Graduate student
Ernie is originally from Jamestown, Pennsylvania. He has previously earned a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and a master’s of aeronautical science degree in space studies & aerospace management from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Prior to joining Nick Schmerr’s group in 2015, he spent 12 years working as a NASA Extravehicular Activities (EVA) flight controller and crew trainer at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). As a flight controller, he provided realtime expertise on spacesuits, airlock operations, and spacewalk tasks in Mission Control. As an instructor, he trained space shuttle and space station crews in a multitude of facilities including spacesuit trainers, shuttle and station mockups, virtual reality simulator, vacuum chambers, and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). While at JSC, Ernie also provided human spaceflight operations expertise for the execution of multi-week analog human lunar exploration missions. Other experience Ernie has from his time at JSC include 50 hours of performing simulated EVAs in the NBL; conducting zero-g research on 26 zero-g flights (>800 parabolas); and assisting in verifying spacesuit functionality onboard space shuttles prior to launch.
Ernie’s current research is on the application of geophysical field techniques and tools to planetary exploration operations through the use of Earth analogs of planetary locations. He has completed multiple field campaigns to study the near-surface structure around the cinder cones of the San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona, as well as the magnetic signatures of lava tube complexes at the Lava Beds National Monument, California. Each of these studies are directly applicable to lunar surface science operations and geophysical studies. Ernie’s expected graduation is 2020. For details on his research and current CV, please see his webpage: https://ebell16.wixsite.com/ernie-bell/about-me
