Acta Astronautica

The question of whether life exists in the universe, along with humanity’s expansion beyond Earth, calls for an array of disciplines ranging from the natural sciences to the humanities. This is because the issues at stake extend beyond biology or astronomy to encompass political dimensions, governance, and ethical considerations. For instance, when we discuss long-term human presence in space, a …

Attitude control is a fundamental aspect of spacecraft operations. Model Predictive Control (MPC) has emerged as a powerful strategy for these tasks, relying on accurate models of the system dynamics to optimize control actions over a prediction horizon. In scenarios where physics models are incomplete, difficult to derive, or computationally expensive, machine learning offers a flexible alternat…

With plans to return to the Moon and explore Mars, long-duration missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are on the verge of becoming a reality. Medical self-sufficiency will be vital as astronauts operate far from Earth, where logistic support is limited, communication delays are prolonged, and emergency evacuation may not be feasible. While previous researchers have discussed medical risks and au…