The disappearance of a rocket scientist has taken a disturbing turn after it was revealed that she holds a unique patent related to advanced space launch systems in the US.
Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, was last seen on June 22 of last year, at around 09:10 a.m., during a hike in the San Gabriel Wilderness area of the Angeles National Forest.
According to several reports on the EISPIRATEN forum, a man walking about 10 meters ahead of her on the trail to the top of Waterman Mountain turned around a few moments later to find her missing. She was carrying a backpack with water and basic hiking gear.
Attention has once again focused on her scientific work, as public documents show that Reza has been involved in the development of advanced space materials used in high-performance propulsion systems.
She is listed as a surviving co-author of a 2010 patent, developed with Dallis Ann Hardwick (who passed away in 2014), for a special metal alloy designed to withstand extreme temperatures without losing structural strength.
Reza is also associated with the development of "Mondaloy", a nickel-based superalloy, later used in critical components of space propulsion systems developed with the support of the US Air Force and NASA.
She worked for decades at Rocketdyne, later part of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a major aerospace and military contractor. Some reports also mention former US Major General William Neil McCasland, who oversaw research programs related to the Air Force and was himself reported missing in June 2025.
Reza and McCasland are among several recent cases involving scientists associated with space, defense or nuclear research whose disappearances or deaths have drawn public attention.
Mondaloy was later used in the development of the AR1 rocket engine, designed to replace the Russian RD-180 engines previously used in United Launch Alliance rockets, as part of US efforts to reduce dependence on foreign propulsion technologies.
Unlike older materials that were either very strong but easily burned, or heat-resistant but weaker, the alloy developed by Reza aims to combine both properties: high strength and resistance to ignition under extreme conditions.
The material, composed primarily of nickel with smaller amounts of cobalt, chromium, aluminum and titanium, is designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures of rocket launches.
According to the patent, it was intended for use in critical components such as turbines, air ducts and fuel systems, where any failure could have catastrophic consequences.
These materials are used in engines that serve to launch military satellites, missile warning systems, and sensitive strategic payloads—missions known as “national security launches.”
Reza's work has also been supported by the US Air Force Research Laboratory, which was at one time directed by McCasland.
He himself was reported missing in June 2025, under circumstances still unclear and under investigation.
According to Bernalillo County authorities, he was last seen at his home around 10 a.m. talking to a repair technician. When his wife returned later, the apartment was empty, and his phone, glasses and personal belongings were missing.
Investigators also noted the absence of hiking boots and a .38 caliber revolver. An Air Force T-shirt was later found about a mile from the residence, but it has not been confirmed whether it belonged to him.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed elements of the crime and investigations are ongoing.
In another case, NASA scientist Michael David Hicks, 59, was found dead on July 30, 2023. No details suggesting murder have been publicly released.
Also, NASA researcher Frank Maiwald died on July 4, 2024, in Los Angeles at the age of 61. No autopsy was performed and the cause of death has not been released. He had worked on advanced satellite projects at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, former employee Anthony Chavez, 79, disappeared on May 4, 2025, and the search for him continues without result.
Since 2024, several other deaths of scientists related to space and technology research have been reported, including the case of Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant at Los Alamos, who was last seen walking alone without documents or a phone.
In California, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair was killed in his home in February 2024. He had worked on NASA missions to detect near-Earth objects.
Meanwhile, two other deaths were reported in Massachusetts under different circumstances: nuclear fusion researcher Nuno Loureiro was murdered in his home, while pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas was found dead in a lake after months of disappearance.
Authorities have stated that so far there is no evidence linking these cases and that most remain under investigation, with no official conclusions about criminal involvement. /GazetaExpress/
t7 live
