SERC researcher Jonathan Messer got through his qualification exam today in the Department of Astronautical Engineering. His research focuses on satellite attitude control using Digital Micromirror Devices (DMD) to manage the effects of solar radiation pressure. He aims to repurpose a common micro-opto-mechanical system to extend the lifespan of spacecraft in high orbits to  improve on traditional solar trim tabs used on geosynchronous communication satellites and interplanetary spacecraft. To demonstrate this, he is constructing an inverted torsion pendulum to measure nanonewton-scale changes in radiation pressure. If successful, this would show that the pendulum can be actively dampened and amplified using the DMD. Congrats Jonathan!