Massimiliano Vasile

Massimiliano Vasile^[1][2] is a Professor of Space Systems Engineering. Since 2015, he has been the Director of the Aerospace Centre of Excellence^[3] at the University of Strathclyde.

Vasile studies and develops computational methods for astrodynamics, space systems engineering, trajectory design optimisation under uncertainty with particular application to space exploration, planetary defence and space sustainability.

Vasile developed techniques to design and optimise trajectories based on temporal finite elements, that have been used by the European Space Agency to design complex low-thrust trajectories. He combined the use of Imprecise probability theory, including Dempster-Shafer theory for evidence, and evolutionary computation for the robust design of space systems. He has pioneered the use of evolutionary computation for the global \optimisation of space trajectories and has developed techniques based on machine learning for the optimal management of space traffic.

Vasile led the FP7 MSCA ITN Stardust^[4] on asteroid and space debris and the H2020 MSCA ETN UTOPIAE^[5][6] (Uncertainty Treatment and Optimisation In Aerospace Engineering) and is now leading the H2020 MSCA ETN Stardust-Reloaded^[7] on space environment management and asteroid exploration. Vasile has actively worked on technologies and methods for asteroid manipulation to protect the Earth from a possible collision, with particular focus on laser ablation technologies and alternative version of kinetic impactors and nuclear-based techniques.

For this reason, he is now a member of the UN Space Mission Planning Advisory Group as scientific adviser to the UK delegation.

Since 2000, he has led over 20 projects funded by the European Space Agency on artificial intelligence for space environment management, technologies to detect and track space objects, study the evolution of the space environment and recycle or repurpose space systems in orbit.

Early Life and Education[edit]

Vasile studied Aerospace Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, where he obtained his master of engineering degree in the year 1996 and a PhD in the year 2001 for his work on Optimal Trajectory Design for Interplanetary Spaceflights.^[8] As a part of his PhD course, Vasile recieved training at European Space Agency: European Space Operations Centre on the design of interplanetary trajectories for spacecraft equipped with low-thrust engines.^[9]

Career and Research[edit]

Vasile remained at Politecnico di Milano as a post-doctoral research assistant developing a software tool for the design of interplanetary and lunar trajectories with low-thrust and multiple gravity assist manoeuvres until December 2001.

In 2001, Vasile joined the European Space Agency's Advanced Concepts team^[10] in its inception and was responsible for the Mission Analysis and Design research. Following which he gave support to the Aurora program for the analysis of launch opportunities to and from Mars. He parted ways with the Advanced Concepts Team in 2004 to join as a Lecturer in the department of aerospace engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 2005, he moved to the University of Glasgow to continue working as a lecturer. In 2008, he further moved to the University of Strathclyde as a senior lecturer in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he was promoted to a full professor in 2012. He is currently working as a professor at the University of Strathclyde.^[11]

Vasile has authored nearly 100 journal publications, 4 books, and over 200 conference papers.^[12][13] He is an Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics,^[14] Frontiers in in Space Technologies, and Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy.

Vasile is a member of the International Astronautical Federation and sits on two International Programme Committees: Space Power, and Astrodynamics.^[15]

Awards and Honors[edit]

His awards and honours include:

• 2008 Highly commended paper, Design of optimal formation orbits in the proximity of asteroids using evolutionary algorithms, International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics
• 2009, Highly commended Award Winner, Design of optimal formation orbits in the proximity of asteroids using evolutionary algorithms, Emerald Literati Network 2009 awards for Excellence.^[16]
• 2009, Chariman’s Recognition for Outstanding Paper at the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation
• 2015 Sir Arthur Clarke Award|Sir Arthur Clarke award for space research for the Stardust network.^[17]
• 2021 Best Paper Award at the AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference for "Robust Space Trajectory Design using Belief Stochastic Optimal Control"^[18]
• Asteroid 2002 PX33 is named Maxvasile.^[19][20] in recognition to my contribution to the research on planetary defence within the Stardust project

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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