Nicholas “Nic” Wondra, Engr’25 (MS), works in the high-stakes world of national security at Sandia National Laboratories’ Threat Assessment Group. But when it came time to choose his thesis project for his master’s degree program in systems engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering’s Engineering for Professionals, he set his sights on space. He used that project to tackle one of the most critical challenges in national security: reimagining how the United States tracks objects in space—not from Earth, but from orbit itself.
His thesis, “Leveraging Radio Frequency Interferometric Techniques for a Cooperative Space-Based Space Domain Awareness System: A Systems Engineering Analysis,” investigated whether networks of synchronized satellites could revolutionize how the U.S. monitors orbital threats. His approach centers on bistatic radar techniques using pairs of spacecraft in low Earth orbit, where two satellites merge their data to detect and track objects in near real time.
“Instead of trying to track objects in space from the ground, I asked: what if we put the sensors in space itself? By using pairs of satellites working together like a radar team, we could potentially create a surveillance network that operates 24/7 and keeps working even when ground-based systems are compromised,” he said.
Wondra didn’t just theorize—he modeled three different satellite constellation architectures using the Systems Tool Kit (STK) software platform—an industry standard in aerospace systems design. He rigorously analyzed each design for coverage, latency (how quickly the satellite network can detect an object in space and transmit that info back to Earth), and resilience. He found that such space-based systems could not only supplement the U.S. Space Surveillance Network but also potentially operate independently.
While pursuing his systems engineering degree, Wondra tailored his coursework to support his space-focused thesis, supplementing with electives in the Space Systems Engineering track.
“I was able to moonlight in the Space Systems department,” he said.
The Test and Evaluation course proved especially influential.
“That really crystallized the mindset of: ‘Show me, prove it,’ I was able to apply that to the systems architecture I proposed,” he explained.
He also built a thesis committee that stretched beyond his advisor, Matthew Montoya, to include subject-matter experts in radar and sensor engineering.
“Everyone was generous with their time and guidance, he said. He especially appreciated the help provided by Ann Darrin, an instructor in the Space Systems Engineering program, who helped connect him with industry contacts.
Completing the program while working full-time at Sandia and raising three young children was a challenge that required careful balance, but the results exceeded his expectations.
“I kind of surprised myself,” he said. One member of this thesis committee asked if he planned to file for a patent.
He’s considering future graduate work in war studies, exploring the intersection of space systems and nuclear deterrence—a topic he is well-positioned to explore. “Hopkins EP gave me the tools to look at these systems holistically. That perspective will continue to serve me well,” he said.
He encourages students to explore electives that stretch their comfort zone and knowledge base and tailor their experiences to their own interests and aspirations.
“The EP program gives you the structure you need, but the freedom to shape it into something uniquely yours. Take advantage of that,” he said.
Though he remains focused on his current role, Wondra views the degree as a long-term investment.
“It means I won’t be passed over for engineering-coded positions in the future,” he said. “And it deepened my connection to Hopkins in a meaningful way.”