Simone D’Amico

Simone D’Amico is a Science Fellow at the Hoover Institution and an Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics (with a courtesy appointment in Geophysics) at Stanford University. He serves as the W. M. Keck Faculty Scholar in the School of Engineering and directs the Stanford Space Rendezvous Laboratory, co-directs the Center for Aerospace Autonomy Research (CAESAR), and leads the undergraduate aerospace engineering program at Stanford.

• Expertise: Autonomous spacecraft, distributed space systems, space technology policy
• Funding: NASA (Starling), National Science Foundation (VISORS, SWARM-EX)
• Advisory Roles: Four space startups focusing on SAR remote sensing, orbital lifetime prolongation, and space-based solar power
• Prior Affiliation: German Aerospace Center (research scientist and team leader)

Research Interests center on autonomous satellite swarms, multiagent architectures, and responsible space policy. His work bridges aerospace engineering and geophysics, emphasizing sustainable space exploration and commercial-military space governance.

Scientific Contributions include developing guidance, navigation, and control systems for distributed space missions. His recent publications address:

• 2025: Export control reforms and commercial space innovation
• 2024: Ethical frameworks for space preservation

Awards highlight his technical and policy impact, including NASA honors, IEEE and AIAA best paper awards, and the Leonardo 500 Award.