Puneet

In this lecture at the outset various inputs taken to configure a satellite will be discussed. Subsequently how using these inputs satellite subsystems are designed and qualified for space worthiness will discussed. Further, how space qualified subsystems are integrated and a satellite is realized will be discussed. Importance of Dis-assembled mode and Assembled mode testing, various environmental and RF tests and required facilities will be explained. Followed by requirement of suitable launch vehicle and launch base activities will be explained including launch vehicle interface. At the end methods of performing In-Orbit-Testing and operation of Satellite during its life time will be explained.

Biography:

Puneet Kumar Mishra earned his M.Tech (RF & Microwave) from IIT Roorkee in the year 2004. Since 2004 he is with U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bangalore. He has rich experience of RF characterization of 51 Satellites, 375 antennas and radomes. He has indigenously developed C-Band, Ku-Band and Ka-Band Compact range feeds to meet various requirements of ISRO’s satellite program. He has played a pivotal role in establishing satellite level EMC facility and Asia’s largest Magnetic Field Measurement Facility. These facility have played a decisive role in ensuring: 1. Electromagnetic Compatibility of ISRO’s spacecrafts including SARAL and NISAR Spacecrafts jointly  developed with CNES and NASA respectively, 2.  Magnetic cleanliness of Spacecrafts including India’s first Sun observatory “Aditya-L1”. He has conceived, conceptualized and established World’s first compact range with 10 m quiet zone working in the frequency range 0.5-110GHz. He has indigenously developed a Langmuir probe payload to study the RF blackout phenomenon during re-entry of space vehicle. He has also successfully developed Indigenous BusBars for High power satellites, which are used in multiple spacecrafts. Looking his more than two decades of experience, recently has been assigned with the responsibility of heading Electrical Integration Section and designated as Deputy Project Director for Resoursesat-3S & 3SA Spacecrafts.

He has Received IETE-IRSI Young Scientist Awards in the year 2012, ISRO Young Scientist Award in the year 2013, ASI-ISRO Space Gold Medal in the year 2014, GE Foundation Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership (2002-2004), IEEE MGA Achievement Award 2017 and 7 best paper awards. He has published more than 60 technical papers. He is Senior Member of IEEE, Fellow of IETE & IE(I) and Life Member of ASI. He is a passionate Volunteer and served Bangalore Section (2013-2021) at various capacities including Chair 2020 and India Council (2017-2024) as Vice Chair for Industry Relations, Professional Activities and technical Activities and Secretary. At Global Level he has served as member of IEEE Humanitarian Technology Committee in 2018, IEEE Technical Program Integrity Committee (TPIC) in 2022-2023, IEEE New Initiatives Committee (NIC) in 2023 and IEEE Industry Engagement (IEC) in 2021-2024.  He is also on the panel of IEEE Virtual Speakers Bureau managed by IEEE Students and delivered virtual talks across globe. Presently he is serving as BoG IEEE AESS, Vice Chair (Technical Activities), IEEE India Council and Chair, IEEE AESS Bangalore Chapter.

Vince

An Introduction to UAV Technology, Applications and Regulations:

Drone operations are becoming increasingly common in society, with drones readily available for purchase by any adult for hobby use or commercial purposes with proper licensing. New pilots can enhance their effectiveness by gaining a solid understanding of drone technology, while business operators can improve profitability by learning about relevant drone applications. The FAA has recently updated its rules regarding drone registration, pilot licensure, and operational guidelines. This lecture aims to equip the public with the knowledge to become proficient users of drone technology, strategic thinkers in drone-related business applications, and responsible citizens who adhere to drone regulations and policies. It provides an overview of UAV technology, operating regulations, and business applications to achieve these goals.

Applying Artificial Intelligence to Manage Cost in Space Operations:

The Apollo Program was ultimately terminated due to one fundamental issue: the high cost of operations. In the new Space Age, the commercial space industry's growth continues to be constrained by cost. It is no surprise that the primary launch companies rely on funding from wealthy investors. For the space community to expand and support a broader ecosystem of participating companies, accurate cost estimation and ongoing cost reduction are essential. Space operations demand careful cost management throughout the program lifecycle, from engineering development to launch and recovery. Artificial Intelligence offers new opportunities for managing costs effectively. By leveraging data through methods such as deduction, statistics, and machine learning, we can achieve more accurate predictions of production and operational costs. These insights enable better cost decisions during engineering development, production, and flight operations. This lecture explores use cases for applying AI to cost management in the space industry and outlines cost management practices to empower space economy entrepreneurs to reach for the stars.

