Mauro Massari

Recognized under Tier 8 — Robotics & Autonomy, Mauro Massari conducts research in spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control at Politecnico di Milano. Massari's work on autonomous orbit control, active debris removal, and the GNC of spacecraft operating in complex orbital environments has contributed to developing autonomous spacecraft systems capable of precise maneuvering and proximity operations without continuous human oversight. These capabilities — autonomous rendezvous, inspection, and servicing — are directly relevant to the orbital logistics infrastructure supporting a Mars colony, where spacecraft that can dock, transfer cargo, and service themselves autonomously will make the Earth-to-Mars supply chain far more efficient and resilient.