From Earth to Mars and Beyond

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS OF AMERICA
Contact: Vazgen Ghoogassian
117 S. Louise St #306
Glendale, CA 91205
USA
Email: [email protected]
AESA Office: (818) 547-3372
Web:

`From Earth to Mars and Beyond’ Presented by Richard Ohanian, Garen
Khanoyan, and Alfred Khashaki of JPL

(Pasadena, CA) – On July 8, 2014, the Armenian Engineers and
Scientists of America hosted an interesting and informative lecture on
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission at the Parson Engineering
lecture room in Pasadena, presented by three scientists from Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Richard Ohanian, Garen Khanoyan, and
Alfred Khashaki.

The lecture was so popular on this particular day that there was
standing room only in the lecture hall where the audience which was
made up with people of different ages watched the presentation on
large television screens. The three speakers gave an captivating
lecture with full of animation and real videos on how the Curiosity
Rover landed on Mars on August 6, 2012, where it captured the world’s
attention. They talked on all the challenges to build and land the
Rover safely on Mars and the future missions to Mars and what the
Curiosity rover has been up to since it landed on the red planet.

`We were very pleased to have these three esteemed scientists from JPL
who presented difficult science to the public in a simple way to
understand like storytelling method’ stated AESA President Vasken
Yardemian. `AESA has planned a series of lectures during this year
featuring Armenian engineers and scientists who will share their
knowledge, experience, opinions and accomplishments, discussing timely
topics.’

Richard Ohanian holds a BS in Applied Physics from Azad University,
Tehran, Iran, and a BS and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
from California Institute of Technology. As adjunct faculty at
Glendale Community College, Richard has helped establishing GCC’s
Robotics Academy where he has developed and is currently teaching
courses in Electronics and Robotics.

Alfred Khashaki received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cal Poly
Pomona. Currently he is a member of the Flight Electronics and
Software Systems Group and has contributed to several major projects
such as Deep Space 1 and Microwave Limb Sounder. He has spent almost a
decade either directly or indirectly contributing to the MSL and was
the lead on the MSL’s Telecom Interface FPGA.

Garen Khanoyan joined JPL in 1998 and holds a BS in Electrical
Engineering and an MS in Computer Sciences from University of Southern
California is a member of the Advanced Computer Systems & Technologies
Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is currently involved with
the development of several next generation landing technologies,
including Lander Vision System and Low Density Supersonic
Decelerators.

The lecture series presented by the Armenian Engineers and Scientists
of America are open to the public and free of admission charge.
Established in 1983 in Glendale, California, AESA is a non-partisan
and non-sectarian philanthropic organization focused primarily on
addressing the professional, technical and scientific needs of fellow
Armenian engineers, scientists, industrialists, and architects
throughout the world. For more information, check AESA’s website at
, or contact them by phone (818) 547-3372, or e-mail:
[email protected].

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AESA Council members with the three speakers
>From left to right: Mardy Kazarians, Talin Petrosian, Marina
Guevrekian, Richard Ohanian, Garen Khanoyan, Alfred Khashaki, Vasken
Yardemian, Sasoon Petrosian, Razmik Garakanian, Vazgen Ghoogassian

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