• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2026

• California Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, ‘28

• Host Institution: SpaceX

Stephanie Wallen is a sophomore at the California Institute of Technology pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. She is drawn to engineering because it brings together technical rigor and creativity, allowing her to apply math and physics while designing and building new solutions. Her interest in aerospace engineering is rooted in a deep curiosity about how complex systems operate in extreme environments and how thoughtful engineering can expand the boundaries of exploration while remaining grounded in sustainability and social impact. During her internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she contributed to the Mars Sample Return mission by developing autonomous precision landing algorithms for hazardous terrain. Her work focused on safe-site selection, where she designed a concentric-circle search algorithm that reduced required divert distances and integrated orbital and aerial imagery to refine candidate landing zones. This experience strengthened her interest in mission-critical decision-making and resilient system design.

Alongside her technical work, Stephanie has been deeply involved in research projects that apply space engineering principles to both exploration beyond Earth and challenges closer to home. She is a leader of GLOBO, a high-altitude balloon initiative that develops scalable platforms for monitoring greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants in the upper atmosphere, helping close gaps left by traditional ground-based monitoring systems. She also contributed to PILLARS, a NASA Big Idea Challenge project, where she helped prototype and test an inflatable guard shield designed to protect lunar hardware from regolith impact, presenting the team’s findings at the NASA Big Idea Forum. Beyond research, Stephanie is committed to leadership, mentorship, and sustainability. She is the founder of FlightCycle, a nonprofit dedicated to recycling and repurposing airplane engine oil cans to reduce waste in aviation and promote more sustainable industry practices. At Caltech, she serves on the executive committee of the Caltech Air and Outer Space Club, contributing to aerospace projects and helping lead technical initiatives and operations.

Stephanie is equally dedicated to service and teamwork outside the classroom. She volunteers with organizations such as Shake A Leg, supporting children with disabilities through inclusive marine-based activities, and Code/Art, where she helps introduce young girls to coding through creative, art-based programs. A collegiate athlete, Stephanie plays volleyball at Caltech and has developed strong leadership, communication, and adaptability skills.

Through her academic, professional, and service experiences, Stephanie seeks to build an engineering career grounded in technical excellence, creativity, curiosity, and purpose. She is driven to contribute to an aerospace community that values innovation, inclusivity, and responsible exploration, and she hopes to continue pushing to create meaningful impact both on Earth and beyond. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship represents an opportunity for Stephanie to learn from inspiring peers and mentors while growing both technically and personally. She is especially excited for the summer experience, where she looks forward to building community, deepening her understanding of the aerospace industry, and contributing her energy, creativity, and perspective to a cohort united by a shared passion for exploration and impact.