From student to spacecraft integration and control engineer: “I control how satellites move and operate in orbit.”

Rockets, studying, working.

I was a member of the Rocketry Innovation Space Exploration (RISE) student team, which designs and builds high-power rockets: these are about three metres long, similar to model rockets. The rockets are designed to reach a specific height and land safely. Joining the RISE team was a dream come true in a way, because since I was a young kid, I have loved sci-fi. My bachelor’s studies in Romania sparked my interest in robotics and autonomous systems, and joining the RISE team gave me a chance to explore rocketry.

Thanks to the courses in guidance, control, and navigation, which I chose in my Master’s in Robotics, I gained solid knowledge that I could directly apply in my role as a Head of Control in the RISE team. Among my main responsibilities was developing a landing solution for our Alpha rocket. When you launch such a rocket, it can accelerate very quickly, and you need a control system that slows it down mid-flight so that the rocket hits the required height target.

My best memories are with the RISE team. We participated in competitions, and one unforgettable memory is when we were very close to missing a competition deadline because of a sudden problem with the electronics. We worked on it for two days and nights in a row. We were so anxious that we wouldn’t make it, but around 4 AM on the second night, we did succeed.

My team is developing an in-orbit refuelling system. To understand what this is, think about satellites in Low Earth Orbit, roughly at altitudes between 200 and 2,000 km. Most of them stop working after four or five years because they run out of fuel, while launching them costs millions. It is essentially tons of money for something that will die in the end. But they can be refuelled in orbit, and that is what we are working on.

I am responsible for ensuring that all the systems on the refuelling satellite — propulsion, telecommunications, electronics, and altitude control — work seamlessly together. I need to make sure the satellite can maintain its position, point in the right direction, and move from one point in space to another.

Through my experience in the RISE student team, I discovered I wanted to do something in aerospace. That’s why I decided to do an internship at an aerospace company to get a feel of the environment and the type of work. I searched for all aerospace startups in the Dutch Business Register and found a company called Revolv Space, which was very new at the time. I contacted them, and I got a response from the CEO. During the internship, through networking, I got introduced to my current manager at Dawn Aerospace.

You have a lot of freedom in choosing courses, which is awesome. I focused mainly on guidance, control, and navigation because I wanted to learn how to control robotic systems. For example, how can I read sensor data, which is inherently noisy because the world we live in is full of noise? How can I filter the data? And how can I use the filtered data to build a control system that reliably moves a robot from point A to point B? These are skills I use every day in my work.

My background is in robotics, not in aerospace engineering, so I am learning a lot about mechanics and aeronautical systems. I am also involved in meetings with customers, which is super valuable because I am learning directly from them: I hear what they need, and I can come up with the most suitable engineering solution.

Ten years is a long time, but in the next two years, my goal is to help put the satellite into orbit and demonstrate that an in-orbit refuelling system can successfully dock with another satellite and transfer fuel.

I cannot stress this enough: networking is super important. The amount of time and headache it has saved me is unimaginable. So take the initiative: don’t just send emails to the companies where you want to work, but call them, attend conferences and talk with people. No one is going to give you your dream job on a silver plate.

Also, use your student years to find out what you enjoy doing. I am sure that you don’t want to wake up every morning thinking about how much you hate your job. That isn't a way to live your life. You need to find what drives you.