Trine University alum is a real-life rocket man

By John Clampitt
Communication ’26 

Space travel wasn’t originally in Dominic Zelenak’s plans. 

“Believe it or not, space travel or the space industry was never on my radar as a career path until I took a shot in the dark and applied to NASA Marshall Space Flight Center,” the 2014 Trine University mechanical engineering graduate, who now works for Blue Origin, said. 

“I always had a deeper fascination with the defense industry because of my family's military presence. However, that outlook changed significantly as my career progressed. I can confidently say that I'm a ‘Rocket Man’ (one of my wife's favorite songs).” 

“Reading the history and working directly with the technology will certainly change your outlook; I just had to give it a chance,” he said. 

Dominic works as a thermal analyst, where he focuses on thermal analysis and regenerative cooling performance for the main combustion chamber of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine. The company says the BE-4 is the most powerful liquefied natural gas-fueled rocket engine ever developed. 

“Full-mission transient thermal models of the main combustion chamber are the pieces of work that I am most proud of,” he said. “These models are typically very well-received amongst my peers for their attention to detail, their comprehension of the problem, and the accuracy of the results.” 

“Without going too far into the details (Blue likes to keep information as internal as possible), I am very proud of my contributions toward thermal analysis process-improvements, specifically in areas or boundary condition modification to close the gap between analysis model and test fire results, and to aid in engine development.” 

Every young man’s dream 

Dominic chose Trine because of how welcome he felt during my first visit. 

“I remember that it was individually tailored to me, with one general tour guide to show my mom and I the campus, and one mechanical engineering professor to show us the department,” he said. 

“The professor that gave us a tour was Dr. Brett Batson. His hospitality and his knowledge during the tour was something I will never forget, and it gave me the sense that my education would have excellent leadership if I attended Trine. I also knew that choosing mechanical engineering as a field of study would put me in the best position to find a career designing and analyzing the types of technology that every young man dreams of.”  

Dominic chose to pursue a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at North Carolina State so he could gain a competitive advantage in the job market. He felt that tackling research head-on was a challenge he needed to gain that advantage. 

“The concept of a Renaissance man in engineering has always been appealing to me; an engineer that is able to have a broad grasp of numerous fields of study,” he said.  

“My field of research was laser diagnostics applied to combustion flows, which could not have been more different or obscure from anything I learned previously in my education. Graduate school was a necessary chapter in my life to gain practical hands-on experimental experience and to overcome adversity. Aerospace specifically was where my passions resided. Dr. Canino was largely to blame for this, as he adamantly steered me in the direction of an aeronautical engineering minor.” 

Dominic’s career at NASA was a natural extension of the optical and imaging experience he gained at NC State. 

“My major area of focus was operating infrared cameras and post-processing images from hot-fire tests,” he said. “I was very privileged to have supported hot-fire testing of numerous engine programs, including SLS, additively manufactured engines, carbon-composite thrusters, solid rocket motors and nuclear propulsion.” 

“Drawing from my previous experience of developing optical techniques, I also took part in developing new infrared camera temperature calibration protocols.” 

The most rewarding aspect of Dominic’s time at NASA was the sense that he had become a subject matter expert, provided by the success of this project. 

A new challenge 

Eventually he felt as if there was nowhere to go in terms of career development if he stayed at NASA. 

“I firmly believed that I had extracted everything I could learn from infrared and that a new challenge was necessary to progress my career,” he said. 

He had designed and analyzed a water-cooling circuit for a hybrid rocket test bed called the Solid Fuel Torch at NASA, and that experience led him to his current role at Blue Origin.  

“I specifically wanted to pursue more opportunities in thermal analysis after completing my Solid Fuel Torch project with NASA,” he said. “I knew I wanted to seek careers in private space flight because the most enjoyable tests I had participated in were collaborations with companies such as Virgin Orbit and Blue Origin.” 

“I consider myself very blessed to have obtained this position. I do not take lightly the opportunity to analyze the combustion chamber for our most powerful engine, forging a path very similar to those who developed the F-1 and RS-25. “My near-term goal while at Blue is to bridge the collaboration gap between analysts and test engineers, and successfully bring infrared thermography into the fray as a viable measurement system for Blue Origin.” 

He says it’s very hard to envision what the future holds or what opportunities may arise, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any ideas for the long term. 

“I would be dishonest if I were to say that I have no interest in becoming a teaching professor someday,” he said. “Maybe Dr. Webber will keep asking me to join the department, and he'll ask at just the right time in my life.” 

He said he has encountered some struggles on his journey, and they have helped him a lot. 

“I'll keep my advice short and simple: Fight through the adversity and persevere. While at Trine there were many moments during Senior Design that were frustrating, disheartening and defeating, so much so that giving up looked very appealing,” he said. “You need to convince yourself that there's always a solution and a path to victory.”