Research Focus

Space Situational Awareness

Space Situational Awareness

Addressing emerging sensing needs in the space domain, with a focus on the ability to detect, track, and characterize spacecraft under challenging observation conditions, such as low signal-to-noise ratio, closely spaced objects, high maneuverability, and high-uncertainty ephemeris. Our interests include the development of new search and detection algorithms, instrumentation, system architectures, and mission designs to advance state-of-the-art SSA capabilities.

Planetary Defense

Planetary Defense

Filling the gaps in current understanding of the distributions and properties of near-Earth objects (NEOs), including potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). We focus on the development of new strategies to improve the discovery, precovery, and follow-up of NEOs as well as methodologies to characterize their properties through remote and proximity sensing. Our approach includes enhancing the performance of existing and upcoming sensor systems through detection algorithm development and data fusion as well as developing new sensing concepts to enable new capabilities.

Planetary Science & Exploration

Planetary Science & Exploration

Developing new sensing technology and mission concepts to further expand our knowledge of the solar system and beyond. Our focus is on adapting emerging sensing technologies for space-based platforms and designing cost-efficient, multi-use missions to maximize science outputs and technology demonstration capabilities.

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Tam Nguyen

Tam NguyenTam Ng'win

Assistant Professor

Aerospace Engineering | UMD

Principal Investigator

Dr. Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on developing innovative sensing capabilities to detect, track, and characterize space objects to advance space domain awareness, planetary defense, and planetary science and exploration. Before joining UMD, she led multiple programs on advanced detection methodologies and space-based remote sensing instrumentation at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Education

Ph.D. Space Systems

2018

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

S.M. Aero/Astro

2015

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

S.B. Aero/Astro and Physics

2013

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Areas

Space Situational Awareness Planetary Defense Planetary Science and Exploration