Master of Science Students

Expected Dec. 2025 student portrait Mikaela Felix

Research:

Astrodynamics, Relative Motion
Expected May 2027 student portrait Jacob Mesley

Research:

Astrodynamics
Expected May 2026 student portrait Nicholas Natsoulas

Research:

GNC, Simulation, Astrodynamics, Controls
Expected May 2027 student portrait Mitchell Pentecost

Research:

Astrodynamics

Completed Master of Science Students

  1. student portrait Hyunsik Joe, "Sensor Craft Control Using Drone Craft with Coulomb Propulsion System", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2005.
  2. student portrait John Berryman, "Analytical and Numerical Analysis of Static Coulomb Formations", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, December 2005.
    Awards: 2004, 2005 Air Force Space Scholar Award
  3. student portraitMark J. Monda, "Hardware Testbed for Relative Navigation of Unmanned Vehicles Using Visual Servoing", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2006.
    Awards: NDSEG Fellowship Award
  4. student portrait Christopher Romanelli, "Software Simulation of an Unmanned Vehicle Performing Relative Spacecraft Orbits", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2006.
  5. student portrait Josh Zhou, "Simplified Analysis of IMU Sensor Corruptions on Existing Pendulation Control System For Ship-Mounted Crane", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, December 2006.
  6. student portrait Harsh Vasavada, "Four Craft Virtual Coulomb Structure Analysis for 1 to 3 Dimensional Geometries", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2007.
    Awards: 2006 Air Force Space Scholar Award
  7. student portrait Charles M. Southward, "Autonomous Convoy Study of Unmanned Ground Vehicles using Visual Snakes", Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2007.
    Awards: 2006, 2007 Air Force Space Scholar Award
  8. student portraitBrady W. Young, "Design and Specification of an Attitude Control System for the DANDE Mission," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2008.
  9. student portrait Stephen Panosian, "Stiffness Analysis of the Tethered Coulomb Structure Concept and Application," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2011.
  10. student portrait Samantha Krening, "Visual Spacecraft Relative Motion Control using Higher Order Geometric Moments," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2011.
  11. student portrait Daniel J. Dunn II, "A Hybrid Hardware and Software Simulation Environment for Relative Orbit Motion Studies," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2011.
    Awards: NDSEG Fellowship Award
  12. student portraitRobin Blenden, "Regenerative Power Optimal Reaction Wheel Attitude Control," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2011.
  13. student portrait Marc Saunders, "Adaptive Formation Flying Maneuvers for Multiple Relative Orbits," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, August 2011.
  14. student portrait Stephanie Jones, "Negating the Yearly Eccentricity Magnitude Variation of Super-Synchronous Disposal Orbits due to Solar Radiation Pressure," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2013.
  15. student portrait Michael Trowbridge, "Autonomous 3D Model Generation of Orbital Debris using Point Cloud Sensors," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2014.
    Awards: First price in 2012 Undergraduate Research Symp., 2012 and 2013 Dean's List, Software Technical Lead Award for 2012/2013 Senior Projects, Distinguished Senior Recognition, Best Presentation at the 2013 Ground Systems Architecture Workshop
  16. student portrait Joshua Chabot, "A Spherical Magnetic Dipole Actuator for Spacecraft Attitude Control," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2015.
    Awards: First Place Mechanical Engineering Research Project at the 2013 Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of New Hampshire
  17. student portrait Lauren McManus, "An Investigation into Establishing a Formation of Small Satellites in a Lunar Flower Constellation," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2015.
    Awards: NSF Fellowship, Smead graduate fellowship
  18. student portrait Patrick Kenneally, "High Geometric Fidelity Solar Radiation Pressure Modeling via Graphics Processing Unit," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2016.
  19. student portrait Heiko Engwerda, “Remote Sensing for Spatial Electrostatic Characterization using the Multi-Sphere Method,” Aerospace Engineering Department, Delft Technical University, Delft, The Netherlands, March 2017.
  20. student portrait Manuel Diaz Ramos, "Kinematic Steering Law for Conically-Constrained Torque-Limited Spacecraft Attitude Control," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2017.
    Awards: Fulbright Fellowship, 2017 Caltech Space Challenge, Argentine Presidential Fellowship in Science and Technology
  21. student portrait Christopher B. Rabotin, "Feasibility of reusable continuous thrust spacecraft for cargo resupply missions to Mars," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2017.
  22. student portrait John Alcorn, "Fully-Coupled Dynamical Jitter Modeling of Momentum Exchange Devices," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2017.
    Awards: Dean's Graduate Fellowship, IAC travel award, CU travel award
  23. student portrait Gabriel J. Ingram, "Development and Analysis of Volume Multi-Sphere Method Model Generation using Electric Field Fitting," Master's Thesis, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 2017.
  24. student portrait Fausto Casale, "Lyapunov Optimal Touchless Electrostatic Detumbling of Space Debris in GEO using a Surface Multisphere Model," Master of Science in Space Engineering, School of Industrial and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, May 2020.
  25. student portrait Giulio Napolitano, "A Model-Based Thruster Fault Detection and Isolation Tool with Low Level Implementation in Basilisk Astrodynamics Simulation Framework," Master of Science in Space Engineering, School of Industrial and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, August 2020.
  26. student portrait Conor Ryan, “Momentum Transfer due to Hypervelocity Impacts into Spacecraft Solar Arrays,” Aerospace Engineering Department, Delft Technical University, Delft, The Netherlands, March 2022.
  27. student portrait Guillem Rueda Oller, “Thrusting System for Electrostatic Space Debris Control,” Aerospace Engineering Department, Delft Technical University, Delft, The Netherlands, May 2023.
  28. student portrait Giovanni Fereoli, "Meta-Reinforcement Learning for Spacecraft Proximity Operations Guidance and Control in Cislunar Space," Master of Science in Space Engineering, School of Industrial and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, December 2023.

