Richard Linares

Richard Linares is the Rockwell International Career Development Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on astrodynamics, space situational awareness, satellite guidance and navigation, estimation and controls, optimal control, and reinforcement learning. He is affiliated with the ARCLab and Space Systems Lab at MIT.

• Education:
• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (2014), University at Buffalo
• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering (2011), University at Buffalo
• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (2009), University at Buffalo

Linares' recent work explores orbital capacity modeling, Koopman operator theory for spacecraft trajectory optimization, and the application of large language models to autonomous spacecraft operations. His research integrates machine learning with traditional aerospace engineering challenges, including thermospheric density estimation and space debris management.

Scientific Awards:

• 2020 DARPA Young Faculty Award
• 2019 National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering
• 2018 AFOSR Young Investigator Research Program Award
• 2013 LANL Director's Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 2012 LANL Vela Fellowship

Linares leads the MIT-led development of space weather forecasting software funded by the National Science Foundation and collaborates on multi-agent reinforcement learning for space systems.