Engineering’s Senesky and Pavone Win NASA Early Career Awards

NASA has announced that Debbie Senesky and Marco Pavone, both assistant professors in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Stanford University School of Engineering, have been selected as recipients of the agency’s inaugural Space Technology Research Opportunities for Early Career Faculty grants. Under the program, the agency will provide as much as $200,000 a year for as many as three years in support of research in specific, high-priority technology areas.

Senesky’s research focuses on positioning, navigation and timing within extreme harsh environments. "To be selected for this award is a true honor," said Senesky. "My hope is to place sensors on Venus someday and precise navigation within deep space environments is the first step.  This award will allow researchers in my laboratory to develop robust materials and electronics for NASA’s future space programs."

Pavone develops algorithms for spacecraft motion planning.  "This award provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to future NASA missions and represents a thrilling start for my career at Stanford," said Pavone. The goal of the awarded project is to make spacecraft capable of safely and autonomously maneuvering in dynamic and cluttered environments, for example while servicing malfunctioning satellites or in proximity of outgassing solar system bodies.

"NASA will benefit from the work these faculty researchers conduct in unique, disruptive or transformational space technologies or concepts, while strengthening America's continued global leadership in the new technology economy," added Michael Gazarik, director of NASA's Space Technology Program.

"This is excellent and timely news. The Department has just hired Marco and Debbie as part of its renewed strategic thrust toward space research and is committed to working with NASA to make this a great success," said Professor Charbel Farhat, chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford.

NASA made ten grants under the program in 2012. Stanford was the only school to win multiple awards.