Biography:

Vince Socci is Chief Technologist at On Target Motion where he delivers systems engineering, program management, venture management, and intellectual property services for safety-critical applications such as aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, and medical innovation programs. His engineering career spans more than 35 years developing hardware, software, and systems in various fault-tolerant embedded controls applications. He led teams in senior roles at Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Parker Hannifin, National Instruments, and other organizations. He developed products for autonomous systems, UAVs, space vehicle propulsion and communications, fuel control systems, power and energy systems, navigation systems, avionics, medical and therapeutic devices, flight control systems, diagnostic/prognostic systems, radar, electrical system, health and fault managers, X-ray scanners, engine and motor controls, automotive and aerospace control systems, and military ground electric vehicles. He holds BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering, an MBA in technology management specializing in IP management, an MA in leadership and counseling and is currently a PhD candidate. He is a certified Project Management Professional and serves on PMI and SAE standards and technical committees.

Socci brought leadership experience to IEEE, MGA, EAC, and IEEE-USA boards of directors and various committees. He delivered strategic planning for Regions 1 and 3. He is founding chair of two AESS chapters. Socci has been an active member of IEEE AESS for over 25 years. He currently serves AESS as chapter chair and on the Board of Governors as Vice President of Membership. He led AESS conferences (space defense), standards (UAV), technical panels (UAV), and workshops (drone pilot licensing). He is an AESS DL and has written AESS-related papers and tutorials. 

He provided membership value to the IEEE members by creating technical activities, tutorial programs, organizational units, PACE and professional skills programs, and networking programs as well as joint programs with other professional organizations.

He revitalized IEEE organization units by focusing on two objectives: increase volunteer involvement and increase technical and educational activities. 
As an industry leader, he developed and led organizations at all levels from startup to Fortune-50 companies. He built teams and created succession plans. He dealt with resource issues and mitigated major personnel issues. He created companies, divisions and teams and mentored employees through their careers from entry level to senior management.

He has the integrity to serve in critical roles that demand unbiased and selfless perspectives. He fought for the right decisions, even if those decisions were unpopular. As stewards of IEEE, we should represent the full body of IEEE in our efforts, not just those where we have a personal interest. By bringing his IEEE organizational leadership experience and management expertise to the IEEE AESS BoG, Socci will help IEEE grow and be more effective across our membership and our constituents

Giovanna

Aerospace Systems: Technology Based on Space Exploration:

The beginning of the space race set the tone for the birth of new space devices such as satellites, rockets, telescopes, probes, space rovers, and new missions and experiments that involve different applications of technology.

Currently, various applications of daily use depend on technologies specifically developed for outer space: like satellites, these technologies were initially considered space technology, now they support human work on the ground.

Design and Applications of Picosatellites: 

The space age began on October 4, 1957 with the launch by the Soviet Union of the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1. There are now approximately 8,000 artificial satellites orbiting the earth, they supply us with applications of observation, meteorology, navigation, communications, among others.

This lecture shows the history of satellites, addressing the orbits to which they are launched, the types and classes of satellites, the subsystems, the forms of launch and their applications.

Biography:

Matt

Title: Human Spaceflight Medicine: From Systems Engineering to Physiology and Extravehicular
Activity Simulation
Opening Session
Human Spaceflight: Engineering Humans to Live Beyond Earth (Matt)
Content
• Welcome
• Why human spaceflight is different
• Workshop roadmap
• Engineering + Medicine as one discipline
Learning goals
• Understand the connection between spacecraft engineering and astronaut health
• Introduce systems thinking for human spaceflight
SPACE ENGINEERING BLOCK (Shreyas)
Lecture
Systems Engineering for Human Spaceflight Missions
Topic: Why Systems Engineering Matters in Human Spaceflight
Content
• What makes human spaceflight uniquely complex
• Why failures happen
◦ Apollo 1
◦ Challenger
◦ Columbia
• Definition of Systems Engineering
• Human spaceflight lifecycle
• ISS as a System of Systems
• Complexity of crewed spacecraft
• Case study:
◦ Space medicine experiment on the ISS (MXene in Low Earth Orbit)
Lecture
Human Safety in Space
Topic: Human Spaceflight as a System-of-Systems
Spacecraft subsystems:
• Environmental Control & Life Support (ECLSS)
• Electrical Power
• Thermal Control
• Communications

• Guidance, Navigation & Control
• Structures
• Crew Systems
Interfaces between:
• Humans
• Technology
• Environment
•
Mini Exercise
"What happens if thermal control fails but life support continues to operate?"
Discussion:
• subsystem interdependency
• redundancy
• fault tolerance
Coffee Break
Lecture (Agata)
Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)
Topic: Human-Centered Engineering
Content
• Oxygen generation
• Carbon dioxide removal
• Water recovery
• Waste management
• Temperature regulation
• Microbial control
• Closed-loop vs open-loop systems
• ISS ECLSS
• Bioregenerative life support concepts
• Mars mission challenges
Key Insight
Life support is not a single device—it is a network of interacting systems.
Team Challenge
Design a Mars Habitat Survival System
Teams design a survival system for a 4-person Mars habitat operating for 30 days.
Requirements
• Mission objective
• Critical requirements
• Key subsystems
• Interfaces
• Failure risks
Constraints
• 4 crew members
• 30-day mission
• Limited mass

