Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4557-6700

Advisor

Sescu, Adrian

Committee Member

Jah, Moriba

Committee Member

Cheng, Yang

Committee Member

Yarahmadian, Shantia

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Computational Engineering

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Computational Engineering Program

Abstract

Outer space is a crucial and increasingly leveraged resource for advancing human quality of life; however, its utility is constrained by inherent physical and spectral limitations. This thesis examines two distinct resource optimization problems critical to the sustainable development of space. The first part of this work addresses the optimization of physical orbital space. Unlike a terrestrial resource, mismanagement of this orbital space can lead to a runaway cascade of collisions, destroying the utility of entire orbital regimes. This thesis proposes a conjunction metric to quantify orbital capacity based on Keplerian parameters. We develop a computational tool to measure and compare the capacity of different orbital parameters, and an optimization procedure is presented that identifies orbital parameters minimizing collision avoidance maneuvers for new missions. The methodology is computationally efficient. A global minimization is performed across the entire Low Earth Orbit (LEO) system. The second part of the thesis focuses on optimizing communication bandwidth resources. While planned constellations will consist of thousands of satellites, communication between different providers remains dependent on limited Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum to and from Earth. To address this, a solution using in-space communication relays with optical laser links is proposed. This work demonstrates a novel approach for optimizing relay placement, link management, and relay characteristics to enable seamless, ultra-low latency data exchange between otherwise incompatible constellations. This thesis provides a foundational framework for addressing the critical challenges of orbital space and spectrum congestion. The tools and methodologies developed here lay the groundwork for a more efficient and sustainable future in space.

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