USC Space Engineering Students Showcase Innovation at International Conference – USC Viterbi

Back Row left to right: Maddeline Stratton (MSc), Jaxson Hill (PhD candidate), Pierson Lintala (MSc graduate), Cristobal Garrido (PhD candidate). Front Row, Noah Gladden (MSc Graduate) and Kristina Andreyeva (PhD Candidate)

USC’s Space Engineering Research Center (SERC), part of the Department of Astronautical Engineering (ASTE) and Information Sciences Institute (ISI), made a significant impact at this year’s International Astronautical Conference (IAC) in Milan, Italy. The conference, held from October 14-18, 2024, saw a record number of USC students presenting groundbreaking research in space engineering and technology.

The IAC, the premier global event for the space industry, brings together leading experts, researchers, and innovators from around the world to share cutting-edge developments in space technology. USC’s strong presence emphasized the university’s commitment to developing the next generation of space engineers.

The innovative research presented by USC students spanned a wide range of cutting-edge topics.

Jaxson Hill presenting his research at the International Astronautical Conference

One project featured STARFISH, a bioinspired soft robot, which offers a glimpse into the future of on-platform inspection for validation and verification for large-scale assembly using unique manipulation testing. Another project showcased SERC’s Air Bearing Platform, an innovative testing system that simulates space-like conditions in two dimensions. There was also a presentation on improving spacecraft operations by integrating multiple sensors, such as visible light and thermal imaging, to enhance accuracy and reliability. This innovation aims to make satellite servicing and joint missions safer and more efficient.

These projects are just a few examples of how USC students are pushing the boundaries of space engineering.

David Barnhart, Research Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at USC and the director of SERC, highlighted the significance of this year’s participation.

“This year has seen the highest number of accepted talks, presentations, and papers at the premier international space event in the world. Master’s and Ph.D. leads, along with multiple student co-authors, represented six different topics that have reached the caliber expected to participate at the international level in space engineering,” Barnhart said.

SERC members at the International Astronautical Conference in Milan, Italy

The students’ participation at IAC reflects ASTE’s commitment to nurturing
future leaders in astronautics. Their participation in the conference also provided invaluable networking opportunities with industry leaders and potential collaborators.

Reflecting on the students’ achievements, Barnhart added, “I am incredibly proud of the contributions of each student as it represents the value of the SERC merging their academic rigor into hands-on applications that extend what they learn into practical applications. I am humbled to be helping foster the next generation of innovative space engineers and entrepreneurs to lead society and USC into the next century of Space advancement!”

Full list of papers presented at IAC:

Attending/Presenting: Jaxson Hill, PhD ASTE
Title: 3DOF Air Bearing Platform as a Testbed for Gecko Gripper Active Debris Removal Mechanism
Contributors: Maddy Stratton, Pierson Lintala, David Barnhart

Attending/Presenting: Madeline Stratton, MS Thesis ASTE
Title: Optimizing Element & System-level Compliance of Robotic, Gecko Adhesion-based Grippers to the Unknown Shapes & Sizes of Space Debris Targets
Contributors: Jaxson Hill, Josh Pastizzo, Griffin McRae, David Barnhart

Attending/Presenting: Dave Barnhart, Research Professor ASTE
Title: Enabling Safe Efficient Rendezvous: The Value of Cooperative and Communicative RPO
Contributing: Sami Haq, Henry Adam, Melodie Ebrahimi, Yashvi Deliwala, Haley Topper, Pierson Lintala, Jaxson Hill, Adarsh Rajguru

Attending/Presenting: Cristobal Garrido, PhD ASTE
Title: Multi-Source Sensor Fusion: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of Space Operations
Contributors: Tomonori Yagi, Akshita Swaminathan, Autumn Awbrey, David Barnhart

Attending/Presenting: Kristina Andreyeva, PhD ASTE
Title: STARFISH: A Soft Bioinspired Robot Actuated by Shape-Memory Alloy Wires for On-Orbit Mapping and Manipulation
Contributing authors: Kristina Andreyeva, Mickael Cupif, Kelly Ash, Arshia Dhawan, Jonah Goldstein, Amani Yohanes, David Barnhart

Attending/Presenting: Sam Feldman (Graduated MS)
Title: A Levitated Displacement Interferometer Thrust Stand for Characterization of Propellantless Propulsion Concepts
Contributing Authors: Kasturi Khatun, Olivia Kingsbury, Ryan Weed

Published on November 6th, 2024

Last updated on November 6th, 2024