The University of Florida’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is proud to celebrate one of its promising new students, Mauro Franqueira, who was recently honored with the prestigious Global Rising Star Award from the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). This award recognizes exceptional young professionals and students for their leadership and contributions to the global space sector.
Mauro’s passion for space ignited at a young age in Portugal. “I would dream of the night sky,” he recalls. “I’d cut the ends off water bottles and imagine they were telescopes as I looked out of my window.” From those early moments, his dedication to space exploration only grew. In high school, Mauro completed astrophysics projects and earned multiple recognitions, including winning the Young Scientist Contest in Portugal and making history as the first Portuguese student to receive a grand award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. This journey provided him with the chance to travel as a young high school student, to the US, to present his work.
Mauro later enrolled at the International Space University and secured a project with Jacob Cohen Ph.D., Chief Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, to mentor him. While attending his studies program, he worked on an innovative project aimed at developing a probe to study Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons. This project involved trajectory optimization, mission planning and the analysis of Enceladus’ icy composition. Under Cohen’s guidance and inspiration, Mauro submitted his research to the International Astronautical Congress. His multiple accomplishments were recognized with the Global Rising Star award at the SGAC Conference, which was granted in August 2024, and presented at the IAC 2024 Milan, Italy.
Now 26, Mauro is an inspiring Ph.D. student under the guidance of Christopher Petersen, Ph.D. at UF’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His decision to attend UF was greatly influenced by a video call with Dr. Petersen. Mauro, who left behind friends and family in Portugal to pursue his dreams, described the connection he felt with Dr. Petersen: “The environment felt cozy, familiar, and very human. I knew if I was going to stay for four to five years, I wanted that type of connection. I felt I could be honest and direct with my supervisor. So yeah, I chose UF.” After completing his studies at UF, Mauro hopes to achieve his dream of working for NASA or SpaceX. He envisions contributing to groundbreaking projects that will help advance humanity’s presence in space and inspire future generations of scientists.
Excited to immerse himself in his studies and research, Mauro has expressed how the welcoming atmosphere of his professors and lab mates has eased his transition to life in Florida, while allowing him to stay deeply connected to his roots. Mauro’s pride is palpable as he expresses his enthusiasm for his new home and community within the Gator Engineering family. His new favorite motto, “Once a Gator, always a Gator,” perfectly captures the sense of belonging and commitment he feels. He hopes that the Global Rising Star Award will inspire other young scientists and looks forward to mentoring future “Young Mauros with plastic bottle telescopes looking to the sky.”
We are incredibly proud to have Mauro Franqueira as part of the UF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His passion, drive, and remarkable achievements in the global space sector embody the spirit of innovation and excellence we strive for at MAE. Mauro’s journey and contributions are an inspiration to both students and faculty alike, and we are honored to support him as he continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.
Christi Swiers
Marketing & Communications Assistant
UF Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
October 17, 2024
