Paul van Susante

Dr. Paul van Susante is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University (MTU), holding the Lou and Herbert Wacker Professorship. He is also an affiliated Assistant Professor in Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering. As Faculty Advisor for the Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE), he leads the Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab (PSTDL). His education includes a PhD and MS in Engineering Systems from the Colorado School of Mines (2011, 2004) and a MS in Civil Engineering from TU Delft (2001). His teaching focuses on Engineering Design, Mechanics of Materials, and Space System Engineering.

Dr. van Susante’s research emphasizes Extreme Environment Technologies, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), and Planetary Exploration. Specific interests include lunar and Martian excavation, robotics, structural design, and system engineering. He has collaborated with NASA, SpaceX, Bechtel, and others on projects like RedWater (Mars water extraction) and the Lunar Proving Ground.

His funding includes a $100k MTU portion of the Lunar Polar Mining Outpost (NIAC Phase II), a $162k T-REX superconducting tether project, and a NASA Lunabotics competition grant. Awards include a 2010 NASA Faculty Fellowship. His work bridges mechanical, civil, and aerospace engineering to advance multiplanetary infrastructure and resource utilization.

Key projects include developing lunar surface compaction methods, rover-mounted trenchers, and superconducting power systems for permanently shadowed regions. His lab focuses on real-world testing of systems for extreme environments, with a focus on mission-readiness and sustainability.