Ishita Solanki is an Analyst in the Space Mission Directorate of the Solar System Science and Exploration Division at Southwest Research Institute. She is currently a member of the Science Operations Center of NASA’s Lucy mission, where she develops science encounter sequences for the mission’s asteroid flybys. Her work involves writing Science Activity Plans, designing and sequencing command loads, and helping coordinate inputs and reviews from the mission team. She also performs analysis and programming tasks to inform sequence design. 

Solanki received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Texas at Dallas. During her time there, she was part of the Upper Atmosphere Remote Sensing Lab. She also participated in NASA’s L’SPACE program, completing the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience, the Mission Concept Academy, and two summer internships at Southwest Research Institute.