Andrea Capannolo

Andrea Capannolo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, specializing in asteroid exploration and planetary defense. His work focuses on missions like NASA's DART and the Italian LICIACube, analyzing impact dynamics, orbital mechanics, and small satellite technology. He investigates the Didymos binary asteroid system to understand planetary defense strategies and spacecraft trajectory design.

Research interests include asteroid geology, ejecta plume modeling, and guidance systems for proximity operations. He has contributed to CubeSat missions for deep-space exploration, emphasizing mission autonomy and data exploitation. Notable projects include LICIACube's role as a 'witness' to the DART impact, providing critical imaging of the event.

His publications explore ejecta dynamics, spectral characterization of asteroids, and formation flying strategies. He has designed control systems for spacecraft in multibody environments, advancing technologies for future Mars and asteroid missions. Current efforts aim to enhance understanding of rubble-pile asteroid behavior and improve planetary defense mechanisms.