People
Members of STAR Group (2023-2024).
Members of STAR Group (2022-2023).
Director of STAR Research Group
Director of STAR Research Group
David Canales Garcia started his professional career at ‘’Polytechnic University of Catalonia'', Spain, where he studied his BSc and MSc degrees in Aerospace Engineering. He also pursued a MSc degree in Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology from University of Barcelona. His most remarkable professional experience in the space industry was when he started working for Satlantis LLC as a space technology engineer with the aim of developing Earth-observation cameras for micro-satellites. He graduated from his Ph.D. in Astrodynamics and Space Applications in the multi-body dynamics research group under the supervision of Dr. Kathleen C. Howell in Purdue University. Dr. Canales is currently an Assistant Professor in the department of Aerospace Engineering of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). He is also the ERAU representative to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).
His expertise encompasses astrodynamics in multi-body regimes, Cislunar surveillance, astronomy, orbit determination, applied mathematics, as well as many different space applications, such as telecommunications, signal processing and mission planning.
His expertise encompasses astrodynamics in multi-body regimes, Cislunar surveillance, astronomy, orbit determination, applied mathematics, as well as many different space applications, such as telecommunications, signal processing and mission planning.
PhD Students
PhD Students
Franco Criscola was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to Weston, Florida when he was 15 years old. He became interested in space during his senior year of high school when SpaceX started reaching the news, but his passion for Astrodynamics didn’t begin blooming until the first course he took in his junior year of college. He is particularly interested in extra-terrestrial trajectory design, especially interplanetary missions. He hopes his research will give him the tools he needs to become proficient in this topic.
Khushboo Patel (patelk23@my.erau.edu)
Khushboo Patel (patelk23@my.erau.edu)
Khushboo Patel earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, University Park. For her master's thesis, she developed a hybrid particle swarm optimization method for multiple landing trajectories on the Moon. She also investigated landing locations and conditions using particle swarm optimization on Lambert’s Solution. Her research interests include astrodynamics, space systems engineering, planetary science, space sustainability, and space applications. She aspires to become a scientist to find optimal solutions for interplanetary travel, long-term expeditions to Mars, and promote peaceful use of space resources.
Annika Anderson is an Accelerated Master's student in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her research interests include spacecraft dynamics and controls, as well as signal processing and classification. In particular, orbital mechanics within the cislunar region as a gateway to sustainable travel to Mars are of interest. In addition, she is currently working on a proposal to make use of audio signal parameters to detect mechanical failure before it occurs--optimizing preventative maintenance.
Brian Baker-McEvilly is pursuing his BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering as well as a minor in Applied Mathematics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, as apart of the Accelerated Master’s Program. His research interests include attitude dynamics, control, astrodynamics, and trajectory design.
MSc Students
MSc Students
Joseph Anderson is pursuing his BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. His research interests include spacecraft controls and trajectory planning, as well as machine learning applications for automated space domain awareness.
Seur Gi Jo (jos2@my.erau.edu)
Seur Gi Jo (jos2@my.erau.edu)
Seur Gi Jo is a master’s student in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is researching on the predictive control for spacecraft rendezvous, and for its experimental validation, he is building spacecraft simulators based on Air-bearings. He graduated from the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy and he has been serving in the Republic of Korea Air Force since 2010. Now, His rank is Major and he has about 1,200 flying hours as an F-16 fighter pilot.
Marta Lopez Castro (lopezcam@my.erau.edu)
Marta Lopez Castro (lopezcam@my.erau.edu)
Marta Lopez is a Master’s student from Spain. Her major is Aerospace Engineering in the field of Navigation and Aerospace Systems. She studied her BSc at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and is currently enrolled in a Double Degree Program for Universidad Europea de Madrid and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is eager to start researching on near-Earth asteroid trajectories.
BSc Students
BSc Students
Jesika Geliga Torres (geligaj@my.erau.edu)
Jesika Geliga Torres (geligaj@my.erau.edu)
Jesika Geliga Torres is a Bachelor's student from Puerto Rico currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Applied Mathematics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Jesika is particularly interested in research within the Cislunar region, deep space exploration, virtual reality, and augmented reality. She is aiming to obtain her PhD once she has finished her Bachelor of Science degree, and her main investigation will be centered in creating a framework for immersive trajectory design by using augmented reality.
Lynette Ramirez (ramirl15@my.erau.edu)
Lynette Ramirez (ramirl15@my.erau.edu)
Lynette Ramirez is pursuing a BSc in Aerospace Engineering as well as a minor in Physics and Applied Mathematics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. With recent inspiration, she hopes to enroll in the Accelerated Master’s program, then achieve a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. In the meantime, she aims to continue investigating signal processing methods for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) surveillance, quantum mechanics, and orbital mechanics. Primary goals besides school include moving back to California to work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Kamden Kuykendall (kuykenk1@my.erau.edu)
Kamden Kuykendall (kuykenk1@my.erau.edu)
Kamden Kuykendall is a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He aims to complete his bachelors in Aerospace Engineering by 2024, and is going into the Navy as a Nuclear Submarine Officer. Once he is out of the service he plans on going into the aerospace industry applying his nuclear engineering knowledge.
Zachariah Hudson (hudsonz1@my.erau.edu)
Zachariah Hudson (hudsonz1@my.erau.edu)
Zach Hudson is pursuing his BSc in Aerospace Engineering. He became interested in engineering during high school, but his passion for aerospace sparked in the first astrodynamics course he took in college. He is particularly interested in trajectory design, and is currently working on a satellite constellation management program and a state propagation algorithm. He hopes research will give him experience with modern tools, technology, and methods.
Alumni (BSc)
Alumni (BSc)
Annika Gilliam is an Aerospace Engineering major with a minor in Russian Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Unversity. She hopes to attend the Air Force Insitute of Technology after graduation, as she will commission into the Air Force in Spring 2023. She aspires to work on astrodynamics technology for the National Reconnaissance Office upon completion of graduate studies. Her research interests include surveillance satellite trajectory planning and design as well as general explorations in the field of astrodynamics.
Sebastian Doroba (dorobas@my.erau.edu)
Sebastian Doroba (dorobas@my.erau.edu)
Sebastian Doroba is currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is aiming to get his PhD once he has finished his Bachelor of Science degree. Sebastian became interested within the space industry as he has lived an hour away from Kennedy Space Center for most of his life with the gift of seeing rocket launches from his house. Sebastian is particularly interested in research pertaining to deep space exploration and orbital design.
Kevin Tang (tangy11@my.erau.edu)
Kevin Tang (tangy11@my.erau.edu)
Kevin (Yike) Tang is an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with a minor in astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Kevin's passion for space exploration and aerospace engineering inspired him to expand his interests in trajectory design, space propulsion, and spacecraft attitude control.