JUSTIN KAO

Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, Class of 2023

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Host Company: Relativity Space

Justin Kao is a senior pursuing his B.S. in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he has been heavily involved in leading Eco Illini Supermileage, a hyper efficiency SAE car team, and conducting ceramic matrix composites research in Dr. Panerai’s hypersonics lab. Justin is passionate about enabling meaningful, positive change through developing key space technologies and has pursued his passion for space through internships at Stoke Space Technologies, United Launch Alliance, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Boeing. He dreams to one day play a key role in contributing to a sustainable, highly productive space economy that benefits humankind. In his free time, Justin enjoys exploring the world as a solo traveler, as a scuba diver, and as a hiker.

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