Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Lisa Valencia is a leading aerospace engineer whose work is pushing the boundaries of space navigation and planetary exploration. Her primary research focuses on the development and demonstration of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology for lunar operations, as well as pioneering In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for Mars. Valencia’s most significant contribution is her leadership on the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE), a joint NASA-Italian Space Agency payload. This groundbreaking experiment, which has garnered 40 citations, aims to prove that Earth-based GNSS signals can be used for precise positioning, navigation, and timing at the Moon—a critical capability for future Artemis missions and sustainable lunar infrastructure. Earlier in her career, she contributed to the foundational concept of the Mars Atmosphere Resource Verification INsitu (MARVIN) experiment, which demonstrated the potential to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere for propulsion and life support. While her work on MARVIN is less cited, it represents a vital step toward self-sufficient human exploration of Mars. Through her innovative payloads, Valencia is directly enabling the next generation of autonomous spaceflight and off-world resource utilization.