Sergio Pellegrino

California Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge

Papers

Total Citations

148

H-Index

About

Sergio Pellegrino is a leading figure in the development of ultralight, deployable space structures, with a particular focus on enabling the next generation of large space telescopes and antennas. His work bridges the gap between fundamental structural mechanics and practical space architecture. He is best known for pioneering the concept of the robotically assembled modular space telescope (RAMST), a paradigm-shifting architecture detailed in his highly cited 2016 paper (125 citations) that proposes in-space assembly to overcome the size constraints of launch vehicles. Pellegrino’s contributions extend to the mechanics of deployable elements, including the design of asymmetrically-bistable energy-storing structures for binary robotic systems and the characterization of reliable deployable modules like the Pactruss with Rolamite hinges. His recent work continues to push boundaries with scalable concepts for in-space assembled reflector antennas, demonstrating a sustained commitment to mass-efficient, large-aperture space systems. As a Caltech professor and former Director of the Space Structures Laboratory, Pellegrino’s research is foundational for future missions requiring structures far larger than any current rocket fairing.