Denisse Aranda, a 2010 graduate of Florida International University (FIU), played a significant role in the successful launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral. The rocket is carrying twin probes for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission, which aims to study how solar wind interacts with Mars and its magnetic environment.
Aranda serves as a principal space systems contamination control engineer at Blue Origin, holding the title of “subject matter expert,” a distinction achieved by less than five percent of engineers at the company. In this capacity, she leads efforts to ensure that both the New Glenn rocket and its payload meet strict cleanliness standards throughout the mission cycle.
“The stuff we worry about is microscopic,” Aranda said. “If there is just a little bit of debris from the tanks, it could affect everything. I look at ways we clean anything that could cause contamination, how to quantify it, model it and predict it. When you’re talking about systems that are so complex and precise like our rocket engines, even small quantities of tiny particulates at high speeds and extreme temperatures can make all the difference.”
Each mission’s cleanliness requirements depend on its scientific goals and payload sensitivity. For example, optics-based instruments such as star trackers or telescopes require extremely low levels of contamination to prevent interference with data collection. Even minor dust particles on lenses can scatter light and compromise results sent back to scientists on Earth.
Contamination issues are not limited to data accuracy; they can also pose risks to mission safety. Aranda noted that for lunar landers, poor optical data caused by contamination might lead to navigation errors during descent, potentially resulting in crash landings.
Aranda’s responsibilities also include planetary protection measures—procedures designed to prevent cross-contamination between Earth and other celestial bodies. “We are protecting the planets and moon in our Solar System,” she explained. “Essentially, we don’t want to get our Earth microbes, DNA and germs, and deposit them on other planets. That would be really problematic for the search of life in the universe.”
She further highlighted concerns about potential confusion if future missions detect Earth-origin microbes on another planet or if foreign microorganisms return to Earth without proper decontamination procedures.
“This dual focus on protecting other planets and our own is critical as space exploration continues to advance,” Aranda added.
In addition to her technical duties at Blue Origin, Aranda co-hosted a live webcast for New Glenn’s first launch last year alongside Ariane Cornell, vice president of New Glenn Strategy and Business Operations at Blue Origin.
Beyond her professional work, Aranda dedicates time as program director for Science Camps of America—a nonprofit providing science-based summer camps for middle- and high-school students in Hawaii. She has volunteered with this organization for eight years, teaching topics ranging from aerospace engineering to building solar-powered phone chargers.
“There’s just something to be said for work that has meaning in some way,” Aranda said about her career path. “We’re bigger than ourselves, our country, our affiliation. The stuff that we’re working on—I personally feel—benefits all of humanity.”
Aranda emphasized how space research affects daily life through technologies such as GPS and weather satellites: “Everything you use every single day is because of space… From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, you’re benefitting from these technological advances.”
Her connection with FIU remains strong; she serves on the industry advisory board for FIU’s Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. She credits her experience at FIU—and specifically mentorship under Dr. Leonel Lagos—for helping her secure internships at NASA early in her academic career.
“I love everything about FIU,” said Aranda. “I have to give a special shout out to Dr. Lagos. Because of the research I did at FIU’s Applied Research Center, I was able to get my first internship at NASA and co-authored a scientific article as a sophomore.”
Dr. Lagos praised Aranda’s dedication: “I always tell students that to work in my lab they have to have ‘ganas,’ the desire to work, and Denisse had it… She contributed to the team and was always willing to help.”
During her studies at FIU, Aranda participated in internships at NASA centers including Glenn Research Center and Kennedy Space Center as well as with the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington D.C., before joining NASA Langley Research Center post-graduation for nearly eight years prior to Blue Origin.
Lagos expressed pride in his former student: “Denisse is one-of-a-kind… She is very passionate about her work, and she’s also passionate about teaching young kids about science.”
For current students considering careers in science or engineering fields like hers, Aranda offered simple advice: “I just follow my curiosity… Be motivated by curiosity, and do something you enjoy.”
