How are autonomous satellites and artificial intelligence transforming space exploration, and what challenges must engineers overcome to ensure a sustainable future in orbit?
In this episode of Nerds of the Roundtable, Hoover Science Fellow Simone D’Amico discusses the technologies that are ushering in a new era of space exploration. He explains how autonomous satellites, distributed spacecraft systems, and artificial intelligence are transforming space operations and examines the growing challenges of orbital debris, collision avoidance, and space sustainability. D’Amico also reflects on his career in academic research, entrepreneurship, and the intersection of engineering and space policy. The conversation concludes with advice for the next generation of scientists and engineers on the importance of mastering fundamental principles of mathematics, physics, and engineering before broadening out into the study of more complex systems.
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