Dr. Grant R. Cates is a senior project leader for the Space Architecture Department at The Aerospace Corporation. In this role, Cates leads discrete event simulation analysis capabilities for NASA’s Human Exploration missions, Space Force launch ranges, and other customers. He provides launch probability assessments, forecasts of future launches, optimization of complex multi-launch space missions, and advocates for in-space rescue capabilities.
Cates joined Aerospace in 2014 and developed a model to determine launch range throughput and for forecasting future launches, both domestic and international. He led development of a model that estimated launch probability for the Atlas, Delta, and Falcon launch vehicles.
Cates was a chief scientist at SAIC where he built simulations to analyze human space flight architectures and to estimate the launch probability for NASA's Space Launch System. He held various positions at NASA in the Space Shuttle Program, including payload integration manager, landing convoy commander, flow manager, and flow director for the Columbia space shuttle orbiter. He was a member of the technical committee for the joint NASA/Air Force Source Evaluation Board for the initial Shuttle Processing Contract, served as a board member for the Space Program Operations Contract, was a member of the mishap investigation board that investigated a fire on the space shuttle Endeavour, and led the Jasper, Texas recovery site after the loss of Columbia. Cates was also an Air Force AWACS weapons director. He participated in Red Flag air warfare exercises, controlled F-15s intercepting Soviet bombers, and flew combat support missions during Operation Earnest Will.
Cates is the author, lead author, and coauthor of numerous papers. His peer reviewed journal articles include the “Project Assessment by Simulation Technique” and “The In-Space Rescue Capability Gap.”
Education
Cates has a bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Colorado State University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Awards and Honors
Cates was awarded the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement by the Director of Central Intelligence and the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal by the NASA Administrator. His military decorations include the Air Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Outstanding Unit Award. Cates has numerous NASA Group Achievement Awards, a NASA Systems Engineering Excellence Award, and a NASA Superior Accomplishment Award for the Fastest Space Shuttle Turnaround Time.
Affiliations
He is a distinguished Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduate, a distinguished alumnus of Colorado State University’s College of Engineering, and a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.