• Limited power
• Limited resupply
Must support:
• breathing
• water
• temperature
• waste management
Learning outcomes
• Requirements engineering
• Trade-offs
• Reliability engineering
• Risk analysis
• Human factors
• Systems thinking
Lunch Break
SPACE MEDICINE BLOCK
Lecture
Human Spaceflight Medicine (Matt)
Topic: From Gagarin to Mars Missions
Content
• History of space medicine
• ESA medical operations
• ISS healthcare
• Medical challenges of exploration
• Lunar and Martian healthcare
Learning goals
• Evolution of space medicine
• Mission medical constraints
• Future healthcare in space
Lecture (Agata)
Space Physiology Fundamentals
Topic: How Microgravity Changes the Human Body
Content
• Cardiovascular adaptations
• Bone density loss
• Muscle atrophy
• Neurovestibular changes
• Immune system changes
• Astronaut medical case studies
Coffee Break
Parallel Workshops
Workshop A
Mental Health in Extreme Environments (Agata)

Content
• Isolation psychology
• Leadership
• Conflict management
• Communication
• Polar and Mars analogs
Exercise
Mission conflict simulation
Workshop B
Telemedicine and Autonomous Medical Systems (Matt)
Content
• Remote diagnosis
• AI-assisted healthcare
• Wearable monitoring
• Medical autonomy
• Mars medical kits
Exercise
Design a Mars mission medical kit
Group Simulation (Agata)
Elements of Astronaut Selection
Participants compete in astronaut-inspired challenges.
Tasks:
• Cognitive testing
• Decision making
• Resource management
• Team communication
• Medical reporting
The winner earns the opportunity to wear the spacesuit during the closing session.

Biography:

CEO of AATC, Astrotech, and Micropura; director of the project OTTER (Orbital Technologies and Tools for Extravehicular Research) for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences; and lead instructor in neutral buoyancy and underwater EVA training and scientific diving, with prior roles at European Space Agency and major public and private institutions, over 100 organizations consulted, and 32k+ people trained in aerospace, software and marine engineering. Holds an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from Polish Air Force Academy, BSc in Software Engineering and multiple postgraduate diplomas (Extreme Medicine, Geophysics, Analytical Chemistry, Radiobiology and Air Space Management), currently pursuing a PhD on underwater habitats at Polish Naval Academy. Recipient of the Copernicus Medal for creating foundations for human-spaceflight in Poland. CCR and cave diver, highly certified technical trimix diving instructor across multiple agencies, with additional training in aviation, combat medicine, and astronautics. Leads development of HabitatOS, co-designed advanced pressurized spacesuits and underwater systems, and conducted centrifuge and high-altitude testing for human subject in spacesuits for ascent and re-entry profiles. Experienced analog astronaut, ESA collaborator, and parabolic flight participant. Author of several books spanning AI, software engineering, astronaut training, and geophysics. DAN and EFR emergency medicine instructor. ACLS and CPR microgravity procedures researcher.

Agata

Astronaut Health Data Analysis (Agata)
Participants analyze:
• Heart rate variability
• Oxygen saturation
• Sleep cycles
• Stress biomarkers
Using:
• Sample astronaut biomedical datasets
• Wearable monitoring examples
Closing Session
Workshop Summary

Topics:
• Lessons learned
• Engineering and medicine as complementary disciplines
• Future of human spaceflight
• Earth applications of space technologies
Spacesuit Demonstration (Matt)
1-hour demonstration
• Spacesuit architecture
• Materials and protective layers
• Life support subsystems
• Communications systems
• Mobility and operational constraints
• EVA procedures
Final Activity
• Spacesuit donning by the astronaut-selection competition winner
• Certificates
• Group photographs

Biography:

Agata is a neuroscientist, astrobiologist, and innovator. Both her M.Sc. thesis at Jagiellonian University in Cracow and PhD thesis at Stockholm University focused on the influence of light on signal transformation in neurochemical circuits of nervous systems in various animal species. She discovered an internal eyelid in the insect’s compound eye and presented this discovery in the Concurrent Design Facility at the European Space Agency, aiming to revolutionize the construction of future modular space telescopes.

