Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
STAR Group
Dr. David Canales Garcia
Our team focuses on the incorporation of multi-body dynamics for different space applications leveraging modern computation as well as visualization tools for an accurate understanding of these regions of space.
Astrodynamics: Specializing in space mission design within the Cislunar region, perturbation and chaos theory, orbit maintenance, space situational awareness, and orbit estimation and determination.
Space Applications: Focused on immersive trajectory design and surveillance using augmented reality, systems engineering for mission design, spacecraft sizing and budgets, predictive maintenance, and signal processing.
Astrophysics and Space Weather: Researching space astrometry, lunar occultations, the solar corona, physics of the solar system, and the dynamical characterization of the solar neighborhood.
Autonomous Satellite Operations: Implementing machine learning for prediction, planning, and scheduling in IoT applications, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), and constellation management within the Cislunar constellation environment.
Our research group is seeking outstanding candidates for PhD positions. Interested individuals should send their CV and a brief statement of their research interests and fit to Prof. Canales Garcia at canaled4@erau. Be sure to apply to the PhD program, specifying the research area in Dynamics and Control.
Undergraduate students interested in pursuing research credits or experience, including senior project or independent work, are encouraged to contact at canaled4@erau.edu to arrange a meeting. We have current opportunities in multiple research projects.
Relevant Professional News
October 2024: Franco Criscola presented the state of research of the STAR group at the Astrogator Summit IV at Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI).
October 2024: Franco Criscola presented "Mission concept for the study of solar particle radiation and corona from the cislunar environment at stable Earth-Moon L4 orbits" at the SEP Environment Monitoring and Forecasting workshop.
October 2024: Dr. Canales obtained a certificate from NASA Open Science.
September 2024: Franco Criscola and Dr. Canales got awarded travel support for the Operational and Exploration Requirements and Research Capabilities for SEP Environment Monitoring and Forecasting workshop.
August 2024: Attended the AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference with Seur Gi Jo, Edison Martinez and Annika Anderson.
August 2024: Session chair of Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) and Dynamical Systems Theory Applied to Spaceflight Problem in the 2024 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference.
July 2024: Host of Aitor Moriñigo and Marc Bermejo (Satlantis LLC), invited for a research seminar and to explore collaborations.
May 2024: Session chair of Spacecraft GNC in the 4th IAA Conference on Space Situational Awareness.
May 2024: Seur Gi Jo presented his research at the 4th IAA Conference on Space Situational Awareness.
May 2024: AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee.
May 2024: AIAA Astrodynamics Technical Committee.
May 2024: Embry-Riddle Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Faculty Fellowship and Leader of Tech Team Initiative.
April 2024: Host of Dr. Ryne Beeson (Princeton University), invited for the research seminar series and organized "A Workshop on Analysis of the Global Solution Landscape in Spacecraft Trajectory Design using Python and the Software pydylan".
March 2024: Annual USRA meeting and Region IV observer for the USRA Issues and Program Committee meeting in Washington D.C.
March 2024: Visit at the Navigation and Mission Design Branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and showed our AR proottype demo during a talk: Revolutionizing Spacecraft Trajectory Design: Augmented Reality Approach for Space Mission Design and Surveillance with User-Centered Design Principles.
February 2024: Dr. Canales gave a presentation “CubeSats at Earth-Moon L4/L5: astrodynamics and technology feasibility for studying Cislunar environment”, at the special technical session at the Small Satellites & Services International Forum, Málaga, Spain.
November 2023: Dr. Canales visited the Puerto Rico Science Trust with ERAU team, helping in the establishment of collaborations with UPR Mayaguez.
October 2023: Brian Baker invited to give a presentation at the special technical session AIAA ASCEND Space 2050, Planetary Protection & Space Security with Lockheed Martin: “Challenges, Solutions, and Observational Strategies for Enhanced Space Domain Awareness in Cislunar Space”.
September 2023: Host of Dr. Davide Guzzetti (Auburn University), invited for the research seminar.
September 2023: Dr. Canales gave a talk “Multi-Body Dynamics Research in Different Space Applications” at the Invited Seminar series in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at University of Florida.
June 2023: Host of Dr. Susan Jewell, CEO of AvatarMEDIC and MMAARS for exploring collaborations.
February 2023: Host of Dr. Kathleen Howell (Purdue University), invited guest for keynote of E-week.
February 2023: Dr. Canales presented “Space trajectories and applications research”, at the Jack and Ann Waddey Invited Seminar in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University.
January 2023: Session chair of Dynamical Systems Theory Applied to Space Flight in the 33rd AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting.
June 2022: Dr. Canales presented “Incorporation of trajectory behaviors in the vicinities of different planetary moons using Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent maps”, in a conference to the Panamerican Society of Modeling Methods in Engineering and Applied Sciences at the Galapagos islands.
June 2022: Creation of Space Trajectories and Applications Research (STAR) group.
Student Fellowships and Awards
Joseph Anderson: Winner of the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium Masters Fellowship (2024).
Lynette Ramirez: 2024 Best Poster Award Discovery Day at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Jesika Geliga-Torres: 2024 Patti Grace Smith Fellow and 2024 Intuitive Machines & Columbia Sportswear Advancing Women in Technology.
SPARK Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University grants for Brian Baker, Annika Anderson, Joseph Anderson and Sebastian Doroba (2023).