CONNOR JOHNSON
Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, Class of 2024
Georgia Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Host Company: Firefly Aerospace
Connor Johnson is a third-year aerospace engineering student at Georgia Tech. After graduation, he intends to work on cutting-edge propulsion systems to increase accessibility to space.
As Co-President of Georgia Tech Experimental Rocketry, Connor is leading the design, manufacture, and testing of two supersonic sounding rockets that will prepare the team for a spaceshot attempt in the following years. In order to meet the team’s ambitious goal of launching a two-stage rocket to reach the Karman Line, he values the growth mindset approach to learning as well as striving for engineering excellence.
Connor has worked as an undergraduate research assistant at the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Laboratory for two years, where he has been involved in water-enhanced turbofan and rotating detonation engine projects. As a result of his experience with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium in high school, he highly values STEM education for aerospace. He previously worked at the Georgia Tech Mobile STEM Laboratory, where he led the development of a portable wind tunnel to demonstrate aerodynamics concepts for a K-12 audience.
Last summer, Connor worked as a Propulsion Engineering Intern at Intuitive Machines, where he supported rocket engine hardware development for the Nova-C lunar lander. He is now excited to work on propulsion systems for Firefly Aerospace this summer. In his free time, Connor likes to read, hike, and play tennis.