UCCS Space Systems Laboratory
The UCCS Space Systems Laboratory offers a dynamic environment where students engage in hands-on learning and cutting-edge research. The lab actively participates in a variety of spaceflight opportunities, including Colorado Space Grant’s DemoSat Program, high-altitude balloon missions, NASA’s RockSat sounding rocket flights to past the Kármán line, and experiments aboard the International Space Station.
Our research spans a wide range of topics and collaborations. These include Space Domain Awareness projects with the U.S. Space Force’s SDA TAP Lab, CubeSat development and cybersecurity, and advanced trajectory analysis for interplanetary missions, including concepts related to human spaceflight and space elevator technologies.
In addition to research and education, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers through outreach activities and STEM workshops for K–12 students and teachers. These events are coordinated through student clubs such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) student branch and the Astrophotography and Astronomy club.
For more information, contact Dr. Lynnane George
[email protected] Dr. Lynnane George | College of Engineering and Applied Science Lynnane George | LinkedIn Lynnane George – Research Gate
Link to ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Page
Link to RESEARCH PROGRAMS Page
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Books
George, Lynnane. (2025). Introduction. Introduction to Orbital Mechanics. https://oer.pressbooks.pub/lynnanegeorge/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License
Publications
Tomaswick, Andy. (June 19, 2025). Using a space elevator to get water off Ceres. Universe Today. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-space-elevator-ceres.html
Conference Papers
George, L. , B. Edwards, J. Rothwell, and N. Yousuf (2025). Space Elevator Applications: Automated Asteroid Selection and Efficiency Analysis. AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, 12 – 16 Jan 2025. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2025-0068
George, L., N. Yousuf, J. Rothwell, and B. Edwards (2025). Space Elevator Integration on Ceres: A Technical Framework for Scalable Resource Extraction and Transport. AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, 12 – 16 Jan 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391807327_SE_Integration_on_Ceres_A_Technical_Framework_for_Scalable_Resource_Extraction_and_Transport
George, L., E. Martin, and T. Dwyer (2025). From Philosophy to Practice: Implementing Ethical Imperatives and Engineering Feasibility for Long-Duration. AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, 12 –16 Jan 2025. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2025-0613
Bate, J., N. Yousuf, J. Rothwell, and L. George (2024). Analyzing the Potential of Space Elevator Technology for Sustainable Asteroid Mining. AIAA Region V Student Paper Conference, Saint Louis University, Missouri, 5 – 6 April 2024. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2024-85461
Garbrick, J. and L. George (2024). A Practical approach for Human Round Trip Missions to Mars and Ceres. AIAA Region V Student Paper Conference, Saint Louis University, Missouri, 5 – 6 April 2024.https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2023-72854
Martin, E. and L. George (2024). Ethics in Human Spacecraft Design: The Role of Artificial Gravity in Mitigating Microgravity Effects. AIAA Region V Student Paper Conference, Saint Louis University, Missouri, 5 – 6 April 2024. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2024-85514
George, L., J. Garbrick, and B. Edwards (2024) Mars Trajectories Using an Earth-Departure Space Elevator. AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL 8 – 12 Jan 2024. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2024-2714
George, L., J. Garbrick, and B. Kopriva. (2023) A Tripartite Approach for Efficient Human Round Trip Missions to Mars and Ceres. AIAA Ascend Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 23 – 25 Oct 2023. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2023-4646
George, L. and J. Lonsky (2023) A Multi-Use Resupply Platform at L1. AIAA Ascend Conference, Las Vegas, NV 23 – 25 Oct 2023. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2023-4657
George, L. and W. Thornton (2021) Ceres crew selection: An Operations Research Approach to Maximize Mission Success. AIAA Ascend Conference, 8 – 17 Nov 2021. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2021-4061
Froelich, Riley and L.E. George (2021) A History of Aerospace Engineering at UCCS. AIAA Ascend Conference, 8 – 17 Nov 2021. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2022-2068
