In order to apply for any of the following theses or internships, the candidate must have no more than 3 exams left.
At present, the orbit determination of deep space missions relies mainly on Earth-based radiometric measurements, namely ranging, Doppler, and DDOR. These are derived from the properties of the radio link between the spacecraft and one or more ground stations on the Earth. The main sources of noise affecting the radio link are: interplanetary plasma, Earth’s troposphere and ionosphere, thermal noise in the electronics.
The objective of this project is to develop a Python tool to quickly evaluate the quality of the radiometric measurements acquired at the ground stations, without the need of a detailed orbit determination analysis. The candidate will have to retrieve and load all the relevant inputs, including: radiometric measurements, meteorological data, station configuration, spacecraft telemetry. Then, the most important parameters affecting the link quality will be computed and displayed. An automatic test report will be generated.
Synthetic images are crucial in training AI-based image processing techniques since the availability of real image examples for deep space missions is limited. This thesis explores using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to bridge the domain gap between synthetically generated images created with 3D computer graphic software and real mission imagery. The synthetic images generated will be used as a base for the GAN algorithm to add the noise extracted from real images. The improved synthetic images generated through this approach will subsequently be used to train an existing image detection algorithm based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to detect particles orbiting small bodies.
Topic: Neural networks
Tutor: Aurel Zeqaj
Uploaded: 28/01/2025
So far, only one spacecraft has flown closely by Uranus: Voyager 2, in 1986.
However, in anticipation of a future NASA flagship mission to Uranus, it is crucial to determine which data have already been collected, their location relative to the planet, and the instrument used for their acquisition. The thesis work will focus on retrieving and learning how to scientifically visualize the data collected by various Voyager 2 instruments around Uranus, verifying whether these data support or refute the existence of a ring of ionized plasma around the planet.
Topic: Data Analysis / Plasma Physics
Tutor: Giuliano Vinci
Uploaded: 28/01/2025
Gravity waves are perturbations that originate in the denser, lower layers of the atmosphere and propagate upward, transporting both energy and momentum. First identified in Earth's middle and upper atmosphere, they have since been observed throughout the Solar System, not only on terrestrial planets but also in the atmospheres of gas giants. These waves play an important role in shaping atmospheric dynamics, influencing large-scale circulation, turbulence, and energy distribution. However, their potential impact on radio occultation experiments - a remote sensing technique widely used to sound planetary atmospheres - is still uncertain. This project aims to investigate the potential effects of gravity waves on radio signals received during an occultation experiment. By modeling the interaction between radio waves and gravity wave-induced atmospheric fluctuations, this study seeks to assess whether these waves introduce measurable distortions in the retrieved atmospheric profiles retrieved by Juno. Understanding these effects is crucial for improving the accuracy of radio occultation data interpretation, which in turn will enhance our ability to study Jupiter’s atmospheric structure, composition, and dynamics.
For this thesis project, a good basic proficiency in fluid dynamics is recommended.
Topic: Physics / Radio Occultations
Tutor: Matteo Fonsetti
Uploaded: 04/02/2025
MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) is a NASA spacecraft orbiting Mars to study the loss of the planet's atmospheric gases to space, providing insight into the history of the planet's climate. This thesis aims to analyze data from radio occultation experiments conducted by the spacecraft, with the objective of reconstructing the structure of Mars' atmosphere.
A radio occultation experiment is a technique used to study the atmosphere of a planet or moon. During such experiments, a spacecraft transmits radio waves toward a receiver, typically located on Earth, while it moves behind the celestial body relative to the observer. By analyzing the changes in the radio signal as it passes through the atmosphere, we can derive vertical profiles of atmospheric properties.
The data analysis will employ the ray-tracing technique, which allows for modeling the propagation of radio waves transmitted by the spacecraft as they pass through the Martian atmosphere, accounting for the phenomenon of refraction. The goal is to determine key parameters such as density, temperature, and pressure profiles, offering new insights into the atmospheric dynamics under the specific conditions of each experiment.
This project is part of the broader context of space missions dedicated to planetary exploration, contributing to the improvement of existing atmospheric models and enhancing our understanding of Mars' environmental conditions.
Topic: Radio Occultations / Data Analysis
Tutor: Andrea Caruso
Uploaded: 25/02/2025