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UH grad keeps astronauts fit

Ortiz-Longo designs, maintains equipment for crew of ISS

By Portia-Elaine Gant
The Daily Cougar

Although engineering is about applying math and science principles to practical uses, Carlos Ortiz-Longo is quick to explain that it doesn't mean there is no room for variety and fun in his profession -- and that makes his work out of this world. Literally.

Ortiz-Longo, who works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Johnson Space Center in Houston, manages a team that designs and maintains exercise equipment for the crew of the International Space Station. Tuning exercise equipment sounds simple enough, but Ortiz-Longo and his team have one requirement that alters their work quite drastically.

"Even though the equipment would be somewhat similar to a gym here with a treadmill, bicycle station and resistive exercise equipment, the main difference is that this equipment has to be made to work in zero gravity," Ortiz-Longo said.

The issue with outer-space exercise, he said, is keeping crew members attached to the equipment so they feel like they're working out on Earth.

Ortiz-Longo has been with NASA more than 20 years, since he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in 1984. He received his master's degree in materials science in 1993 and his doctorate in engineering in 2000 from UH.

Ortiz-Longo worked in a number of positions prior to his current project, including thermal analyst and Space Shuttle Division chief engineer for structures, mechanics and materials.

"At NASA, you work on different projects and keep moving. It's a matter of where I am needed," Ortiz-Longo said. "As chief engineer, I took care of not only all thermal systems, but also the shuttle primary structure and all of the mechanisms like tires, wheels and brakes. That basically put me in the position of knowing a lot about various technical areas ranging from heat transfers to mechanical and structural design."

Though the space shuttle has been grounded for more than a year because of the Columbia accident, Ortiz-Longo is occupied dealing with the Russian Space Center, which is handling the space station until U.S. shuttles are back in operation.

"The station was put in orbit for the purpose of doing research in science, and a lot of that has had to be postponed because of the shuttle accident. Even though some science is actually happening and we're getting research back, a lot of the time we actually spend trying to keep the station operational," Ortiz-Longo said.

Ortiz-Longo said NASA is working on solving engineering problems to help return the space shuttles to flight, and he hopes to be a part of restoring the shuttle service -- something his background at UH could help with.

"At UH, the engineering program is interdisciplinary… It's a very diverse program, and the benefits are immeasurable," Ortiz-Longo said. "My technical background is unusual in the sense that I have a broader knowledge than what you would normally find in a specialized engineering program elsewhere. I'm able to apply that knowledge from all areas, and the benefits have been invaluable. I am prepared to tackle a lot of the varied engineering problems we come across every day."
 

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