Loay Elbasyouni

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Loay Elbasyouni
لؤي البسيوني
Born
Loay Elbasyouni

Germany
NationalityPalestinian, American
Alma materUniversity of Kentucky, University of Louisville
OccupationElectrical engineer
Years active2005–Present
Employer(s)NASA, General Electric
Notable workMars 2020, Ingenuity, Azure Transit Connect Electric
Websiteloay.us

Loay Elbasyouni is a Palestinian–American electrical engineer.[1] He helped design the Mars rover Perseverance and was an electrical and power electronics lead in the team that built the Ingenuity helicopter.[2][3][4][5]

Early life[edit]

Elbasyouni was born in Germany while his father was studying medicine in that country.[6] He moved to Beit Hanoun[3][7] in Gaza when he was five years old. He lived through the First Intifada, a period in which the academic year was shortened to as few as eighty days.[8] He attended UNRWA schools during his primary and secondary education.[1] In 1998, he moved to the United States at the age of twenty to continue higher education.[9] He received a master's degree in Electrical engineering from the University of Louisville in 2005.[2][10] While stargazing from Gaza’s beaches, Elbasyouni dreamed of reaching for the cosmos. "I actually wanted to fly the space shuttle, I just loved anything fast." [11]

Career[edit]

In 2012, Elbasyouni began working for a company developing an electric aircraft. In 2014, the company became a contractor for NASA, and Elbasyouni became an electric and power electronics lead for the Mars helicopter team.[3] As of 2023, he works for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[3][4] He has been a member of the team that sent the Perseverance to Mars in March 2020 and a chief engineer for the design team of the Ingenuity robotic helicopter.[2][12][13]

Elbasyouni holds the position of senior manager of electric engine design at Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. In this role, he is engaged in a wide range of projects, including the development of Blue Moon, a lunar lander designed to transport payloads to the surface of the Moon, and New Glenn, a heavy-lift launch vehicle currently undergoing development. He is involved in rocket engines, managing a large team and overseeing the development of avionics—the control module that governs the engine's functions.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Elbasyouni lives in Los Angeles, California. He has not returned to Palestine since 2000 due to instability in the region.[1][8][9][15][16] Loay Elbasyouni, a Palestinian-American engineer known for his work on NASA's Mars helicopter, faced a harrowing ordeal when his elderly parents were trapped in Gaza during the recent conflict. Mohammed and Alya Elbasyouni, who had been visiting Gaza, were caught in the escalating violence and unable to leave due to their health and mobility issues. [17] [18] [19] [20]

As the situation in Gaza worsened, Loay, from his home in Los Angeles, made desperate efforts to secure their evacuation. The couple endured severe shortages of food and water, and constant bombardment, which exacerbated Mohammed's heart condition. Loay coordinated with various organizations and officials, trying multiple avenues to get his parents out safely. [21] [22]

After numerous attempts and a failed initial evacuation that came under fire, Loay succeeded with the assistance of Turkish authorities. His parents were transported in an ambulance convoy to the Rafah border crossing, which was the only viable exit from Gaza at the time. Despite the danger and challenges, they eventually crossed into Egypt and reunited with Loay in Turkey. [23]

Loay's relentless determination and resourcefulness were crucial in overcoming the obstacles and ensuring his parents' safety, showcasing a deeply personal and human side to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. [24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Salah, Hanah (May 14, 2021). "NASA engineer from Gaza following escalation with concern". Al-Monitor. Retrieved February 2, 2022. From his house in Los Angeles, California, he told Al-Monitor over Zoom about the historical accomplishment he achieved with the NASA team.
  2. ^ a b c Doğru, Islam (May 2, 2021). "Palestinian engineer behiind helicopter flight on Mars". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Agencies. "From Gaza to Mars: Palestinian engineer behind helicopter flight on red planet". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "2014–2019 on Ingenuity Mars Helicopter NASA-JPL". Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "A space engineer who brought us images of Mars confronts Earth's brutal realities in Gaza". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  6. ^ San Román, Gabriel (November 18, 2023). "A space engineer who brought us images of Mars confronts Earth's brutal realities in Gaza". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "Palestinian behind Mars drone says visiting home is no small step". Aljazeera. April 29, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Emily Webb (September 1, 2021). "From Gaza to NASA A Space Odyssey" (Podcast). BBC Sounds. Event occurs at 19:23. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "UNRWA Honours NASA Engineer and Former School Student Loay Elbasyouni". UNRWA. September 13, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Hinson, Holly (April 27, 2021). "From UofL to Mars, alumnus finds passion in engineering". Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "A space engineer who brought us images of Mars confronts Earth's brutal realities in Gaza". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Ayyoub, Loureen (May 20, 2021). "Gaza refugee designs first NASA helicopter to fly on Mars". Spectrum News. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Palestinian engineer behind helicopter flight on Mars". The Jerusalem Post. May 2, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "What's it like to have a job in space?". WIRED Middle East. May 13, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Abusidu EmAbusidu, Eman (April 19, 2021). "NASA's Palestinian engineer gets ready to make history once again". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Akram, Fares (April 30, 2021). "Gazan behind Mars drone says visiting home is no small step". Egypt Independent. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "US space engineer fears for parents trapped in Gaza". Yahoo News. October 18, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "A space engineer who brought us images of Mars confronts Earth's brutal realities in Gaza". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "A Palestinian American Engineer Based In LA Is Trying To Get His Parents Out of Gaza". LAist. December 23, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  20. ^ Campoamor, Danielle (October 20, 2023). ""He Told Me, 'If I Die, Just Take Care of Your Brothers'"". The Cut. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Williams, Holly; Kiniry, Leigh; Reals, Tucker (February 16, 2024). "Loay Elbasyouni "gave up hope many times" that his parents would escape Gaza City. Here's how he saved them. - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  22. ^ Williams, Holly; Kiniry, Leigh; Reals, Tucker (February 16, 2024). "Loay Elbasyouni "gave up hope many times" that his parents would escape Gaza City. Here's how he saved them. - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  23. ^ Williams, Holly; Kiniry, Leigh; Reals, Tucker (February 16, 2024). "Loay Elbasyouni "gave up hope many times" that his parents would escape Gaza City. Here's how he saved them. - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "How a Palestinian in L.A. helped his elderly parents escape war-torn Gaza". Sandhills Express. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
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