Pele Collins

Manager of Parachutes Production and Engineering, SpaceX

Pele Collins is a prominent engineer at SpaceX, currently serving as the Manager of Parachutes Production and Engineering. His career has been marked by significant achievements in aerospace engineering, particularly in the field of parachute systems for spacecraft.

Education and Early Career

Pele Collins graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.2 During his time at the university, he was part of Team Daedalus, which won an award in the Senior Design Competition.1 This early recognition highlighted his innovative thinking and engineering skills.

SpaceX Career

After completing his education, Collins joined SpaceX, where he has made substantial contributions to the company's spacecraft recovery systems:

Parachute Development: He has been involved in the development and testing of main parachutes for the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.6
Innovative Solutions: Collins has worked on advancing the modeling of parachute clusters for the Dragon spacecraft, contributing to improved safety and performance.5
Leadership Role: As the Manager of Parachutes Production and Engineering, he oversees critical aspects of spacecraft recovery systems.4

Notable Achievements

Collins' work has had a significant impact on space exploration and astronaut safety:

Astronaut Recovery: He has played a crucial role in developing systems to safely bring astronauts home from space.3
Spacecraft Recycling: His innovations have contributed to the ability to recycle spacecraft after missions, enhancing sustainability in space exploration.3
Technical Expertise: Collins has presented at prestigious aerospace conferences, sharing advances in parachute system modeling for SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.5

Pele Collins' career at SpaceX demonstrates his expertise in mechanical engineering, applied mechanics, and spacecraft systems. His work continues to be instrumental in ensuring the safe return of astronauts and the advancement of reusable spacecraft technology.