Completed Master of Science (Non-Thesis) Students

  1. student portraitDonald Shrewsbury, "Providing a Camera Sensor with Pointing Capabilities Independent of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle," Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, December 2006.
  2. student portrait Paul Speth, "A Probabilistic Assessment of Earth-Orbiting Spacecraft Lifetime," Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2008.
  3. student portrait Nicholas E. Bradley, "Low Earth Orbit Plasma Environment Visualization," Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2010.
  4. student portrait Nicholas Tarasenko, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2010.
  5. student portrait Daan Stevenson, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2011.
  6. student portraitLaura Stiles, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2011.
  7. student portrait Felix Bidner, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2012.
  8. student portraitStephen O'Keefe, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2012.
  9. student portraitJohn P. Mills, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2013.
  10. student portrait Peter Jasch, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2013.
  11. student portrait Nicholas Zinner, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2013.
  12. student portrait Andrew Zizzi, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2013.
  13. student portrait Khashayar Parsay, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2013.
  14. student portrait Kevin Dinkel, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2014.
    Awards: Outstanding Graduate for Research award
  15. student portrait Paul Anderson, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2014.
  16. student portrait Tamara Cottam, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2015.
  17. student portrait Patrick C. Haas, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2015.
  18. student portrait Taabish Z. Rashied, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2015.
  19. student portrait Franklin Hinckley, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2016.
  20. student portrait Nicholas Ravago, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2016.
  21. student portrait Jake Sullivan, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2016.
  22. student portrait Petra Chow, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2017.
    Awards: Dean's Graduate Fellowship, CU travel award
  23. student portrait Nathan Gustilo, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2017.
  24. student portrait Erik J. Lessac-Chenen, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2017.
  25. student portrait Andre Litinsky, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2017.
  26. student portrait Kyle Bridgeo, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2017.
  27. student portrait Andrew Harris, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2018.
  28. student portrait Jordan Maxwell, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2018.
  29. student portrait Joseph E. Brown, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, August 2018.
  30. student portrait Charles Goble, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2018.
  31. student portrait Nick Cenedella, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  32. student portrait Matthew Foster, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  33. student portrait Robert Hakulin, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  34. student portrait Jacob A. Tarnoff, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  35. student portrait Andrew Lyons, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  36. student portrait Tony Ly, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2019.
  37. student portrait Jeffrey Jenkins, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2019.
  38. student portrait Scott Carnahan, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2019.
    Awards: Dean's Assistantship, RIO Entrepreneurship Fellowship, Draper Graduate Fellowship, 2019 1st place Research Palooza winner, ARCS Scholarship
  39. student portrait Andrew Alder, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2020.
    Awards: Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award
  40. student portrait Jack Toland, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2020.
  41. student portrait Dylan O'Brien Languth, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2020.
  42. student portrait Meer Baker, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2020.
  43. student portrait Marissa Reynolds, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2020.
    Awards: GAANN fellowship
  44. student portrait Sean P. Downs, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2020.
  45. student portrait Benjamin K. Hagenau, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2020.
  46. student portrait Alexander M. Reynolds, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2020.
  47. student portrait Amanda Marx, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2021.
  48. student portrait Dillon B. Waxman, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2021.
  49. student portrait Jacob Schroeder, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2021.
  50. student portrait Corey LePine, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2022.
  51. student portrait Joshua D. Nelson, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2022.
  52. student portrait João Vaz Carneiro, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2022.
  53. student portrait Matthew Lauto, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2022.
  54. student portrait Aniket Goel, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2022.
  55. student portrait Benjamin Freid, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2023.
  56. student portrait Galen Bascom, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2023.
  57. student portrait Joshua F. Gregg, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2023.
  58. student portrait Billy Weigl, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2023.
  59. student portrait Julian Hammerl, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2023.
  60. student portrait Kaylee Champion, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2023.
  61. student portrait Tyler Mason, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2024.
  62. student portrait Scott McKinley, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2024.
    Awards: NSF Fellowship (declined)
  63. student portrait Andrea López, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2024.
  64. student portrait Matthew Grewe, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2024.
  65. student portrait Samuel Packard, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2024.
  66. student portrait Kaylie Rick, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  67. student portrait Amanda Marlow, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  68. student portrait Leah Kiner, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  69. student portrait Andrew Morell, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  70. student portrait James D. Walker, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  71. student portrait Mark Stephenson, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, December 2024.
  72. student portrait Jack Fox, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, May 2025.

