Muralidharan, Vivek
Vivek Muralidharan
Assistant Professor | College of Engineering and Science: Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences
Contact Information
Expertise
Personal Overview
Dr. Vivek Muralidharan is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. His research focuses on astrodynamics and space applications, including orbital dynamics, stationkeeping, orbit determination, and guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). He previously worked as a Flight Dynamics Engineer at ICEYE in Finland, managing orbit control for a fleet of SAR satellites, and as a Research Associate at the University of Luxembourg on space robotics and autonomous satellite control.
He earned his Ph.D. (2021) and M.S. (2017) in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, and his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), India (2015). He has also contributed to projects at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. Dr. Muralidharan has authored numerous publications, holds a patent, and was recognized in SSPI’s “20 Under 35” (2022) and as a finalist for the Luigi G. Napolitano Award at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2022.
Educational Background
- Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, USA, 2021.
- M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, USA, 2017.
- B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India, 2015.
Professional Experience
- Flight Dynamics Engineer, ICEYE, Finland, 2023-2025.
- Research Associate, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), Luxembourg, 2021-2023.
- Research and Development Intern, Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc., USA, 2019.
Current Courses
AEE 4263 Space Flight Mechanics
Selected Publications
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Vivek Muralidharan, Mohatashem Reyaz Makhdoomi, Augustinas Žinys, Bronislovas Razgus, Marius Klimavicius, Miguel Olivares-Mendez, Carol Martinez. "On-Ground Validation of Orbital GNC: Visual Navigation Assessment in Robotic Testbed Facility", Astrodynamics, Springer Nature, March 2024.
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Miguel Olivares-Mendez et al. "Zero-G Lab: A Multi-Purpose Facility for Emulating Space Operations", Journal of Space Safety Engineering, Elsevier, October 2023.
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Vivek Muralidharan, Mohatashem R. Makhdoomi, Kuldeep R. Barad, Lina M. Amaya-Mejia, Kathleen C. Howell, Carol Martinez Luna, and Miguel A. Olivares Mendez. “Rendezvous in cislunar halo orbits: Hardware-in-the-loop simulation with coupled orbit and attitude dynamics”, Acta Astronautica, Elsevier, Vol. 211, pp 556-573, October 2023.
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Vivek Muralidharan and Kathleen C. Howell. "Stretching Directions in Cislunar Space: Applications for Departure and Transfer Design," Astrodynamics, Springer, Vol. 7, pp. 153-178, June 2023.
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Vivek Muralidharan and Kathleen C. Howell. "Leveraging Stretching Directions for Stationkeeping in Earth-Moon Halo Orbits," Advances in Space Research, Elsevier, Vol. 69, Issue 1, pp 620-646, January 2022.
Recognition & Awards
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Featured in the list of top 20 under 35 by Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), 2022.
- Finalist, Luigi G. Napolitano Award at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress, 2022.