Meet our Team
Lab Director
Dr. Paula do Vale Pereira is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering with focus on space exploration technologies. Her work bridges cutting-edge research in space systems, spacecraft design, and mission architecture, aiming to advance humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
She has a Ph.D. in Space Systems (2022) and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering
(2019) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she was part of 3 space missions from Pre-Phase A through operations and decommissioning, having commanded over 400 ground station passes. She was a Visiting Researcher at NASA JPL for 9 months, was part of NASA’s Planetary Science Summer School, and interned at Facebook Connectivity Labs twice, where she worked on space-based laser communications. She has been a Deputy Technical Program Chair for AIAA ASCEND Conference since 2023, Chair of Technical Affairs of AIAA’s Small Satellite Technical Committee since 2024, and
Technology Co-Lead at NASA’s Ocean Worlds Working Group since 2024.
Interested in: Lunar and planetary exploration missions, especially related to the Artemis Program.
Graduate Students
Owen Baylor
M.S. student
Micah Boudreau
M.S. student
Edward Clutter
Ph.D. candidate
Andrew Dean
M.S. student
Research Interests: I am currently developing a laser testing system to determine how lunar dust affects laser attenuation. This research will help determine the efficacy of laser communications and power delivery on the lunar surface.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida
Research Interests:
My research interests span across deep space from asteroids, the moons of Jupiter and outer planets, and human spaceflight. I currently focus on building computational tools for spacecraft navigating asteroids and other irregular gravitational environments. The tools I build are intended to assist deep space missions to asteroids for close fly-by, landing, and touch-and-go.
Degree(s): Associate of Science from Chattanooga S. Community College. Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
Research Interests: Topics of interests are fluid mechanics, turbulence, and computational fluid dynamics. Current research is focused on the use of computational fluid dynamics to model heat shield separation and the development of a reduced order model for heat shield separation. Background includes experience with applications of computational fluid dynamics for aerospace, defense, and energy sectors.
Degree(s): Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Mississippi State University. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Memphis.
Research Interests: I am interested in heat transfer and fluids as well as power systems. I am researching the power requirements of lunar bases powered by molten salt fission reactors. I am also designing a testing chamber to simulate the mid-descent ice conditions of Europa.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Astronautics from Florida Institute of Technology
Kevin Johnson
Ph.D. student
Isabelle Kaltenbaugh
Ph.D. student
Meagan Thatcher
Ph.D. student
Research Interests: My research interests focus on fixed-wing UAVs for planetary exploration, especially their use for long-duration atmospheric science at Uranus. I am particularly interested in aerodynamic design, CFD analysis, and the broader mission architecture needed to support such vehicles, including power, navigation, communications, and orbiter–probe–UAV system integration.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University. Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from Arizona State University. Master of Science from the University of Central Florida
Research Interests: Focused on spacecraft structural integrity and analysis. Passionate about advancing deep space exploration through research on deployable and unfurlable spacecraft structures, integrating finite element modeling with fatigue and fracture mechanics experimentation.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida
Award(s): UCF ORCGS Fall ’25 Fellow
Research Interests: I am primarily interested in the application of machine learning and neural networks in spacecraft autonomy, astrodynamics, and guidance, navigation, and control. I am passionate about furthering space exploration and enabling more complex mission designs through autonomy.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astronomy from Brigham Young University
Undergraduate Students
Nicholas Araya
Sofia Bode
Ivan Briones
Ossyris Bury
Research Interests: My interests focus on orbital mechanics and the modeling of dynamical systems for space applications. A particular interest of mine is how simulations can be used to aid in the understanding of how complex dynamical systems behave and in predicting orbital behavior. In addition to this, I have an interest in how avionics and flight controls can be used in rocketry by designing and testing embedded systems used for guidance and navigation, especially when working in tandem with experimental propulsion systems for deep-space applications.
Research Interests: Interested in the R&D of space technology and robotics for discovery advancement in cosmology and Earth science research. Eager to explore the development of autonomous systems capable of operating in extreme environments, and to investigate how the methodologies from deep space exploration can enlighten advanced Earth observation and planetary analysis.
Research Interests: I’m primarily interested in characterizing the chill-down process in cryogenic fluid lines during in-orbit spacecraft refueling. Additionally, I’m interested in the development of lab-scale, argon-based hall effect thrusters, a type of electric thruster used on satellites for orbital raises.
Research Interests: Small satellite mission architecture.
Award(s): Barry Goldwater Scholar, UCF Distinguished Student Award, UCF Order of Pegasus
Chloe Greenbaum
Grante Kramer
Sebastian Munera
Juliette Pimbert
Research Interests: Worked as a Co-Op intern at NASA Kennedy Space Center, where I served as a Systems and Test Engineer with a focus in ISRU lunar research and development. My main research areas of interest include Space Mission Concept Design, Guidance, Navigation, and Controls, and Flight Concept Designs.
Research Interests: My primary research interests lie in the intersection between aerodynamics and propulsion systems, with a specific interest in the application for space exploration. By conducting research in these topics, I hope to expand my knowledge as an aerospace engineer.
Research Interests: I am interested in lunar nuclear power and ISRU applications to look for solutions to survive the lunar night.