·                                 Status: single

·                                 Languages: Italian (mother tongue), English (excellent), Spanish (fair), German (basic)

·                                 Oct 2007: PhD in Space Science and Technology, Center G. Colombo for Studies and Activity for Space (CISAS), University of Padova (Defended on 4^th October 2007)

Ø            PhD Thesis: Preliminary Design Methods for Optimal Space Trajectories to Planets and Asteroids

Ø            Research Area– split into two main areas: definition and development of tools for trajectory design (preliminary phase and accurate optimization), and application of these methodologies to the design of new trajectories and particularly to the definition of mitigation and prevention strategies for the risk posed by Near Earth Objects (NEO)

Ø            Research Interests: Astrodynamics, Optimal Control, Global and Local Optimization, NEOs.

·                                 July-August 2004: International Space University, Summer Session Program (SSP’04)

·                                 October 2003: Workshop on Trajectory Design and Optimization. ESTEC

·                                 1996-July 2003: Master degree in Aerospace Engineering - Politecnico of Milano, final mark 94/100

Ø           Master Thesis: Global Search Tools for Preliminary Design of Interplanetary Trajectories – Definition and development of preliminary design tools, based on global optimization search by genetic algorithm, for mission analysis of interplanetary trajectories combining both chemical, electric propulsion, and multiple gravity assist maneuvers.

Ø           Specific exams: Space Mission Design, Spaceflight Dynamics, Rockets, Control Systems, Fluid and Aerodynamics.

·                                 July 1996: Liceo Scientifico, Istituto Zaccaria Milano, with a final mark of 58/60

Since year 2002 I have been professionally involved in space mission analysis and design, both at theoretical and practical level. The theoretical part is related to the beginning of my activity and it is mainly characterized by research and development of new methodologies and design tools. The most practical part coincides with my experience in the Mission Analysis Office at ESOC where I have been involved in many studies at various level (feasibility, phase A, B etc…) for a large variety of missions and mission scenarios: Inner solar system, asteroids, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and its moons, libration points etc… using low-thrust or chemical propulsion.

Mission analysis is wide discipline, as it has a large interaction with almost every single spacecraft engineering area. Thanks to this wide field of activity I have developed a strong expertise, a good understanding of the system level and a system minded approach to the design of space missions.

·                                 (Sep 2006-)   ESOC, Mission Analyst, Mission Analysis Office, Contractor( Deimos Space and GMV)

Ø            Mission Analysis for the Cosmic Vision: Neo Sample and Return, Jupiter and Saturn missions.

Ø            Analysis of Mars and Moon missions (Support for the ESA Student Moon Orbiter)

Ø            Mission Analysis for Earth Observation Missions.

Ø            Launcher ascent trajectory analysis and optimization for Soyuz and Vega.

Ø            LisaPathfinder: Assessment of the VEGA launch option.

Ø            Trade-off and selection of launchers for new missions and selection of the best launch strategy.

Ø            Support to Concurrent Design Facility studies (NEO3-MEP-MarcoPolo-Laplace-Tandem).

Ø            BepiColombo: Trajectory design.

Ø            Software Maintenance and Testing- Development of interplanetary trajectory design tools

·                                 (June 2005–June 2006) ESA/ESOC, Mission Analyst (YGT), Mission Analysis Office,

Ø            Support to definition, reassessment and consolidation of the trajectory design of the BepiColombo mission.

Ø            Design and Optimization of low-thrust and chemical interplanetary trajectories..

Ø            Analysis of efficient lunar flyby options- Design and Analysis of gravitational capture.

Ø            Support to the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF/ESTEC) studies. Actively involved in the feasibility study of various missions (NEO2, LES, JEP, WFI, REIS, LTCP, CRETE, FIRI).

Ø            Main user of the software DITAN employed in the Mission Analysis Office, for trajectory design and optimization, responsible for validation, maintenance and upgrading.

Ø            Development of ad hoc tools, case by case required for the analysis of new problems.

·                                 (Jan 2004 – Jun 2005): Full Time PhD student: research performed at CISAS (Padova) and Politecnico of Milano

Ø            Research in the field of development of tools for preliminary design of complex interplanetary trajectory. Analysis and definition of simplified models for the description of low-thrust trajectory by a novel methodology called shape-based. Application of global optimization techniques. 

Ø            Development and application to space trajectory design of a novel optimization technique called Differential Dynamic Programming based on the Dynamic Programming Principle.

Ø            Research activity in the field of potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects, through the analysis of space missions oriented toward the definition of mitigation and prevention strategies.

Ø            Co-Supervisor of one Master Thesis.

