Space Trajectories and Applications Research

Team

Members of STAR Group (2025-2026).

Members of STAR Group (2024-2025).

Members of STAR Group (2023-2024).

Members of STAR Group (2022-2023).

Director of STAR Research Group

Principal Investigator

Dr. David Canales Garcia (canaled4@erau.edu)

Dr. David Canales Garcia is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), where he founded and directs the Space Trajectories and Applications Research (STAR) group and serves as ERAU’s representative to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). He holds aerospace engineering and astrophysics M.S. degrees from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University under Dr. Kathleen C. Howell, as well as former space technology engineer in Satlantis LLC. His research focuses on multi-body astrodynamics, AI-enabled sensing and image processing, predictive control, cislunar mission design, autonomous satellite operations, space weather, and space policy. He has co-authored numerous publications and has secured over $1M in externally funded research since 2022 as PI and Co-PI from agencies including NSF, NASA, and the U.S. Space Force. He serves as technical lead for the ERAU–NASA Langley Space Act Agreement and holds leadership roles within the AIAA Space Systems and Astrodynamics Technical Committees. His national leadership potential has been recognized through selection to the NASA PI Launchpad and the Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. He is actively advancing research supported by NASA, AFRL, AFOSR, NSF, and the U.S. Space Force.

Graduate Researchers

PhD Student: Franco Criscola (criscolf@my.erau.edu)

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.
Research Focus: Study of quasi-periodic motion in the vicinity of L4 for studying Cislunar space environment, as well as optimal transfers to such region of study.
Graduated with ERAU MSc thesis in STAR: Development of a constellation simulator for a 5G-IoT mission planning system.

PhD Student: Brian Baker-McEvilly (bakermcb@my.erau.edu)

Brian Baker-McEvilly is pursuing his PhD in Aerospace Engineering with a focus in dynamics and control at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida. His current projects include constellation design in the Earth-Moon system to observe objects traversing Cislunar space and finding maneuvers that are able to avoid optical detection between key sections of Cislunar space. His other research interests include attitude dynamics, control, estimation, and trajectory design. Brian is the Technology and Resource Management Lead of STAR group.
Research Focus: Three-body constellation design for space-based surveillance across the Cislunar realm.
Graduated with ERAU MSc thesis in STAR: A Low-Complexity algorithms for trajectory generation in the Three-Body Problem.

PhD Student: Seur Gi Jo (jos2@my.erau.edu)

Seur Gi Jo is a Ph.D. student in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His research focuses on understanding chaotic behavior in multi-body regimes through the application of knot theory and universal templates, as well as developing dynamics and control strategies for spacecraft rendezvous, proximity operations, and landing in the cislunar region. He graduated from the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy and has been serving in the Republic of Korea Air Force since 2010. Currently, he holds the rank of Major and has accumulated approximately 1,200 flight hours as an F-16 fighter pilot.
Research Focus: Study of chaos in multi-body regimes through the application of knot theory and universal templates. Additionally, expert in control applications in STAR.

PhD Student: Annika Anderson (andera59@my.erau.edu)

Annika Anderson is a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her research interests include spacecraft dynamics, particularly coupled dynamics between orbit and attitude. Currently, her work largely centers on the circular restricted full three-body problem (CRF3BP), a novel dynamical framework capable of modeling spacecraft in the Cislunar region (and other three body problems) as a rigid body. Annika is the Social and Community Building Lead of STAR group.
Research Focus: Study of higher-fidelity rigid body dynamics in the Cislunar regime.
Graduated with ERAU MSc thesis in STAR: Coupled Dynamics in the Cislunar Region and Spacecraft Attitude Prediction in a Higher Fidelity Model.

PhD Student: Justin Schmitt (schmitj9@my.erau.edu)

Justin Schmitt is pursuing his PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after graduating with a BSc in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Applied Mathematics. He is interested in researching trajectory design and spacecraft guidance and control. He is excited to learn more about astrodynamics and hopes that research will provide knowledge and experience with mission design.
Research Focus: Study of Cislunar LiDAR and optical navigation.

MSc Student: Mauro Palomo (palomom1@my.erau.edu)

Mauro Palomo is pursuing an MSc in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on Aerodynamics and Propulsion at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. As an undergraduate, Mauro did research investigating optimal impulsive and low-thrust trajectories within the cislunar region. Now, he is investigating new methods of describing and predicting motion in the cislunar region.
Research Focus: Design of optimal transfers between periodic orbits in the cislunar region. Additionally, investigating new methods to describe motion in the cislunar region.

MSc Student: Rithika Nagarajan (nagarajr@my.erau.edu)

Rithika Nagarajan is an Aerospace Engineering student in the Accelerated Master’s pathway at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her research focuses on improving the safety and robustness of lunar landings through physics-based simulation and AI. She is developing a high-fidelity framework that combines SE(3) rigid-body touchdown dynamics with terramechanics-based regolith interaction modeling to evaluate tip-over risk during terminal descent, touchdown, and post-landing settling on uncertain terrain.

