Farhad Ghaffari

He was preceded in death by his parents Nasrollah Ghaffari and Effat Vishdehi; brother, Mahmoud Ghaffari.

Farhad Ghaffari was an Aerospace Engineer and became a NASA Civil Servant in 1990 working on various advanced configurations (such as the diamond wing, the F/A-18 as part of the NASA High-Alpha Research Vehicle program, the Supersonic Wing Laminar Flow Control, the High Speed Research – High Speed Commercial Transport, the X-43, and the National AeroSpace Plane) through extensive grid generation and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses and detailed comparisons with wind tunnel or flight data when available.

Farhad conducted CFD research in support of the Ares I project and the more recent Space Launch System Program. Farhad’s computational work helped develop the aerodynamic load databases for the SLS crew and cargo vehicles during the liftoff, transition and ascent phases of flight, and safety of the crew prior to takeoff through analysis of the Mobile Launcher Crew Access Arm. Prior to Farhad’s retirement from NASA after 32 years of service was the successful launch of the Artemis I mission from the Kennedy Space Center November 16th for a 25-day mission circling the moon, followed by the reentry and splashdown Dec 11th! What a finale of his research contributions to the SLS prior to the end of his professional career! Farhad was an excellent computational fluid dynamicist of the highest integrity, and known for his kind and gentle nature among colleagues.

Farhad Ghaffari was the recipient of two NASA Langley Research Center Team Awards for the Ares Project, one NASA Agency Honor Group Achievement Award for the Ares Project, and one NASA Agency Honor Group Achievement Award for the SLS! He had numerous technical reports. He was also an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandpa, who enjoyed his free time with friends and family. Mr. Ghaffari is survived by his wife of 41 years, Suzanne Hope Ghaffari; daughter, Amanda Dawn Ghaffari; sons, Michael Reza Ghaffari and wife Carissa Schmidt Ghaffari and Dr. Kevin Amir Ghaffari; one grandson, Donovan Reza Ghaffari; sisters, Marzieh Ghaffari and Razieh Ghaffari; brother, Ahmad Ghaffari and numerous family members and friends.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m to 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2023, at Parklawn Wood Funeral Home at 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., following the visitation on Friday, May 19, 2023. Burial to follow in Parklawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.