·                                 (Oct 2002- April 2003) ESA/ESTEC Trainee in the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT)

Ø            Skills gained/Roles: Assessment of the possibility to developing novel design tools for an effective preliminary design of complex trajectory to be used in a pre-phase A study (CDF-like)

Ø            Principal output: Matlab tool for preliminary analysis of low-thrust gravity assist trajectories.

·                                 Contribution to the definition of the problem proposed for the 1^st ACT Global Trajectory Optimization Competition (Nov.2005): 1^st ESA public competition consisting of solving an original trajectory design problem.

·                                 During the ISU Summer Session Program (July-August 2004), in the frame of the team project assessment, of the role of the moon in the human exploration of Mars, as a test-bed for the elements enabling the exploration of Mars. Specific activity: preliminary design of a series of lunar missions, exploiting the enabling elements identified.

·                                 During the Space System Design Course at Politecnico of Milan (March-June 2002), team project consisting of a pre-phase A mission design simulation on a given realistic space mission objective:  “Debris Removal”. Specific activity: AOCS subsystem engineer particularly focused on docking and rendezvous phases and GN&C subsystem engineer.

·                                 Various presentations at international conferences.

·                                 Programming: , MATLAB, SIMULINK, Fortran, C

·                                 Operating Systems: Windows, LINUX, UNIX,

·                                 Software: Microsoft Office, MATLAB, STK, DITAN,AUTOCAD

·                                 Good attitude toward team working, with a great willingness to learn

·                                 Good capability in working autonomously with little control,  together with good analysis and synthesis skills driven by experience in research work.

·                                 Good cross-cultural communications skills.

·                                 Strong interest in various fields of the space activity (also non technical).

·                     Garcia D., Jehn R.,De Pascale P., “Trajectory Design for the Bepi-Colombo Mission to Mercury” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Vol.60 No 6 June 2007

·                     De Pascale P., Vasile M., Casotto S., “Optimal Options for Rendezvous and Impact Missions to NEOs” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Vol.59 No.11 November 2006

·                     Vasile M., De Pascale P., “On the Preliminary Design of Multiple Gravity-Assist Trajectories” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 43, No. 5, Sep/Oct. 2006, pp. 1065-1076

·                     De Pascale P., Vasile M.:“An Approach to the Preliminary Design of Low-Thrust Multiple Gravity-Assist Trajectory” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 43 No. 4, Jul/Aug 2006.

·                     Vasile M., Summerer L., De Pascale P. : “Design of Earth-Mars Transfer Trajectories using evolutionary branching technique”, Acta Astronautica, Vol.56, No.8, 2005, pp.705-720

·                     De Pascale P., Khan M., “Design of a Close-Proximity Observation Mission for 99942/Apophis” IAC Paper 07-A3.5.09, 58^th International Astronautical Congress, September 2007, Hyderabad India.

·                     De Pascale P., Garcia D., Jehn R., “Recovery Opportunities for the BepiColombo Mission to Mercury” IAC Paper 07-C1.7.05, 58^th International Astronautical Congress, September 2007, Hyderabad India.

·                     Vasile M., De Pascale P., Casotto S.,  “On the Optimality of a shape-based Approach based on Pseudo-equincotial elements” IAC Paper 06-C1.4.05, 57^th International Astronautical Congress, October 2006, Valencia.

·                     Garcia D., Jehn R., De Pascale P., “Trajectory Design for the BepiColombo Mission to Mercury” IAC Paper 06-C1.8.07 57^th International Astronautical Congress, October 2006, Valencia Spain.

·                     Khan M., De Pascale P., “Preliminary Mission Analysis of a Jupiter Entry Probe Mission” 25^th ISTS & 19^th ISSFD, 4-11 Jun. 2006, Kanazawa Japan.

·                     De Pascale P., Vasile M., Casotto S., : “Transfer Options for Missions to Near Earth Objects”, ”. IAC Paper  05-C1.05, 56th International Astronautical Congress, October 2005, Fukuoka Japan.

·                     De Pascale P., Vasile M., Casotto S., : “A Tool for the Preliminary Trajectory Design of Interplanetary Missions Exploiting Gravity-Assist and Low-Thrust Propulsion”. IAC Paper  04-A2.06, 55th International Astronautical Congress, 4-8 Oct. 2004, Vancouver Canada.

·                     LunAres: “International Lunar Exploration in Preparation for Mars”. Student Team Project Final Report, International Space University, Summer Session Program 2004.

·                     De Pascale P., Vasile M., Finzi A., :  “A Tool for Preliminary Design of Low Thrust Gravity-Assist Trajectories” Paper AAS 04-250. 14th  AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, 8-12 Feb 2004, USA.

·                     Contributions to CDF final reports of the abovementioned studies. Author of various ESOC technical notes and CREMAs.