Space Systems Laboratory (MIT) explained

Space Systems Laboratory
Established:1995
Type:Engineering
Research Field:Aeronautics & Astronautics
Directors:Rebecca Masterson
Dr. Richard Linares
Faculty:7
Staff:3
City:Cambridge
State:MA
Country:USA
Campus:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nickname:MIT SSL
Website:http://ssl.scripts.mit.edu/www/

The Space Systems Laboratory (SSL) is in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.[1] [2] [3] Its mission is to develop the technology and systems analysis associated with small spacecraft, precision optical systems, and International Space Station technology research and development.[4]

History

A previous Space Systems Laboratory (Maryland) was founded at MIT in 1976, by faculty members Renee Miller and J.W. Mar.[5] In 1990, lab director Dr. Dave Akin moved the lab to the University of Maryland.[6]

The current Space Systems Laboratory was founded in 1995 at MIT. It began as a part of the Space Engineering Research Center (SERC).[7]

The laboratory has a practice of Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO), working to provide students hands-on learning as a part of their coursework.[8] [9] One of the laboratory's flagship research testbeds, SPHERES, began in 1999 as an undergraduate senior design project.[10] [11] [12]

People

The current directors of the SSL are Rebecca Masterson[13] and Prof. Richard Linares. The principal research scientist is Alvar Saenz-Otero.[14] Former director Prof. Dave Miller[15] is now faculty for the laboratory. Long time staff include Marilyn Good and Paul Bauer.

Faculty members include:

Projects

ISS Research

CubeSats

Space Shuttle Research

Partners

Associated NASA Programs

Alumni

While the students go off to a wide variety of careers, many SSL graduates have gone to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In particular, several have been on the Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) teams of Mars missions.[34] [35] [36] Allen Chen and Dr. Swati Mohan announced the touchdown of the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars 2020 rovers, respectively.

The laboratory also has strong ties to the United States Air Force, with several students coming from the USAF Academy. Dr. Miller worked with the Academy to create fully funded graduate scholarships to MIT for graduates of its FalconSAT program.[37]

In the news

A 2014 paper from PhD candidate Sydney Do and several additional SSL graduate students received world-wide attention for its assessment that astronauts wouldn't be able to survive in the Mars One project's design more than a few couple of the months.[38] [39] The analysis was performed based on publicly available information of the design.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About . MIT's Space Systems Laboratory . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  2. Web site: Space Systems Laboratory (SSL) Overview . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Research Labs . Aero/Astro . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  4. Web site: SERC + SSL Info . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  5. Web site: James Mar, former AeroAstro department head and Air Force chief scientist, dies at 96 . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 8 March 2017.
  6. http://www.ssl.umd.edu UMD Space Systems Lab Home
  7. Web site: Space Engineering Research Center (not maintained) . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  8. Web site: Teaching and the SSL . Space Systems Laboratory . MIT . 20 February 2021.
  9. Web site: CDIO . 20 February 2021.
  10. Web site: The History of SPHERES . NASA . 20 February 2021 . 22 August 2013.
  11. Web site: SPHERES: How a Class Project Turned into an Experiment Facility in Space . Office of Chief Technologist Space Tech . NASA . 20 February 2021 . 18 May 2016.
  12. Web site: Space Spheres . Spectrum . MIT . 20 February 2021 . Fall 2004.
  13. Web site: Rebecca Masterson appointed AeroAstro principal research scientist . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 19 July 2018.
  14. Web site: Dr. Alvar Saenz-Otero - NESC Academy Biography . NASA . 20 February 2021.
  15. Web site: AeroAstro’s Miller, Lincoln Lab's Evans named AIAA Fellows . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 26 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Scientist, then astronaut, now lecturer, Hoffman returns to MIT . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 13 March 2002.
  17. Web site: MIT’s REXIS and Bennu’s watery surface . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 29 January 2019.
  18. Web site: NASA Instrument to Use X-Rays to Map an Asteroid . NASA . 20 February 2021 . 12 July 2016.
  19. Web site: MIT’s REXIS is bound for asteroid Bennu . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 8 September 2016.
  20. Web site: Student-built instrument headed to asteroid and back . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 8 January 2016.
  21. Web site: To catch an interstellar visitor, use a solar-powered space slingshot . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 6 May 2020.
  22. Web site: Mini MIT satellites rocketing to space station . MIT News . MIT . 19 February 2021 . 25 April 2006.
  23. Web site: Down to earth: Alumnus Tani returns from space station . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 22 February 2008.
  24. Web site: Mini satellites readied for launch . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 31 March 2004.
  25. Web site: Research update: SPHERES to get powerful magnets and goggles . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 2 August 2012.
  26. Web site: MIT has first experiment aboard space station . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 13 September 2000.
  27. Web site: Alum completes first space station expedition . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 2 May 2001.
  28. Web site: MicroMAS: small is beautiful . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 27 March 2014.
  29. Web site: For collecting weather data, tiny satellites measure up to billion-dollar cousins . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 27 September 2018.
  30. Web site: Building a list of Earth candidates . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 14 December 2010.
  31. Web site: Searching for life . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 9 July 2014.
  32. Web site: Jennifer Chu . Inflatable antennae could give CubeSats greater reach . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 6 September 2013.
  33. Web site: Helping space shuttles achieve liftoff . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 8 July 2011.
  34. Web site: MIT alums recount their Martian experiences . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 11 October 2012.
  35. Web site: SSL Graduate Students . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 1990s.
  36. Web site: Join the Twitter Chat: MIT Alumni and the Final Frontier . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 3 October 2014.
  37. Web site: Academy, MIT announce new scholarship . USAF Academy . 20 February 2021 . 1 September 2009.
  38. Web site: Mars One (and done?) . MIT News . MIT . 20 February 2021 . 14 October 2014.
  39. Web site: MIT Students Claim Astronauts Will Starve On 'Mars One' Mission . Popular Science . 20 February 2021 . 11 October 2014.

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