Opportunities

SSDS seeks to push the boundaries of spacecraft capabilities through novel applications of modern physics and innovative design. We are currently engaged in several flight and research projects to demonstrate concepts, provide research testbeds, and enhance the state of spaceflight technology. Our team consists of faculty, Ph.D./M.S. candidates, M.Eng. students, and especially undergraduates.

Graduates from our lab have interned, worked, and risen to senior management roles at places like NASA, SpaceX, Draper, Northrop Grumman, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Blue Origin, Planet Labs, Apple, Facebook, Google and many more!

SSDS will be recruiting in Fall 2026 for both undergraduate and M.Eng students. Applications will start on a rolling basis in late July 2026. The application can be found in the descriptions below.

Information session slides (Fall 2024) : General SSDS, ChipSat Overview, DeSCENT (Suborbital ChipSat Launch), Alpha (CubeSat + ChipSat-Sail), Sailing to the Stars (ISS Light Sail Deployer)

If you have questions about SSDS or the application, please email Mark Lohatepanont (ml2828@cornell.edu). The application process is rolling. Please apply early!

PH.D.

If you are a prospective Ph.D. student, please apply to the Ph.D. Degree program through Cornell’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and express interest in SSDS on your application.

M.ENG.

We are actively seeking M.Eng. students for research activities during Fall 2026. Please apply here (In late July). Additional projects supervised directly by Prof. Peck can be found here. Please reach out to him individually regarding those.

Project Areas:

  • ChipSats

    • ChipSat RF (1 Student)

undergrad

We are actively seeking undergraduates for research activities during Fall 2026. Please apply here.

Project Areas:

  • ChipSats

    • ChipSat Design

      • ChipSat PCB Prototyping (1 Student [ECE})

      • Chipsat Antenna Design (1 Student [ECE])

      • Flight Software (1 Student [ECE/CS])

  • High Altitude Test Platform

    • Machinist (1 Student [Blue Apron Preferred/MechE])

DESCRIPTIONS

  • ChipSats (lead: Mark Lohatepanont (ml2828@cornell.edu))

    ChipSats are gram-scale PCBs that can fit in the palm of your hand, but thanks to the miniaturization of electronics, contain all of the essential functionality of a much larger satellite. They’ve been in development at SSDS for the past decade and previous generations of these tiny Spacecraft have flown on the ISS, been deployed into Low Earth Orbit, and have been tested in Earth-based contexts in vineyards and on dairy farms. Currently we are investigating their use as flight computers onboard a free-flying light sail for the Alpha mission, and the potential for swarms of these ChipSats to survive atmospheric entry and disperse during descent (DeSCENT mission). We're looking for students who can take the lead with the following tasks:

    1. ChipSat Ground Station

      Tracking and receiving signals from a swarm of 100 ChipSats during atmospheric descent is a challenge. Students in this role will integrate with the ground station and build a program to visualize downlinked GPS coordinates and sensor data in real-time to support recovery efforts. This role blends RF hardware selection with software development for data visualization.

    2. ChipSat PCB Prototyping

      ChipSats require highly integrated electrical systems that combine power management, sensing, communications, and flight computing within a small and lightweight platform. Students in this role will help design, assemble, and test prototype ChipSat circuit boards for future missions. Work may include schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection, board assembly, hardware bring-up, debugging, and the development of test fixtures for evaluating power, sensor, and radio performance.

    3. ChipSat Antenna Design

      Reliable communication with a small, rapidly descending ChipSat requires an antenna that performs well despite strict size, mass, and power constraints. Students in this role will design and test compact antennas for ChipSat communication and GPS reception. Work may include antenna simulation, impedance matching, VNA measurements, PCB antenna prototyping, link-budget analysis, and ground or high-altitude range testing.

    4. ChipSat Flight Software

      ChipSat flight software must collect sensor measurements, manage limited power, operate the radio, and reliably transmit data throughout flight. Students in this role will develop and test embedded software for the ChipSat flight computer. Work may include sensor and GPS integration, telemetry packet development, power-aware operating modes, radio scheduling, data logging, fault handling, and hardware-in-the-loop testing of complete flight systems.

    5. ASCENT High Altitude Testing Platform

      Our lab develops and operates a bipropellant liquid rocket for the purposes of studying the impact, spread, and survivability of ChipSats dropped from high altitude. Students in this role will help design, fabricate, and test payload hardware for carrying and releasing ChipSats during rocket flight. Work may include deployer mechanisms, avionics integration, sensor logging, RF tracking, and recovery system support.