Muriel Richard

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About

Muriel Richard is a space systems engineer whose research centers on active debris removal, non-cooperative rendezvous and docking, and small satellite technology. Working within the ambitious CleanSpace One project at EPFL, Richard has made meaningful contributions to one of the aerospace community's most pressing challenges: the growing problem of orbital debris threatening sustainable use of near-Earth space. Her most influential work, "Uncooperative Rendezvous and Docking for MicroSats" (2013, 16 citations), proposes cost-effective microsatellite-based solutions for active debris removal, addressing the complex technical chain from debris detection and identification to close-range approach and capture operations. Her subsequent research on developing reliable capture systems for CleanSpace One demonstrates a sustained commitment to translating theoretical frameworks into flight-ready hardware, with the mission's ultimate goal being the de-orbiting of Switzerland's SwissCube nanosatellite. Richard's work is particularly notable for its practical orientation — bridging mission design, proximity operations, and mechanical capture system development within tight microsatellite constraints. Her contributions have helped establish foundational methodologies for non-cooperative spacecraft servicing, making her research essential reading for engineers and students working at the intersection of space sustainability and small satellite engineering.