Pushing the limits of space exploration.

At UCLA in Los Angeles, California, we develop innovative technologies from microengineering and nanoscale materials to push the limits of space exploration or address the emerging needs of our time, such as efficient thermal control or alternative computation methods.

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Research

Solar Sails

Ultra-thin reflective membranes harnessing momentum from sunlight, with metasurface coatings for distributed attitude control without mechanical systems.

Laser Ablation

Linking nanoscale light-matter interactions to laser-driven propulsion.

MEMS Mirrors

100 µm micromirrors for dynamic control of reflectivity and emissivity.

Kirigami Actuators

Kirigami-inspired thin-film actuators for electrically controlled shape morphing. Low-mass, deployable surfaces for next-generation spacecraft.

Principal Investigator

Prof. Artur Davoyan

Artur Davoyan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCLA. His group works on micro and nano engineering of materials and systems for high-energy and high-power applications across space exploration, fusion research, and active materials. The lab is pioneering new concepts of in-space propulsion, such as laser ablation, laser sailing, and pellet beam propulsion, as well as MEMS devices for optical and thermal control. His work has been recognized through NASA NIAC Fellowships and the NASA Early Career Faculty award.

2× NASA NIAC$1.1M+ Funded ResearchBreakthrough Starshot

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