Skip to main navigationSkip to main content
The University of Southampton
EngineeringPostgraduate study

Miss Stefania Soldini MEng, BEng

Postgraduate research student with the Astro group

Miss Stefania Soldini's photo

Miss Stefania Soldini is a Postgraduate research student with the Astro group within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.

Clean Space Workship, 29th October 2013.  My colleagues from the Astronautic Research group and I have been presenting our research poster, which summarises all research developed in our group within the Space Debris field.  In particular, my contribution was showing the results of the industrial project ESA/GSP-SOW-12-602 with which I am involved

European Space Agency (ESA) Sponsorship at 64th IAC, May 2013.  I was one of only five selected students from across Europe to be sponsored by ESA to present my work in a technical session at the 64th International Astronautical Congress in Beijing, China.  I was also invited by ESA to take part in the International Space Education Board (ISEB) Programme during the IAC.

PhD Candidate, September 2012 - Current.   I am currently studying for a PhD entitled 'Morphing Structures for Orbit Control' at the University of Southampton, Astronautics Research group

Work Experience, November 2011 - September 2012.  TxT e-solutions (Aerospace & Defence division), via Frigia 27, 1-20126 Milano.  Role: Avionics Software Test Engineer (FMS/AreaNav).  Customer: AugustaWestland

Professional Engineering Qualification, April 2012.  Under Italian Law a graduate with a BEng or MEng has to successfully pass this professional engineering qualification exam in order to be legally recognised as an Engineer

Pegasus Award, October 2011.  This award was given to me in recognition of my achievements in the area of European cooperation: proficiency in English, and successful participation in an international exchange programme.  This award has been given to me in recognition of my MEng thesis.

MEng, March 2009 - October 2011.  Politecnico di Milano, MSc Thesis 'ESMO Attitude Dynamics: propellant sloshing and mass expulsion torques model'.  In collaboration with the University of Strathclyde.  Supervisors: Prof F Bernelli-zazzera and Prof M Vasile. 

https://www.politesi.polimi.it/handle/10589/29901?mode=full

Internship, February 2011 - September 2011.  University of Strathclyde, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty.  I was a member of the Advanced Space Concept Laboratory Team where I developed my MEng thesis on the European Student Moon Orbitor (ESMO).  I conducted research in the fields of: weak stability boundary (WSB) trajectory, attitude dynamics, fuel sloshing dynamics, analytical work, proficiency in English and team working skills.  Supervisor: Prof M Vasile

BEng, September 2005 - March 2009.  Politecnico di Milano, BEng Thesis 'Simulation Software development for a planetary rover navigation, guide and control: locomotion system analysis and wheel-soil interaction'.  Advisor: Prof M Lavagna

 

Research interests

The aim of my research is to tackle the problem of stationkeeping requirements for future Lagrangian-Points missions (LPO).  Having considered the main environmental disturbance source for a LPO, an alternative strategy for orbit control could employ the solar radiation pressure (SRP); in addition, SRP has the potential to lead to a cheaper and more efficient system by saving propellant.  The main idea is to exploit SRP by using morphing structures instead of counteracting its effects.  Ultimately, I have focused on selecting an interesting mission orbit within all the possibilties for restricted three-body problems (R3BP), and on developing the control system to determine the structural drivers and concepts.

PhD title: Morphing structure for orbit control

Supervisors: Dr S Walker and Dr C Colombo

Industrial Project, February 2013 - Current.  ESA/GSP-SOW-12-602.  The project investigates the end-of-life disposal concepts for Libration Point (LPO) and Highly Eliptical (HEO) orbit missions.  I'm in charge of the LPO disposal for future missions in a Halo or Lissajous orbit by using the solar radiation pressure to close the zero velocity curves of the restricted three-body problem in the Sun (Earth-Moon) system.  This can be possibly achieved by using a sun-pointing deployable reflective disposal device.

European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO), February 2011 - September 2011.  University of Strathclyde (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty), part of my MEng Thesis.  ESMO was the fourth ESA Educational Satellite Programme.  The objectives of its mission were to design the first lunar spacecraft among students within the ESA Member States and ESA Cooperating States. The aim of ESMO was to place the spacecraft in a lunar polar orbit for future exploration to the Moon by returning new data and testing new technologies.

http://www.esa.int/Education/ESMO_mission 

Miss Stefania Soldini
Engineering, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton. SO17 1BJ United Kingdom
Share this profile Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on Weibo
Privacy Settings