Francesco Torre

Background

About Francesco Torre

I have always been passionate about space hence the choice of aerospace and then space engineering was quite straightforward. During my studies I found myself ever increasingly interested in the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) loop because I really like the idea of being able to observe the environment, predict the future and act accordingly. Also seeing a spacecraft do what I intended it to do is very rewarding! In my years at Sapienza University of Rome I learned a lot about spacecraft dynamics, guidance and control techniques, with my final thesis being on designing a guidance and control algorithm for the autonomous landing of a Lunar lander. At the University of Strathclyde, instead, I completed the loop adding the navigation. Here, besides working daily with different combinations of sensors and filtering techniques, I had the chance to join the REXUS 19 manufacturing and launch campaign, that consisted in the launch of a small spacecraft entirely designed and manufactured by students on a sounding rocket. I was also part of the mission analysis team of the University of Strathclyde at the ESA Concurrent Engineering Challenge 2017. Now I am at the end of my PhD path, about to wrap up the whole experience and achievements with my final thesis, and ready to see what challenges and wonders the future holds for me.