SSA Lab @ UIUC

Space Sustainability and Autonomy Lab

Space for good

Developing intelligent, safe, and sustainable autonomous systems for space exploration, space debris removal, and proximity operations.

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Background art

As of August 2024, more than 140 million pieces of debris smaller than 1 cm (0.4 in), about 1.2 million pieces of debris 1–10 cm, and around 54,000 pieces larger than 10 cm (3.9 in) were estimated to be in orbit around the Earth [ESA Space Debris Report].

These populations are growing.

About

SSA Lab is an academic lab in the Grainger School of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. We focus primarily on solving the space debris problem by addressing critical challenges in missions with rendezvous and proximity operations.

Goals / focus

Researchers

Minduli Wijayatunga

Minduli Wijayatunga

Director/Incoming Assistant Professor at UIUC

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Aerospace, UIUC - 2025-2026

Incoming Assistant Professor of Aerospace, UIUC - 2026

Visiting Scientist, MIT - 2025-2026

Research Associate, Australian Centre for Field Robotics - 2024-2025.

Interests: Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, Astrodynamics, Reinforcement Learning, Multi-Objective Trajectory Optimization, Model Predictive Control, and Convex/Indirect Optimization Methods

Research Projects

PhD Work

Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement Learning for Spacecraft Guidance

We developed a robust guidance scheme for far-range rendezvous using reinforcement learning with safety and observability considerations and are looking into other RL applications in space.

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Indirect Opt

Improving the convergence of indirect optimization with scaling factors

We developed a method to use scaling factors to connect energy optimal problem to the time optimal and fuel optimal problems to improve convergence.

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Preliminary Mission Design Tool (PMDT)

Preliminary Mission Design Tool (PMDT)

PMDT generates multi-target, fuel- and time-optimal tours using low-thrust propulsion. It accounts for J2 perturbations, drag, eclipses, and duty cycles. The tool can rapidly compute reference trajectories, providing solutions for multi-target low-thrust tours within seconds.

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Multi-Objective Trajectory Optimization

Global Trajectory Optimization Competitions (GTOCs)

I participate in GTOCs as a team member of the Antipodes, where we develop indirect and convex-based tools for complex trajectory optimization problems. GTOC11 - 3rd Place, GTOC12 -5th Place, GTOC13 - 3rd Place.

Model Predictive Control

Model Predictive Control for Spacecraft Guidance

We developed a convex-based MPC for low thrust transfer trajectory guidance

Model Predictive Control

Ion beam Deflection for Asteroids

We developed a framework for assessing the feasibility of deflecting hazardous asteroids via ion beams

PostDoc Work

CORTEX: Convex Optimization for Rendezvous Trajectory Optimization

CORTEX: Convex Optimization for Rendezvous Trajectory Optimization

CORTEX is a sunlight aware, robust convex-tracking scheme for final approach in RPO missions

GRASP: Guidance and Rendezvous for Autonomous Servicing and Planning

GRASP: Guidance and Rendezvous for Autonomous Servicing and Planning

We developed the GRASP framework to handle end-to-end transfer and guidance of spacecraft servicing missions.

Publications

Selected journal and conference papers.

Journal Articles

  1. Robust trajectory design and guidance for far-range rendezvous using reinforcement learning with safety and observability considerations
    M. C. Wijayatunga, R. Armellin, H. Holt — Aerospace Science and Technology, 2025
  2. GTOC12: Results from TheAntipodes
    R. Armellin, A. Bellome, X. Fu, H. Holt, C. Parigini, M. Wijayatunga, J. Yarndley — Astrodynamics, 2025
  3. Convex-Optimization-Based Model Predictive Control for Space Debris Removal Mission Guidance
    M. C. Wijayatunga, R. Armellin, H. Holt, C. Bombardelli — Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2024
  4. Exploiting Scaling Constants to Facilitate the Convergence of Indirect Trajectory Optimization Methods
    M. C. Wijayatunga, R. Armellin, L. Pirovano — Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (Engineering Note), 2023
  5. Design and guidance of a multi-active debris removal mission
    M. C. Wijayatunga, R. Armellin, H. Holt, L. Pirovano, A. A. Lidtke — Astrodynamics, 7(6):1–17, 2023 — DOI: 10.1007/s42064-023-0159-3

Conference Papers

  1. GRASP: An Integrated Framework for Mission Design and Guidance for Autonomous In-Orbit Servicing Missions
    N. Wallace, M. C. Wijayatunga, J. Guinane, …, S. Sukkarieh — Conference paper, Oct 2025
  2. System Design and Hardware-In-The-Loop Testbed Development for an Australian ISAM Demonstrator Mission
    J. Guinane, S. Alshammari, T. Bailey, …, X. Wu, M. C. Wijayatunga — Conference paper, Oct 2025
  3. CORTEX: Real-Time Trajectory Optimization and Guidance for the Final Approach Phase of In-Orbit Servicing Missions
    M. C. Wijayatunga, N. Wallace, J. Guinane, …, S. Sukkarieh — Conference paper, Sep 2025
  4. Assessing the Feasibility of Ion Beam-Based Asteroid Deflection for Planetary Defense
    M. C. Wijayatunga, C. Buonagura, S. Bandyopadhyay, …, J. Brophy — Conference paper (full text), Jan 2025
  5. State-dependent trust region for successive convex optimization of spacecraft trajectories
    N. Bernardini, M. C. Wijayatunga, N. Baresi, R. Armellin — Conference paper, Jan 2023

Open Positions

I am currently looking for two PhD students to start in 2026 for the first two topics listed. Please contact me if interested

  • Rendezvous and Proximity Operations and Hardware Testing (Requirement: Astrodynamics background, previous publications, strong grades, some hardware experience)
  • Space Debris Removal (Requirement: Astrodynamics background, previous publications, strong grades, interest in debris removal)

Get in touch

Contact

minduli@illinois.edu