Curriculum Vitae

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Honors and Achievements

• 2015: Invited panelist in a stage discussion alongside Apollo astronaut Al Worden
• 2022: Selected as an exchange student at the University of Tokyo, Japan
• 2022: Recipient of the PROMOS Scholarship for my exchange semester at the University of Tokyo, Japan
• 2022: Recipient of the Hermann Reissner Scholarship for my exchange semester at the University of Tokyo, Japan
• 2024: Recipient of the MEXT Scholarship for PhD studies at the University of Tokyo
• 2025: Recipient of the ESA Academy sponsorship to attend the International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC) in London 2025

Education

• Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering, University of Tokyo, 2027/09 (expected)
  • Graduate School of Engineering, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Research student in Aerospace Engineering, University of Tokyo, 2024/04-10
  • Graduate School of Engineering, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Conducted pre-doctoral research on Hall thruster magnetic field scaling and optimization, with a focus on adapting ex-sting designs for high-density operation and improved performance using alternative propellants.
• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Stuttgart, 2020/04-2023/04
  • Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy - Specialization in Space Engineering and Numerical Simulation
  • Master’s Thesis: Simulation and experimental examination of direct solid propellant supply in a Hall thruster during exchange semester at the University of Tokyo - Komurasaki&Koizumi Laboratory
• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Stuttgart, 2015/10-2019/11
  • Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy
  • Bachelor Thesis: Investigation of the advantages of a three-stream turbine concept for heat management at MTU Aero Engines AG
• Abitur equals GCE A-levels, Gottlieb-Daimler-School 2, 09/2012-2015/05
  • Specialization Environmental Technology
• Mittlere Reife equals GCE O-levels, Theodor-Schüz Secondary School, 2006/09-2012/05

Workshops & Specialized Training

• Participant at the International Space Weather Camp 2022, German Aerospace Center Neustrelitz, 2022/06-07
  • Modeled space weather phenomena and analyzed their impact on satellite systems using simulation and data analysis.
• Participant at the International Space Station Design Workshop 2021, Institute of Space Systems (University of Stuttgart, IRS), 2021/10
  • Collaborated in a team to design a crewed space station, applying systems engineering principles to integrate subsystems and conduct mission analysis within a one-week timeframe.
  • Responsible for the design and integration of the propulsion system.
• Participant at the Small Satellite Design Workshop 2021, Institute of Space Systems (University of Stuttgart, IRS), 2020/10-2021/03
  • Collaborated in a multidisciplinary team to design a small satellite mission, applying systems engineering principles to integrate subsystems such as power, communication, and payload.
  • Led the propulsion system design, conducted mission analysis, and served as a general systems engineer, ensuring seamless integration of subsystems and alignment with mission objectives.

Work experience

• Institute of Space Systems (University of Stuttgart, IRS), Stuttgart
  • 08/2023-03/2024: Research assistant
  • Duties includes: Research about ABEP Intake Design
  • Supervisor: Professor Georg Herdrich
• DLR e.V. (German Aerospace Center), Stuttgart
  • 03/2020-09/2022: Student assistant
  • Duties includes: Programming of different data interfaces in python and implementation of an automatic test routine in gitlab
• TBCopters GmbH, Stuttgart
  • 05–07/2022-2023: Operation Management
  • Duties included: Delegate drone pilots and organize the trichogramma and flight permits
  • 05/2021-2022: Drone instructor
  • Duties included: Training of new drone pilots
  • 06+07/2020-2023: Drone pilot
  • Duties included: Spreading of trichogramma for biological pest control over corn fields with drones
• MTU Aero Engines AG, Munich
  • 04/2018 – 03/2019: Internship+Bachelor thesis
  • Duties includes: Development cost analysis of aeroengines, programming in FORTRAN, Thesis: investigation of the advantages of a three-stream turbine concept for heat management
• Porsche AG, Weissach
  • 06/2016 – 09/2017: Student assistant
  • Duties includes: Data management with Excel and research about RFID management
• AEROSPACELAB - Youth Research Center, Herrenberg
  • 10/2015 – 09/2022: Volunteer supervision of robotics group
  • Duties includes: Mentoring a group of young students in the Girls Robotics program, building LEGO EV3 robots and preparing for the FIRST LEGO League and World Robot Olympiad competitions. Introduction to electronics and programming fundamentals using Arduino Uno kits.
  • Represented AEROSPACELAB at public events, including a panel discussion at the Space Conference Stuttgart (2015), Science Day at the University of Stuttgart, “Meet an Astronaut”, the German Aerospace Congress (DLRK) in Stuttgart, DLR Open House Day, and the first German CANSAT Competition.
  • AEROSPACE LAB homepage
• Institute of Aircraft Propulsion Systems (University of Stuttgart, ILA), Stuttgart
  • 10/2018-02/2019: Student assistant
  • Duties includes: Supporting fellow students with design assignments and CAD modeling questions for the lecture “Construction Elements II”
  • Supervisor: Professor Stephan Staudacher
• University sports trampoline, Stuttgart
  • 10/2018 – 09/2022: Trainer
  • Duties includes: Leading weekly training sessions for students of all experience levels, teaching jumping and landing technique, and organizing internal events and competition participation.
  • Trampolin-Homepage

