CV: Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Areas of expertise

Spacecraft Systems Engineering / AOCS / Electric Propulsion

WORK EXPERIENCE

01/09/2015 - Present

Research Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin

Performing research on guidance optimal strategies for spacecraft rendezvous and close range navigation in the Controls Lab for Distributed and Uncertain Systems (C-DUS).

http://cdus.ae.utexas.edu/

01/07/2013–30/06/2015

CubeSat & Micro-Satellite Systems Engineer

European Space Agency - ESTEC, Noordwijk (Netherlands)

Employed in the framework of the Young Graduate Trainee program.

Experience acquired:

​Requirements management: VCD, ICD, IRD/EID;

System modelling and analysis, system budgets maintenance (mass, volume, power, pointing, data);

Project reviews: PDR, CDR;

Functional and environmental test campaigns: vibration and TV/TC, TRR, PTR, NCR, NRB/MRB, RFD, RFW;

Risk assessments;

Extensive exposure to ECSS: E-10, E-32, M-40, M-80, Q-10, Q-70;

Moderate exposure to ISS: safety requirements, safety review process;

Interface with ESA technical and quality experts, in order to assist in the identification and resolution of critical technical issues;

Project planning and progress tracking;

Preparation of ESA management and technical documentation for project reviews, for ESA internal and for outreach purposes;

Support the coordination of the educational satellite contractor and of the student teams.

01/02/2013–30/06/2013

Research Associate

Brown University, Providence (United States)

Laboratory activities on bacteria motility project funded by the National Science Foundation:

Biological test sample preparation;

Automated tracking of uniflagellated bacteria;

Image analysis.

System and ADCS/AOCS engineer of the CubeSat EQUiSat (http://browncubesat.org/) funded by the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium:

Passive magnetic attitude control system detailed design;

Attitude determination system preliminary design based on magnetic and IR sensors;

Spacecraft dynamics simulations using Matlab/Simulink.

02/2013–06/2013

Teaching Assistant

Brown University, Providence (United States)

Space machine design course.

Main responsibilities:

​Students tutoring, assignments correction and final exam conduction;

Lecturing on electric propulsion.

03/2011–09/2011

Research Internship

Alta S.p.A., Pisa (Italy)

Numerical modeling of ​Self Field MagnetoPlasmaDynamic (MPD) thrusters using Matlab;

Laboratory activities on Applied Field MPD thrusters in thermal vacuum chamber using Pulse Foming Network.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

08/2015–present

PhD Student

University of Texas at Austin, Austin (United States)

Main topics:

​Optimal Control Theory;

Stochastic Estimation, Detection and Control;

Linear and Non-linear Control Systems.

07/2012–12/2012

Visiting Student

Brown University, Providence (United States)

Activities performed:

​Laboratory activities on bacteria motility project funded by  the National Science Foundation;

Participation to the EQUiSat CubeSat project (system, attitude control, electronics) funded by the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium.

Second level master thesis: "EQUiSat CubeSat: System Analysis and Design to Enhance its Terrestrial Visibility​".

01/01/2012–21/12/2012

Second Level Master in Satellite Systems and Services

La Sapienza University of Rome, Roma (Italy)

Industrial Master heavily based on interaction with industry professionals. The program included:

6 months classes on space and ground systems engineering, project management, human spaceflight and space law taught by industry professionals and astronauts (Roberto Vittori).

1 month teamwork (see project section of CV)

Up to 6 months internship in industry and research institutes

15/09/2008–21/10/2011

Master of Science in Space Engineering

La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (Italy)

Majors: space propulsion (chemical and electric), AOCS, electronics.

Master thesis:

"Numerical model of a self-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster"

09/2005–10/2008

Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering

La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (Italy)

Major: aerospace propulsion

Bachelor thesis: "Nuclear thermal rockets for space propulsion"

PERSONAL SKILLS

Mother tongue(s)

Italian

Other language(s)

English – fluent.

Communication skills

Good communication skills gained through work experiences in the USA and the Netherlands where I have been part of deeply multicultural teams.

Job-related skills

Team working (during my job in ESA I was part of a team of about 20 engineers with different technical backgrounds)

Proactive (my job in ESA required a fair degree of autonomy and the capability to take decisions under stress)

Self-starter

Computer skills

Matlab & Simulink (experienced)

Fortran (beginner)

C++ (begineer)

​DOORS (beginner)

LTspice (beginner)

PCBs design tools (beginner)

MS Office package (experienced)

Driving licence

A1, A, B

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Publications

B. Liu, M. Gulino, M. Morse, J. X. Tang, T. R. Powers and K. S. Breuer (2014). Helical motion of the cell body enhances Caulobacter crescentus motility. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111 (31) 11252-11256.

Conferences

P. Galeone, J. Vanreusel, M. Gulino, D. Sagath and V. Gupta (2014). The Fly Your Satellite! Programme of the ESA Education Office. Small Satellites Systems and Services Symposium.

P. Galeone, J. Vanreusel, M. Gulino and V. Gupta (2014). Fly Your Satellite!: approach and lessons learned. 65th International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Federation.

P. Galeone, D. Sagath, J. Vanreusel, M. Gulino and V. Gupta (2014). Frequency & Space Object Regulations Management for Educational Small Satellite Programmes. Global Space Applications Conference. International Astronautical Federation.

Acknowledgements and Awards

Fulbright Graduate Fellow for year 2015-2016.

Projects

Titan Atmosphere & Lake Explorer

Concept study of a robotic exploration mission aimed to explore the Kraken mare, one of the lakes of Titan, a satellite of Saturn. In this student project, I was the chief of the propulsion subsystem and I was involved in the AOCS subsystem and in activities such as cost, system and mission analysis.
 

S-STEM

Proposal manager of a space life science mission to be submitted to the call of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) named "Human Space Flight for research and technological advances in the International Space Station". In this framework I performed cost analysis, risk analysis, project management (Gantt chart, WBS), requirements and compatibility analysis.