George, L., N. Bennett, M. Gill, and A. Craig. (2021) Human Missions to Ceres: Tractable Low Risk Delta V Minimization Strategies. AIAA Ascend Conference, 8 – 17 Nov 2021. Human Missions to Ceres: Tractable Low Risk Delta V Minimization Strategies | ASCEND
Articles
EAS participates Wings Over the Rockies Museum air and space event. (2025, June 30). https://news.uccs.edu/2025/06/30/eas-participates-wings-over-the-rockies-museum-air-and-space-event/
Funding Crickets in Space: Tackling a Big Question with a Tiny Payload (2025, May 21). https://news.uccs.edu/2025/05/21/crickets-in-space-tackling-big-questions-with-a-tiny-payload/
UCCS students present cutting-edge aerospace research at AIAA Region V Conference (2025, April 17). https://news.uccs.edu/2025/04/17/uccs-students-present-cutting-edge-aerospace-research-at-aiaa-region-v-conference/
UCCS students energize the future at AIAA SciTech International Conference – UCCS Communique. (2025, January 28). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=161661
Carr, K. (2024, November 26). UCCS and Pikes Peak State College Students’ experiment orbits on the International Space Station. Colorado Public Radio. https://www.cpr.org/2024/11/26/uccs-ppsc-student-experiment-international-space-station/
From campus to space: UCCS students launch experiment to the ISS – UCCS Communique. (2024, November 11). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=160064
UCCS students prepare experiment for International Space Station Flight – UCCS Communique. (2024, October 30). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=159680
Driving aerospace innovation at AIAA Regional Symposium – UCCS Communique (2024, October 9). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=159289
AIAA Rocky Mountain Section: Meet Your Newly Elected Leaders. (2024, July 21). https://www.aiaa-rm.org/post/aiaa-rocky-mountain-section-meet-your-newly-elected-leaders
UCCS AIAA Student Branch Reaches Out (2024, July 9). https://www.aiaa-rm.org/post/uccs-aiaa-student-branch-reached-out
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics students present at international conference. (2024, January 30). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=153750
UCCS “Ring of fire” team visits Mesa Verde National Park. UCCS Communique. (2023, October 30). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=152131
Students Shoot for the Stars with CubeSat Launch. UCCS Communique. (2023, April 5). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=146442
Undergraduate student presents research at Mars Convention. UCCS Communique. (2022, November 16). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=143814
UCCS Partnering with Space Force to get more Aerospace Engineers into Workforce. KOAA News. (2022, April 13). https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/uccs-partnering-with-space-force-to-get-more-aerospace-engineers-into-workforce
Faculty Resource Center Teaching Tip: Open Educational Resources. UCCS Communique. (2021, May 13). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=132618
Faculty Resource Center Teaching Tip: Open Educational Resources. UCCS Communique. (2021, May 13). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=132618
Student club’s video will fly to moon on NASA mission (2021, April 27). https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=131651
TV INTERVIEWS
Davis, B. (2025, May 20). Space mold! UCCS and Pikes Peak State College students sending experiment to space. KRDO. https://krdo.com/news/2025/05/20/space-mold-uccs-and-pikes-peak-state-college-students-sending-experiment-to-space/
KOAA News 5. (2024, May 15). Three students will have their science experiment flown in space on the ISS. KOAA News 5. https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/three-students-will-have-their-science-experiment-flown-in-space-on-the-iss
VIDEOS
ISS Launch Highlights. (2024, November 13). ISS Launch Highlight (1.5min) on Vimeo
George, L, and A. Dodson. Small Teaching | Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning. (Spring 2023).
Small Teaching Session 1_Teaching Circle_February 2
Small Teaching Session 2 Recording_2_16_2023
Small Teaching Session 3 Recording_03_02_2023
Small Teaching Session 4_03_16_2023
Albertson, J. and L. George. Distracted: Engaging Students Without Distraction. (2022). Distracted_Recording_2560x1440
George, L., M. Calvisi, and A. Sweet. Engineer Your Future with Dr. Lynnane George, Dr. Michael Calvia, and Sgt Anna Sweet. YouTube. (2022, March 21). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS-CwlaRG5o
PORTABLE ORBITAL DEMONSTRATOR
Portable Orbital Demonstrator (POD): The POD is a 3D printed device to help students visualize satellite orbits