George Sowers

George Sowers is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. With 30 years of experience in space transportation, he has contributed to over a dozen launch system developments, including roles at Martin Marietta, Lockheed Martin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA). He served as vice president and chief scientist at ULA, where his team developed reusable in-space stage architectures fueled by space-mined propellant. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Georgia Tech and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Colorado.

His research focuses on space resources, launch systems, and aerospace engineering. Notable achievements include his work on the Atlas V launch vehicle and pioneering concepts for space-based propellant systems. Sowers is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

He is affiliated with the Space Resources Program at Mines, advancing interdisciplinary research in space resource utilization. While no specific grants or advising details are provided, his career emphasizes industry-academia collaboration in aerospace innovation.