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Space

Space Lab

The Space exPloration And spaceCraft Engineering Laboratory (SPACE Lab), led by Professor Paula do Vale Pereira, is part of the Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Department at the Florida Institute of Technology.

We welcome interest from exceptional graduate students enthusiastic about space exploration. Students who have already been admitted into Florida Tech may contact Professor do Vale Pereira.

About

The SPACE Lab was established in 2023 by Prof. Paula do Vale Pereira. The research laboratory space is equipped with a large optical table (4ft x 8ft), workbenches, and a fume hood. Testing equipment, such as power supplies, oscilloscopes, and function generators, are also available at the lab.

Through the university, we have access to multiple workstations for professional engineering design software such as AGI STK, PTC Creo, and MATLAB. We also have access to multiple prototyping facilities, which are equipped with FDM, SLA, and SLS 3D printers, laser cutters, waterjet cutters, milling machines of 3 and 4 axes, and manual and CNC lathes.

Research

Small satellites and CubeSats
Probes for the exploration of Ocean Worlds
Space exploration hardware development

People

Paula do Vale Pereira
Assistant Professor - Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences

pdovalepereira@fit.edu

Click to visit the faculty profile.

Gregory Zencey
Ph.D. Student - Aerospace Engineering

gzencey2022@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Exploration of Titan using fixed-wing aerial vehicles

Matthew Austin
Ph.D. Student - Aerospace Engineering

maustin2014@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Spacecraft attitude determination and control using convex optimization

Stephen Sullivan
Ph.D. Student - Aerospace Engineering

ssullivan2014@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Robotics for space exploration

Amelia Brumfield
Ph.D. Student - Aerospace Engineering

abrumfield2021@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Cryobots for the exploration of Ocean Worlds

Dylan Barnes
M.Sc. Student - Aerospace Engineering

dbarnes2018@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Uranus exploration using a swarm of CubeSats

Jacob (Jake) Mesley
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

jmesley2020@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: CubeSat mission concept development

Hector Del Castillo
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

hdelcastillo2020@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: CubeSat mission concept development

Melanie Rivera
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

riveram2019@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: CubeSat mission concept development

Andrew Cummings
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

acummings2021@my.fit.ed

Research Topic: Uranus exploration using a swarm of CubeSats

James (Chandler) Robinson
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

jamesrobinso2020@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: CubeSat mission concept development

Rodrigo Alarcon
B.S. Student Aerospace Engineering

ralarcon2019@my.fit.edu

Research Topic: Simulations of orbital debris removal

Keelin Weaver

Research Work: CubeSat mission concept development

Phoenix Meesit

Research Work: CubeSat mission concept development

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