Engineering researcher receives international award for space research paper
July 6, 2026
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mackenzie Mangette, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering at Penn State, received the 2025 Outstanding Paper Award for Young Scientists from the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) for research on improving access to the lunar surface.
The award recognizes Mangette's paper, "Exploration of direct transfer opportunities and loitering strategies for lunar surface access," co-authored with Roshan Eapen, assistant professor of aerospace engineering. The paper was published in the journal Advances in Space Research.
The research explores new mission design strategies for spacecraft traveling to the Moon by examining both direct transfer trajectories, which send spacecraft to the lunar surface along a more direct route, and "loitering" strategies, which involve temporarily waiting in orbit before landing to provide greater mission flexibility. The work aims to improve trajectory planning and identify efficient pathways that can expand options for future lunar exploration.
According to COSPAR, the Outstanding Paper Award for Young Scientists recognizes exceptional papers published in Advances in Space Research by early-career researchers. The award highlights outstanding scientific contributions and recognizes promising young scientists whose work advances space research.
Mangette is also a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The award will be formally presented during the 2026 COSPAR Scientific Assembly, held Aug. 1-9 in Florence, Italy.
Share this story:
