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About

Kristina Hogstrom is a visionary aerospace engineer whose work bridges the frontiers of space robotics, exoplanet science, and off-world habitats. Her most influential contribution is the groundbreaking 2016 paper "Architecture for in-space robotic assembly of a modular space telescope" (125 citations), which introduced the RAMST concept—a paradigm shift enabling telescopes far larger than any single launch vehicle could carry. By replacing monolithic designs with robotically assembled, modular deployable structures, Hogstrom’s architecture lays the technical foundation for the next generation of ultra-large space observatories. She also played a key role in MINERVA-Australis (21 citations), a Southern Hemisphere telescope array dedicated to confirming and characterizing TESS-discovered exoplanets, making her a vital contributor to the global exoplanet follow-up network. Further demonstrating her breadth, Hogstrom has advanced concepts for fully in situ resource-derived habitats on Mars and developed novel methods for characterizing the reliability of deployable truss modules for large optical reflectors. Her early-career work with the autonomous Robo-AO laser adaptive optics system showcases her commitment to pushing the boundaries of robotic observation. With a career defined by bold, systems-level thinking, Hogstrom is shaping how humanity will build, explore, and live beyond Earth.