Martina Rusconi

Ph.D. Candidate - Space Engineering at Politecnico di Milano | Visiting PhD Student at ESA | 2025 Amelia Earhart Fellow

Italy

About

Ph.D. Candidate in Aerospace Engineering | 2025 Amelia Earhart Fellow I began my career focusing on satellite orbital and attitude dynamics, contributing to modeling and simulation efforts aimed at enhancing spacecraft performance and mission feasibility. Building upon this foundation, I am now pursuing a Ph.D. at Politecnico di Milano's Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, as part of the COMPASS research group. My research, funded by the ERC project GREEN SPECIES, develops strategies to address space debris and promote the long-term sustainability of orbital operations. By combining dynamic modeling with automated control systems, I aim to support effective remediation policies. I hold an MSc in Space Engineering and a BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. During my Master's studies, I spent several months at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, focusing on aerospace engineering. In addition to my research, I am involved in developing environmental indicators for space activities, such as ESA’s THEMIS index, which evaluates missions from an environmental impact perspective. Beyond academia, I enjoy hiking, reading, painting, and volunteering at a local cat shelter.

Experience

  • Visiting PHD Student at European Space Agency - ESA
    Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

  • Politecnico di Milano (Full-time · 4 yrs 5 mos)
    • PHD Candidate
      Jun 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Ph.D. research on ‘Robust control of the space debris population’.

    • Junior Research Fellow
      Feb 2022 - Sep 2023 · 1 yr 8 mos

  • Research Fellow at COMPASS PoliMi
    Feb 2022 - Sep 2023 · 1 yr 8 mos