After completing her PhD, she worked as a postdoc on the neurobiological mechanisms of aggression at Jagiellonian University, and later secured a position in biomimetics at the European Space Agency in the Advanced Concepts Team. There, she developed a prototype lighting system to synchronize biological clocks and provide non-invasive treatment for jet lags. While abroad, she started various projects in Poland. These include organizing international “Meet the Space” conferences, founding Europe’s first Analog Space Research Station named Lunares, and conducting lunar and Martian analog simulations with specific scientific projects on board.

Her particular interest lies in time architecture, especially time illusions in isolated areas. Additionally, Agata works on photosynthetic biomaterials and aquaponic systems to initiate reliable and sustainable terraforming processes in isolated spaces.

Recently, together with collaborators, she developed a new method for in-situ clothes production in space. Agata is a multiple award winner, including the best scientific experiment in the Global Space Balloon Challenge for detecting stress in biological organisms in the stratosphere, the scientific Rojszczak Award, a Golden medal for the initiative of creating the first habitat in Poland, and even public recognition as “One of the most powerful women in Poland.” She was a co-founder of Space Garden Company and Chairman of Lunares Scientific Council.

Agata is a Board Member of the World Research Centre and Director of Advanced Concepts at the private space agency The Valles Marineris.

Currently, she is focused on accelerating human spaceflight research worldwide

Paulo

Biography:

Dr. Paulo Rosa is the Head of Flight Segment Engineering at Indra Space, where he leads multidisciplinary teams responsible for the development of flight systems and technologies for space missions. He has extensive experience in guidance, navigation and control (GNC), fault detection, isolation and recovery (FDIR), and control systems design, spanning both technical and project management roles. Before leading the Flight Segment Engineering Unit, he headed the Avionics Business Unit and the GNC/AOCS Competence Center. Dr. Rosa has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in GNC, control theory, fault diagnosis, and related fields. He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has contributed to numerous aerospace research and development programs throughout his career.

Tiago

Biography:

Tiago Pardal holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently completing a PhD in Electrochemistry. He is the author of several patents and scientific publications. He was a research fellow at the European Space Agency (ESA) and founded Omnidea in 2003, a company focused on R&D in propulsion and systems integration for space vehicles.

He is currently the largest private investor in the Portuguese space sector, owning two satellites and holding stakes in 12 companies across seven countries.

Ricardo

Biography:

Ricardo Conde is a father of two beautiful girls. He graduated in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) – Technical University of Lisbon, with a background in Telecommunications, Radio frequency, and Space and Ground Systems.

Ricardo has more than 30 years of working in the industrial and institutional space sector. He began his professional career in 1991, having been linked to the Aeronautics and Space sector since 1993, having participated in several national and international Space programs, particularly in Space and Ground Segments.

Since 2019, Ricardo has been a member of the board of directors of the Portuguese Space Agency, and in 2020, he was appointed President of the Agency.

He has been participating as a panelist and keynote speaker in several International Space Congresses, particularly on the emerging new space agencies as new actors in Space, Space sustainability, and the role of Space in a sustainable planet.

In 2022, Ricardo was the chairperson of the Eureka Network, the largest international network to promote Science and Innovation for SMEs, during the Portuguese presidency of this international organization.

Currently, he is the Portuguese representative and head of the delegation to the Council of the European Space Agency (ESA), to the Council of European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the Council of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).

In March 2024, the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education awarded Ricardo Conde the Medal of Scientific Merit.

Pedro

Biography:

Pedro Rodrigues is Director of the Space Business Unit at TEKEVER. An aerospace and electronics engineer, business developer and senior project manager, he brings 20 years of hands-on experience in space projects, specialising in small satellite architectures and constellations, communication platforms and AOCS subsystems. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering and a master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon. Since joining TEKEVER in 2011, he has helped build its Space division, from its first product, GAMALINK, to an inter-satellite link subsystem for ESA missions. Since 2019 he has led the company’s space business development and project management teams.

António

Biography:

António Amador is an aerospace engineer and Senior Manager Engineering at Beyond Gravity Portugal, with experience across product development, maintenance and operations. He leads engineering teams developing next-generation space technologies, supporting Beyond Gravity’s vision of a more sustainable and scalable space industry while contributing to the growth of the Portuguese space ecosystem. Headquartered in Zurich, Beyond Gravity is a global space technology company with around 1,800 employees, specialising in satellite components and launch vehicle structures for clients such as ESA, NASA, Airbus, ULA and Amazon. Its Innovation & Digital Hub in Lisbon, opened in 2023, now has over 140 professionals.

Teresa

Biography:

Teresa Ferreira holds a master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. She joined GMV in 2004 as a GNSS Project Engineer and has worked mainly on projects involving receiver technology and applications for the European Space Agency and the European Commission, with a particular focus on Galileo and its evolution. She is currently part of GMV's Navigation Strategy and Business Development team and serves as Director of Space (Navigation) at GMV in Portugal.