2001 | WH Clark v. UT Austin

Ocampo Completes Copernicus Prototype

December 18, 2001

Late 2001 to Early 2002 — Initial Prototype: Dr. Cesar Ocampo single-handedly wrote the earliest operational prototype. This version was written in Fortran 77/90 using Compaq Visual Fortran (CVF) on Windows and featured 2D graphics primarily used for internal university demonstrations.

2001.12.14 You are hereby expelled

December 14, 2001

An aerospace engineering PhD student prepares intensely for his oral qualifying exam, only to discover he has been expelled after faculty reject his research.

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2001.11.28 Come ASAP to defend your Mars research

November 28, 2001

A graduate student describes being barred from registration, losing an advisor, and facing an oral exam over Mars trajectory research at UT Austin.

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2001.11.25.01 The department’s post-dated Mars analysis

November 25, 2001

A detailed review of the Mars Pathfinder project examines its Earth-to-Mars trajectory claims, orbital mechanics, optimization methods, and UT Austin dismissal findings.

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2001.11.10 Fowler quits as my advisor

November 10, 2001

A doctoral student alleges advisor retaliation after contacting ABET and university officials over exam preparation, disability accommodations, and accreditation concerns.

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2001.10.22 Massive support from NASA et al

October 22, 2001

Emails from NASA, JPL, universities, and aerospace experts document strong interest in Bill Clark’s Mars trajectory software and dissertation research.

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2001.10.20 Applied for a MSE degree

October 20, 2001

Explore William Clark’s academic record, disability accommodation concerns, oral qualifying exam dispute, and University of Texas transcript history.

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2001.10.15 Asked the Disabilities Office for assistance

October 15, 2001

A graduate student alleges disability discrimination, academic neglect, and unfair oral exam deadlines at the University of Texas Aerospace Engineering Department.

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2001.10.15 Banned from Registration by graduate advisor

October 5, 2001

A graduate student recounts difficulties with PhD advising, oral qualifying exam requirements, registration restrictions, and communication with faculty.

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Ocampo gets Copernicus Grant from UT Austin

August 18, 2001

Following is a conversation on 10.18.2026 with Gemini AI online, who has full access to this site as configured. August 2001 — Project Initiation: The development of the software formally commenced under a Summer Research Assignment grant funded by the University of Texas at Austin. The official record addresses the […]

2001.7.19 Officially passed the written qualifying exams

July 19, 2001

Read William Clark’s 2001 UT Austin letter confirming he passed the written qualifying exam and outlining the next step: the oral exam.

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2001.7.15 Grievance letter to the Dean of the Graduate School

July 15, 2001

A graduate student’s letter to the Dean details alleged neglect, harassment, academic isolation, and unresolved support issues after passing Ph.D. qualifying exams.

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2001.3.2 Folwer instructs me to put my Mars source code online

March 2, 2001

An archived 2001 email reveals advisor Wallace Fowler’s advice to publish Bill Clark’s FORTRAN Mars trajectory code and its impact on his Ph.D. research.

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2001.2.15 Mars Society/AIAA Mars Pathfinder 2.0 paper

February 15, 2001

Explore an innovative Earth-to-Mars trajectory optimization method that reduces travel time or fuel use without nonlinear optimization or genetic algorithms.

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