William Schneider
Visiting Professor
Office: 305 Engineering/Physics Building Office Wing
Phone: 979-458-0116 Fax: 979-845-3081
Email: wschneider@tamu.edu
Interest Areas
Engineering Mechanics and Design
Education
Ph. D., Mechanical Engineering, Rice University, 1972
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, 1968
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, 1962
Experience
Professor, Texas A&M University, Mechanical Engineering, (9/2000-Present)
NASA Johnson Space Center’s Senior Engineer, Space Systems and Assistant Director for
Engineering (12/95 –8/2000)
Experience gained by a 38 year career, with increasing responsibilities, in System Engineering punctuated by significant “hands-on” contributions to the most challenging design issues in the United Space Program
Before retiring from NASA “Johnson Space Center my title was Senior Engineer” and NASA’s leading expert on mathematical engineering mechanics, structural and mechanical design, spacecraft entry thermal protection systems, and large space structures
Additional experience (15 yr.) gained from being an Engineering consultant, Senior Vice President, and part owner of a very successful outside engineering consultant firm.
Research
Development of Inflatable Habitual Space Structures
Distinctions
Rotary National Stellar Award for Space Achievement 1999 – For his enduring leadership at JSC and for technical direction of the Mars TransHab design and Space Shuttle meteoroid and orbital debris damage assessment.
NASA Exceptional Engineering Medal (1998) – In recognition of Outstanding Leadership and exceptional Creativity in Directing Critical Programs in Engineering.
Patents
Inflatable Vessel and Method, Patent #US 6,547,189B1, April 15, 2003
Portable Hyperbaric Chamber, Patent #: US 6,321,746 B1, November 27, 2001
Advanced Structural and Inflatable Hybrid Spacecraft Module -U.S. Patent # 6,231,010 BI,
May 15, 2001
Energy Absorbing Protective Shroud -U.S. Patent # 6,206,155 B1 March 27, 2000
Method and Apparatus for Coupling Space Vehicles –U.S. Patent #5,735,488 April 7, 1998
Recent Publications
Editor and author of subsections of the Astronautics Chapter of the 11th edition of the Marks Mechanical Engineering Handbook
Co-authored “TSS -1 Mission Failure Investigation Board” Final Report May 20, 1996
(Tethered Satellite Failure)
“Magnetic Docking Aid for the Orbiter to ISS Docking,” publication of the 30th Aerospace Mechanism Symposium, 1996