Skills

• Programming
  • Python
  • Fortran
  • C, C++
  • Matlab+ Simulink
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
  • Autodesk
  • Catia
  • Solid Works
• Electronic Design Automation (EDA)
  • Eagle
  • KiCad
• Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)
  • Hyperworks
  • Abaqus
• LabVIEW
• Languages
  • German
  • English (TOEFL IBT 113)
  • Japanese (N4)

Publications

Hall-Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of Acceleration Length and Magnetic Field Optimization in an Argon Hall Thruster

Barth, N., Komurasaki, K., Satpathy, D., Lee, J., Matsukura, M., & Koizumi, H. (2026). Hall-Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of Acceleration Length and Magnetic Field Optimization in an Argon Hall Thruster. Journal of Applied Physics, 140(10), 103302. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0341219

PICLas-based Intake Simulation Activities for the development of an ABEP Specular Intake

Barth N, Skalden J, Papavramidis K, Gutierrez E, Hild F, Beyer J, Pfeiffer M, Tietz R, Maier P, and Herdrich G. (2026, March). Activities for the Development of an ABEP Specular Intake. In Rarefied Gas Dynamics: Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium (p. 203). Springer Nature.

Impact of reverse flow induced by a sawtooth anode on the performance of an argon Hall thruster

Satpathy, D., Komurasaki, K., Lee, J., Sekine, H., Barth, N., & Koizumi, H. (2026). Impact of reverse flow induced by a sawtooth anode on the performance of an argon Hall thruster. Journal of Applied Physics, 139(8), 083303. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0307266

Numerical analysis of rarefied gas flow dominated by wall reflection in a straight channel

Lee, J., Satpathy, D., Kawashima, R., Komurasaki, K., Sekine, H., Barth, N., & Koizumi, H. (2026). Numerical analysis of rarefied gas flow dominated by wall reflection in a straight channel. Vacuum, 244(Part B), 114930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2025.114930

Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of High-Density Plasma Hall Thruster Operation.

Barth, N., Komurasaki, K., Satpathy, D., Lee, J., Sekine, H., & Koizumi, H. Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of High-Density Plasma Hall Thruster Operation. In 39th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. 2025, September.

Solar Activity Dependency of a Specular Intake for an ABEP System

Barth N, Skalden J, Papavramidis K, Tuttas F, Pfeiffer M, Beyer J, Tietz R, Fasoulas S, Herdrich G. Solar activity dependency of a specular intake for an ABEP System. Journal of Electric Propulsion. 2025 Aug 12;4(1):57.

Experimental Investigation on Ionization Length Required for Efficient Operation of Argon Hall Thrusters

Satpathy D, Sekine H, Barth N, Kawashima R, Komurasaki K, Koizumi H. Experimental investigation on ionization length required for efficient operation of argon Hall thrusters. Transactions of the Japan society for aeronautical and space sciences, 68(1), 12-18. 2025.

Feasibility studies for a dust observatory between Earth and the asteroid belt

Srama R, Klinkner S, Fugmann M, Lengowski M, Gläser J, Simolka J, Sommer M, Strack H, Acker D, Barth N, Eckstein S. and others. (2022)"Feasibility studies for a dust observatory between Earth and the asteroid belt." Acta Astronautica, 200, 478–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.08.036

DIANA-Dedicated Infrastructure and Architecture for Near-Earth Astronautics

Acker D, Gutierrez E, Pippert A, Barth N, Boettger J, Diamond M, Kugic A, Palacios Calatayud J, Modi P, Krein V, Khan SA. DIANA-Dedicated Infrastructure and Architecture for Near-Earth Astronautics. 51st International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES). 07/2022.

Academic Presentations

The Role of the Hall Parameter in Magnetohydrodynamic Scaling of Hall Thrusters

January 23, 2026

at Presented at 宇宙輸送ｼﾝﾎﾟJanuary 2026,

Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of High-Density Plasma Hall Thruster Operation.

September 18, 2025

at Presented at the International Electric Propulsion Conference 2025,

Magnetohydrodynamic Analysis of High Mass Flow Rate-Induced High-Density Plasma Hall Thruster Operation.

March 21, 2025

at Presented at the Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power 2025,

PICLas-based Intake Simulation Activities for the Development of an ABEP Specular Intake

July 15, 2024

at 33rd International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics (RGD), 2024,

Solar Activity Dependency of a Specular Intake for an ABEP System

June 24, 2024

at 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC), 2024,