Dr. Rich Whittle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis, and Principal Investigator of the Bioastronautics and eXploration Systems (BXS) Laboratory within the UC Davis Center for Space Exploration Research.

His research focuses on modeling, quantifying, and engineering human performance in spaceflight. His work integrates physiology, systems engineering, and computation to address operational risks in human space exploration, including decompression sickness, cardiovascular adaptation, and mission decision support.

Dr. Whittle received his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University (2023), where his research examined the effects of altered gravity and countermeasures on cardiovascular and ocular hemodynamics, including implications for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS).

He holds an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and an MA/MEng in Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He also completed postgraduate study in strategic management and leadership.

Prior to academia, he served as a British Army Officer (2009–2023) with The Parachute Regiment and the Corps of Royal Engineers.

• Human performance and physiological modeling in spaceflight
• Decompression sickness and EVA risk modeling
• Cardiovascular adaptation to altered gravity
• Spaceflight countermeasures (e.g., LBNP, artificial gravity)
• AI-enabled decision support for mission operations

• EAE 142: Orbital Mechanics [Winter]
• EAE 143B: Space Mission Design [Spring]
• MAE 298: Bioastronautics [Biennial, Fall]
• MAE 298: Design of Experiments and Statistical Methods for Engineers [Biennial, Fall]