Graduate Research

As part of workforce development efforts, we work closely with the Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium to provide masters apprenticeships, as well as to providing doctorate level graduate assistantships.  The projects our graduate students work on include many different topics across aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering.

Most notably, we have done extensive research and development efforts with our graduate students on attitude determination and control, as well as low-cost space avionics development.  The results from these projects are especially useful for application to our latest missions.  These large and challenging projects allow for a lot of trial and error. In addition to providing invaluable life-long set of lessons learned.  We hope to expand this program to provide more opportunities for the next generation of students.

Former graduate student researchers are listed below, and current graduate researchers are listed on the Team page.

Former HSFL Graduate Researchers

Aksel Sloan

Aksel Sloan

Former Graduate Researcher

Research: Communications systems

Project: Artemis CubeSat

Applied Physics BS from UC Santa Cruz, former ECE Masters student at UH Manoa. I’ve done PBC manufacturing and testing, PCB design, and communication programming. Love HSFL, I deeply appreciate the flexibility and family feeling.

Kelly Ngo

Kelly Ngo

Former Graduate Researcher

Research Topics: I aid in the design, testing, and development of the Artemis CubeSat Kit. My focus is on the avionics systems, specifically the on-board computer (OBC) and electrical power system (EPS). My day-to-day tasks centers around printed circuit board (PCB) hardware design and verification.

Projects: Artemis CubeSat, Project POKE, Project Ke Ao

After completing my Master’s degree, I plan to apply my newfound knowledge, skills, and experience to make an impact in the world of aerospace engineering. This field has always interested me because the universe is a largely unexplored mystery with vast potential and beauty, and its study brings us closer to understanding humanity’s place in the universe. In my aerospace journey, Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory has given me endless opportunities to create and explore and has provided me with so much support — for this I will always be grateful.

Chris Amendola

Chris Amendola

Graduate Researcher

Chris is an Electrical Engineering master’s student at the University of Hawai’i. He works on the Artemis CubeSat Kit as a Systems Engineer. Chris helps develop electrical and mechanical hardware in our 1U CubeSat to ensure they are easy to use for end users of all skill levels.  Chris’s current goals are to help bridge the gap in the aerospace industry, allowing an easier transition into the industry while also gaining experience in the field to help further his career.