionally since 1998. With a degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta and a passion for the creative arts, David has turned that passion into an award winning career. With disciplines from art, illustration, design, video production and photography, David has taken those skills to win several awards such as Addy marketing and production awards. David’s personal passions include the character, aviation and historic illustrations, as well as the adventures that can take place with photography and aerial drone operations. His work can be viewed on his website: David Collins  

ROBERT C. SPRINGER – TECHNICAL CONSULTANT

Robert Springer was selected to be a NASA astronaut in 1980. His first mission was STS-29, which flew aboard space shuttle Discovery in 1989 and STS-38, which roared to orbit on shuttle Atlantis in 1990. All total, Springer has spent 237 hours in space. Springer also served as support crew for STS-3, assisted with concept development studies for the Space Operations Center and in the development of the shuttles’ Remote Manipulator System – more commonly known as “Canadarm.” Before his two trips to orbit, Springer served as Capsule Communicator or “CAPCOM” for seven shuttle missions between 1984 and 1985 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas. In December of 1990, Springer retired from NASA as well as the U.S. Marine Corps, as a Colonel. He then worked for The Boeing Company as its director of quality systems, Integrated Defense Systems. Springer is a highly-skilled aviator having more than 4,500 hours of flight time – including 3,500 hours in jet aircraft. Springer flew F-4 Phantom II fighters and he attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School – more commonly known as “TOPGUN.” His biography can be viewed here: Robert C. Springer

BRIAN DUFFY – TECHNICAL CONSULTANT

Brian Duffy was selected to become a NASA astronaut in June of 1985. He would go on to fly four missions on board the space agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. His first trip into the black took place from March 24 until April 2 of 1992 – when he served as pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-45. His next flight, on STS-57, happened in the following year on NASA’s youngest orbiter – Endeavour. Three years later he rode Endeavour into space again on STS-72. His last flight to orbit took place on Discovery on STS-92 in 2000. Duffy then began to work for Utah-based ATK (now Orbital ATK) after retiring from both the U.S. Air Force and NASA in 2001. Duffy graduated from the USAF Academy in 1975, completing his Undergraduate Pilot Training in the following year. Duffy flew the F-15 and has logged over 5,000 hours of flight time in more than 25 different aircraft. His official NASA biography can be viewed here: Brian Duffy

NICOLE P. STOTT – TECHNICAL CONSULTANT

Nicole Stott began working for NASA in 1988 at Kennedy Space Center as an Operations Engineer in the Orbiter Processing Facility. Stott held a variety of positions with NASA, including Shuttle Flow Director for Endeavour; Orbiter Project Engineer for Columbia, and NASA Convoy Commander for shuttle landings. She was a member of the Space Station Hardware Integration Office and served as NASA’s Project Lead for the ISS truss. Stott also helped train astronauts to land the shuttle via the Shuttle Training Aircraft. In 2000 Stott joined the 18th class of astronauts. After her training was complete she was assigned to the Astronaut Office International Space Station (ISS) Operations branch, where she performed crew evaluations of station payloads. She also served as a support astronaut for Expedition 10 crew and as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM). Stott would fly two missions to the International Space Station, STS-128 in 2009 and STS-133 in 2011. Both of her trips to orbit were on Discovery. Stott was a member of the Expedition 20 and 21 crews, and performed a spacewalk on STS-128. After her time as a member of the Expedition 21 crew, she returned to Earth on STS-129, becoming the last Expedition crew-member to return to Earth via the shuttle. Her official NASA biography can be viewed here: Nicole Stott

TOM JONES – TECHNICAL CONSULTANT

Thomas D. Jones, PhD, is a scientist, author, pilot, and veteran NASA astronaut. He flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the ISS, the U.S. Destiny laboratory. He has spent fifty-three days working and living in space. After graduation from the Air Force Academy, Jones piloted B-52D strategic bombers, earned a doctorate in planetary sciences from the University of Arizona, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA, and helped NASA develop advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system. Jones is the author of several current space and aviation books: Planetology, (written with Ellen Stofan), Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler’s Wehrmacht (with Robert F. Dorr), and Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir. The Wall Street Journal named Sky Walking one if its “Five Best” books on space. His newest title is Ask the Astronaut, to be published by Smithsonian Books in early 2016. Dr. Jones’ awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Public Service award, Phi Beta Kappa, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and Eagle Scout. The Main Belt asteroid 1082 TomJones is named in his honor. AstronautTomJones.com

JAY GALLENTINE – TECHNICAL CONSULTANT

Jay Gallentine is an award-winning author and space historian, focusing primarily on unmanned solar system exploration. His books are notable for their deep research, conversational tone, and heavy use of original interviews with key individuals – Russian as well as American. His writing has also been praised for is straightforward explanations of complicated concepts. Jay’s first effort, “Ambassadors from Earth” (University of Nebraska Press, 2009), detailing the turbulent early days of solar system exploration, received the 2009 Eugene M. Emme Award for Astronautical Literature. The second book from Jay, “Infinity Beckoned” (University of Nebraska Press, 2015) tells stories of the first intensive explorations of the moon, Mars, and Venus by America and the Soviet Union alike. Jay used to tell stories with film and video. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1992, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, with Honors Distinction, in Broadcasting and Film Production. His central Honors project was a feature-length screenplay adaptation of The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois. After graduation, he worked as a professional film editor for twelve years while researching and writing other projects.