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Portfolio

With 15 years in the space sector, a Master in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA, I've worked across engineering, systems, project management and leadership. This mix is practical, not decorative: it allows me to design solutions that balance physics, cost, risk, and program realities. My specialisation is Space Thermal Engineering, spanning spacecraft thermal control systems, cryogenic design (down to 50 K), space instrument thermal architectures, VLEO and lunar/Mars surface thermal challenges, and TVAC test management and correlation.

I've delivered thermal architectures and system contributions across more than 30 projects — most of which are flying now — including Proba-3, PLATO, Orbital Transfer Vehicle, Solar Orbiter, ISS FSL, MTG, and cryogenics.

Since 2019, I also provide on-demand thermal consulting to SMEs, research institutes, and primes — covering thermal architecture reviews, ESATAN-TMS/Thermica model verification and correlation, TVAC test strategy, and thermal non-conformance troubleshooting across different space environments and ground-based applications.

Lucas Salvador during spacecraft thermal vacuum testing
© TESSA Labs
30+Projects
15Years
12+Missions Flying

Experience

Projects across thermal design, testing, systems engineering, R&D, consulting, and academia.

RAMSES — OBC

In Development

Ongoing development — RAMSES launch planned for April 2028

VLEO Skimsat

In Development

Ongoing development

QKDSAT

In Development

Ongoing development

PROBA-3 — ASPIICS (Main Camera)

Operational

Thermal architecture enabled PROBA-3 to produce its first coronagraph images of the solar corona. Instrument tested and thermal control validated. PROBA-3 launched December 2024, formation flying demonstrated

Meteosat Third Generation weather satellites
Image credit: ESA/Mlabspace

Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) — Back Telescope Assembly

Operational

Detailed thermal design tested and validated. Hardware integrated into MTG-I satellite, launched December 2022, operational

Miniaturised Cryogenic Heat Switch (ESA R&D)

Completed

Prototype hardware tested, qualified and delivered to ESA

Laser Launch Telescope unit for the VLT Four Laser Guide Star Facility developed by TNO
Image credit: TNO / Fred Kamphues / ESO

Laser Launch Telescope (IAC)

Operational

Detailed thermal design validated and delivered

Video Management Unit MkII hardware for the ISS Fluid Science Laboratory
Image credit: Space Applications Services

ISS — VMUMK2 Electronic Box (Fluid Science Laboratory)

Operational

Hardware qualified and delivered to ISS. Operational in Columbus Fluid Science Laboratory

Sentinel-4 instrument on MTG-S satellite
Image credit: ESA/Mlabspace

Sentinel-4 — UVN Calibration Assembly

Operational

Detailed thermal design and reduced thermal model delivered. Flight hardware delivered as part of Sentinel-4 instrument. Sentinel-4A launched July 2025 aboard MTG-S1 for geostationary operations

JUICE — Solar Cells (Wide Range Thermal Test Facility)

Operational

Test facility designed and commissioned. Solar array thermal performance validated across mission extremes (5.2 AU to 0.7 AU solar distance). JUICE launched April 2023, en route to Jupiter

Euclid spacecraft looking into the Universe
Image credit: ESA

Euclid — Near Infrared Focal Plane Array (Thermo-Elastic Characterisation)

Operational

Characterisation results published. Euclid launched July 2023, operational at L2

GRACE-C satellites measuring distance using laser ranging interferometry
Image credit: Filmhaus Berlin / GFZ

GRACE-C — Laser Control Electronic Box

In Development

Ongoing development

Artist impression of Solar Orbiter spacecraft facing the Sun
Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Solar Orbiter — Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI)

Operational

Support to PDR thermal design. Mission launched 2020, operational

Veoware microCMG control moment gyroscope flight model hardware
Image credit: Veoware Space

CMG Units

Completed

Detailed thermal design validated and delivered

Flying Laptop microsatellite thermal vacuum test preparation at DLR Bremen
Image credit: TESSA Labs

Flying Laptop Microsatellite — Thermal Test Manager

Operational

Thermal qualification completed. Flying Laptop launched July 2017, operated by University of Stuttgart

Thermal vacuum chamber for space hardware qualification testing
Image credit: Pfeiffer Vacuum

TVAC Facility Acquisition — Consulting Support for Startup

Completed

Client acquired suitable TVAC facility within budget and timeline constraints. Facility operational for internal qualification testing

Interested in working together?

Whether you need thermal design, test support, or strategic consulting for your space mission, get in touch.

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