Research Focus: AI-integrated SE(3) touchdown dynamics, terramechanics-based lunar regolith interaction, uncertainty-aware stability analysis, and robust lunar landing-leg design for tip-over mitigation.
Funding: 2026 COE/CARS Faculty Seed Grant (CARS/COE-DB), January–June 2026

BSc Students

BSc Student: Kyra Haan (haank@my.erau.edu)

Kyra is an undergraduate student studying Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Human Factors Psychology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is also a member of the Honors Program. She is currently exploring her research interests and hopes to learn more about mission design, astrodynamics, and spacecraft controls in the cislunar region.

Research Focus: Trajectory design and visualization in AR

BSc Student: Abirami Srenivasan (srenivaa@my.erau.edu)

Abirami is an undergraduate student studying Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is currently exploring her research interests and hopes to learn more about astrodynamics, spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, trajectory design, and mission planning in the cislunar region.

Research Focus: Trajectory Reconstruction, Visualization for Cislunar Missions in AR, Chaos Theory Visualization

Visiting Researchers

BSc Student: Mansha Saraswat

Visited: June, 2026 - Present

Mansha Saraswat, originally from India, is a bachelor's student in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Aerospace at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus and serves as an Undergraduate Summer Intern at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). She is currently exploring her research interests and hopes to learn more about astrodynamics, optical detection systems, mission design using chaos theory, and applications of AR/VR in the cislunar region.

Research Focus: The Veiling Glare and cislunar object detection, space domain awareness, and AR/VR-based visualization tools for aerospace applications.

BSc Student: Maria Clara Vasquez Orozco

Visited: January - May, 2026

From Colombia, Maria Clara Vásquez Orozco is a bachelor's student in Aerospace Engineering at Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, and currently served as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). She was actively involved in various aerospace projects, gaining hands-on experience in both experimental and systems engineering applications.

Research Focus: Conceptual mission design, AR-based workflow implementation for aerospace applications, and dynamics and control for lunar landing systems.

Alumni (MSc)

PhD Student: Luis E. Mendoza Zambrano (mendol10@my.erau.edu)

Luis is a post-doctorate working under the supervision of Dr. Riccardo Bevilacqua. He completed his PhD in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University under the advising of Dr. David Canales and Dr. Riccardo Bevilacqua. Luis completed his MSc is aerospace engineering working on integral concurrent learning for Solar sailing applications shortly after pursuing his BSc in Aerospace and Mechanical engineering from University of Florida. During the spring of 2024, Luis served as an instructor for AE 313 Space Mechanics.

Research Focus: Study of Solar sailing adaptive-optimal control for Lunar occultations in the framework of the circular restricted three-body problem.
Graduated with ERAU PhD thesis in STAR: Study of Solar sailing adaptive-optimal control for Lunar occultations in the framework of the circular restricted three-body problem.
First Post-Graduation Job: Visiting Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

MSc Student: Joseph Anderson (andej138@my.erau.edu)

Joseph Anderson graduated with his MSc in Aerospace Engineering. He studied his BSc at Embry-Riddle, getting a degree 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.
Research Focus: Project leader of the development of an augmented reality framework for Cislunar trajectory design and surveillance.
Graduated with ERAU MSc thesis in STAR: Utilizing Augmented Reality for Immersive Space Mission Design.
First Post-Graduation Job: Guidance and Navigation Engineer at Northrop Grumann

MSc Student: Marta Lopez Castro (lopezcam@my.erau.edu)

Marta Lopez, originating from Spain, graduated with her Masters in 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.
Research Focus: Study of spacecraft fragmentation in the Cislunar realm.
Graduated with ERAU MSc thesis in STAR: Assessing the Impact of Spacecraft Fragmentation In the Cislunar Region.
First Post-Graduation Job: Capgemini, Madrid, Spain

Alumni (BSc)

BSc Student: Renata Jancsik (jancsikr@my.erau.edu)

Renata Jancsik, originally from Budapest, Hungary, graduated with her Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on Dynamics and Control at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is eager about researching techniques for 3D-printing using lunar regolith within the Cislunar region.
Research Focus: Implementation of Lunar dynamics for the autonomous 3D printing of Cislunar regolith.

BSc Student: Zoey Hart (hartz3@my.erau.edu)

Zoey Hart joined as an undergraduate student studying Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and graduated Spring of the year 2026. Her research interests lie in astrodynamics, particularly in orbit and trajectory design for spacecraft.
Research Focus: Complexity designs of cislunar missions and lunar landing modeling using LiDAR.

2026: Kayla Schijveschuurder, Naomi Lee
2025: Serena Elijah, Andrew Ewalt
2024: Jesika Geliga, Zachariah Hudson, Lynette Ramirez, Vikas Patel
2023: Sebastian Doroba, Kamden Kuykendall, Annika Gilliam

Mentorship for Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Rithika Nagarajan: Development and Testing of a Low-Cost Passive Soft-Landing Mechanism for Small Payloads (Summer 2025, SURF COE Fellow program)
Lily Auerback: Development of trajectory design simulations in augmented reality (Summer 2024, NSF)
Vincent Stafford: Drone detection using acoustic signal processing and artificial intelligence (Summer 2024, NSF)
Kevin Tang: Development of trajectory design simulations in augmented reality (Summer 2023, NSF)

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