Small Satellites Project Group

Co – Leads

Laura Manoliu
Small Satellite PG Co-Lead
Romania
[email protected]
Laura has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University Politehnica of Bucharest, a M.Sc. degree in Telecommunications from the University of Stuttgart, Germany and she is currently working as a research fellow at the Institute of Robust Power Semiconductor Systems (University of Stuttgart) pursuing a PhD degree in the field of high-data rate communications systems. Laura is involved in the W-cube satellite project and she is the EIVE Satellite payload engineer and the EIVE-T project manager. They aim to demonstrate the feasibility of a 71-76 GHz downlink from a nanosatellite to a ground station and showcase Earth observation applications and to model the atmospheric losses at those frequencies. She was previously the NPoC for Romania. She loves skiing, hiking, swimming, chocolate and looking at the stars.

Daniel Wischert
Small Satellite PG Co-Lead
Germany
[email protected]
Daniel works in the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) of the European Space Agency (ESA) at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. As a space systems engineer he supports the feasibility assessment and conceptual design of future space missions and new spacecraft concepts. Daniel holds a M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He is very passionate about pushing the development of space flight and deep-space exploration activities. Through the last years, Daniel has held numerous positions within SGAC and continues to enjoy being an active member of this bright-minded space community.
Research Leaders

Pablo Miralles
Machine Learning for Earth Observation Operations, Lead
Spain
[email protected]
Pablo is an industrial and aerospace engineer from Barcelona. A lifelong space and science fiction fan, he turned his hobby into a career and accepted a junior systems engineer position at GTD Barcelona. He loved it so much that he went on to join SGAC as a project lead for the SSPG and an event manager for SG[France] 2021. Nowadays Pablo works in AI applied to the space sector at IRT Saint Exupery, a Toulouse-based research institute. When he’s not coding or participating in space projects through SGAC, you’ll find him playing video-games, reading, or preparing and enjoying meals.

Muhire Desire
Lasercom Research Group
Rwanda
[email protected]
Dr. Muhire Desire holds a bachelor’s degree in information and communication science and technology, a master’s and a doctorate in physics: optics and radar. He is interested in the perspective of secure communication.
He has published peer-reviewed articles and international conferences, he also works with startups in the integration of new technologies.

Ricardo Colpari
IOD Research Group
Bolivia
[email protected]
Ricardo Colpari is an Electronic Engineer graduated from University of La Plata, Argentina, he has a M.Sc. in Satellite Technologies, his areas of knowledge include Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) and Space Systems Engineering. He is currently a Systems Engineer in a student nanosatellite mission, he is a big proponent of smallsats for the technological innovation of space technologies.
Ricardo has participated in the SGAC Small Satellite Research Group since 2020.

Marco Romero
UNICEF and ITU GIGA Project
Angola
[email protected]
NPoC for Angola at SGAC, NOC at IAU and representing Angola in different institutions around the world Marco Romero is a Space System Engineer Responsible for the Angolan Center for Space Studies at the Angolan Space Program after years working as Ballistic and Navigation Satellite Specialist at the Angolan Mission Control Center in a Special commission service from the Angolan Air Force. Ceo of the Humbitec -Aerospace Engineering and Geospatial Solution startup that address the Sustainable development Goals and 5 other Space Related Startups delivering Education and Engineering solutions for the youth and governments.

Nijanthan Vasudevan
Swarm robotics assisted small satellites
India
[email protected]
Nijanthan is mechanical engineer with 9 years of experience in research and development field, His research interests within space exploration include Small Satellites, Rover design, Multi model system and Autonomous robotic system. He have published 4 international journals and 3 of his robot prototypes are under review for patent. His current research works are on removing space debris in LEO by using small satellites with swarm robotics system and environment adaptive rover for lunar and mars surface.
Communication

Daniela Rodríguez Martínez
SSPG Communication’s Leader
Mexico
[email protected]
Daniela Rodríguez-Martínez is a Mexican communicator, radio producer, media researcher, and space enthusiast. Previous to SGAC-Small Sats Project Group, she led the Media&Marketing team of “Colibrí Mission”: one of the first Mexican CubeSats, developed between the Universidad Panamericana and the Space Propulsion Laboratory at MIT. She specializes in the branding of space projects and implementing transmedia/PR strategies for accomplishing public outreach and fundraising objectives. Her passion is boosting space initiatives with the power of communication.

Joshit Mohanty
SSPG Blog and Newsletter Coordinator
India
[email protected]
Joshit Mohanty is a systems engineer, involved in various space research activities. He completed his MS in Space and Engineering Systems from Skoltech, Russian Federation. He is keen on interdisciplinary technologies and cross domain applications. He believes, the world needs more holistic approach to solve modern problems, and systems engineering widens this opportunity. He has collaborated with researchers across the globe to publish peer reviewed papers in this domain.

Nijanthan Vasudevan
SSPG Social Media Team Lead
India
[email protected]
Nijanthan is mechanical engineer with 9 years of experience in research and development field, His research interests within space exploration include Small Satellites, Rover design, Multi model system and Autonomous robotic system. He have published 4 international journals and 3 of his robot prototypes are under review for patent. His current research works are on removing space debris in LEO by using small satellites with swarm robotics system and environment adaptive rover for lunar and mars surface.

Raichelle Aniceto
SSPG Podcast and Webinar Coordinator
United States
[email protected]
Raichelle Aniceto is an optical communications engineer at Facebook Connectivity Lab. She completed her Ph.D. in Space Systems Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Outside of space, her interests include outreach and mentorship activities, going on runs, and exploring local coffee shops and bakeries.