Strategic Space Sensing

We develop advanced sensing methodologies to discover, track, and characterize space objects across a wide range of applications, including space situational awareness, planetary defense, and planetary science & exploration.

Research Areas

Space Situational Awareness
Our goal is to address 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, instrumentations, system architectures, and mission designs to advance state-of-the-art SSA capabilities.
Space Situational Awareness
Planetary Defense
We aim to fill 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, pre-discovery, 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 Defense
Planetary Science & Exploration
We are interested in 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.
Planetary Science & Exploration
Tam Nguyen

Tam Nguyen Tam 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 & exploration. Before joining UMD, she led multiple programs on advanced detection methodologies and space-based remote sensing instrumentation at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Interests
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Planetary Defense
  • Planetary Science & Exploration
Education
  • Ph.D. Space Systems, 2018

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • S.M. Aero/Astro, 2015

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • S.B. Aero/Astro & Physics, 2013

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology