PhD Studentship: Design and Optimization of Spacecraft Trajectories for Cislunar Transportation and Beyond

Supervisory Team: Dr Hongru Chen

Project description:

The establishment of space stations and logistics hubs in cislunar space could serve as waypoints for spacecraft, reducing the cost and complexity of missions to the Moon, asteroids, Mars, and beyond. The Lunar Gateway is a planned space station in the near-rectilinear halo orbit or distant retrograde orbit near the Moon, developed by NASA and international partners. It will support various missions, from crewed lunar landings to scientific research. Furthermore, the European Space Agency (ESA) is planning the deployment of a communication and navigation network within the lunar region.

Given these strategic initiatives, it is essential to investigate and develop technologies that enhance exploration, transportation, and resource retrieval in cislunar space. This PhD project will focus on developing techniques and software to rapidly identify low-cost spacecraft trajectories between Earth and the Moon, as well as between the Moon and outer space, considering mission budgets, specific requirements, and post-failure conditions.

The candidate is encouraged to apply analytical Astrodynamics techniques—providing insights into dynamics governed by the gravitational forces of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, facilitating dimension reduction and visualization of low-energy pathways—alongside numerical and empirical machine learning techniques that balance modelling accuracy and processing speed.

This project offers a unique opportunity to make significant contributions to the emerging cislunar economy and near-future planetary exploration efforts by enabling the transportation crucial for sustainable and cost-effective space missions.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Hongru Chen, Astronautics Research Group, Email: hongru.chen@soton.ac.uk.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 31 October 2024.  Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships.  For more information please visit PhD Scholarships | Doctoral College | University of Southampton  Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply online:  Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk) Select programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Engineering & Environment (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Hongru Chen

Applications should include:

Research Proposal

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. 

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