Completed Master of Engineering Students

  1. student portrait Rajtilok Chakravarty, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, August 2009.
  2. student portrait Sarah Stansbury, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, May 2011.

Master of Science Thesis Advisory Committee Member for:

  1. Erin E. Kruse, “Nonlinear Modeling and Simulation of a Hydrostatic Drive System,” Master's Thesis, Mechanical Engineering Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, December 2001.
  2. Matthew C. VanDyke, “Decentralized Coordinated Attitude Control of a Formation of Spacecraft,” Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, July 2004.
  3. Scott E. Lennox, “Coupled Attitude and Orbital Control System Using Spacecraft Simulators,” Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, July 2004.
  4. student portrait Michael Morrow, “A Self-Sustaining, Boundary-Layer-Adapted System for terrain Exploration and Environmental Sampling,” Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, June 2005.
  5. student portrait Christopher L. Nickell, “Modular Modification of a Buoyant AUV for Low-Speed Operation,” Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, September 2005.
  6. student portrait Amir F. Ajami, “Adaptive Flight Control in the Presence of Input Constrain,” Master's Thesis, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, December 2005.
  7. student portrait Farheen Rizvi, “Solar Sail Attitude Dynamics And Coning Control: On Developing Control Methods for Solar Sail Coning at Orbit Rate to Attain Desired Orbital Effects,” Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, December 2010.
  8. student portrait Nathan Shupe, “Orbit Options for an Orion-Class Spacecraft Mission to a Near-Earth Object,” Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, December 2010.
  9. student portrait Padraig Lysandrou, “A Successive Convexification Optimal Guidance Implementation for the Pinpoint Landing of Space Vehicles,” Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, December 2019.
  10. student portrait Jesse Tambornini, “2D Soft Robotics Modeling for Small Body Environments and Granular Electroadhesion Characterization,” Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, August 2020.

Master of Science Non-Thesis Advisory Committee Member for:

  1. Samuel Wright, “Parameter Estimation of a Spacecraft Simulator Using Parameter-Adaptive Control,” Non-Thesis Master's Project, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering DepartmentVirginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, May 2006.
  2. student portrait Cyrus Nejat, Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, December 2006.
  3. William Oehlschlager, “Nonlinear and Linear Control Law Study of Front-Wheel Steering Dynamics,” Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, December 2006.
  4. Chris Legendre, “Solar Electric Propulsion for a Lunar/Martian Tug,” Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, May 2007.
  5. Curtis Wilkerson, “Specialized Attitude Coordinate Development,” Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, August 2007.