Luca Porcelli
I am a Physicist (PhD, MSc, BSc), and I am employed as Permanent Staff Researcher (Ricercatore - III Livello) at INFN-LNF, where I have been working continuously since 2014.
I am a professional, energetic, and result oriented ‘early/mid-career researcher’, with a background as space laboratory scientist and data analyst. Dedicated, driven and passionate, combining practicality with robust theoretical formation, I have been a member of the SCF_Lab since 2008 (when I was firstly hired as an Undergraduate Research Assistant): I have soon become a key proponent/member of all SCF_Lab projects since then, being routinely involved in all the activities of (optical) design, testing, and modelling; I also have worked as analyst of General Relativity and space geodesy simulations and data. Continuously striving to succeed on the immediate project while working towards goals with pressurised deadlines, I manage to keep a positive, inspiring and empathetic interpersonal ability, to ensure ideas get implemented while developing and collaborating with others.
The SCF_Lab is a space R&D infrastructure, built by INFN-LNF for its space research programs and AIT/AIV activities, comprising two class 10,000 (ISO 7) clean rooms, and is operational with the SCF and the SCF-G OGSEs. As of 2023, I am in charge of the ACT ITF, an infrastructure belonging to INFN-LNF and especially devoted to astrophysics and cosmology oriented tasks.
Major achievements at my current workplace (from 2014 to 2024) include, yet are not limited to:
I am a professional, energetic, and result oriented ‘early/mid-career researcher’, with a background as space laboratory scientist and data analyst. Dedicated, driven and passionate, combining practicality with robust theoretical formation, I have been a member of the SCF_Lab since 2008 (when I was firstly hired as an Undergraduate Research Assistant): I have soon become a key proponent/member of all SCF_Lab projects since then, being routinely involved in all the activities of (optical) design, testing, and modelling; I also have worked as analyst of General Relativity and space geodesy simulations and data. Continuously striving to succeed on the immediate project while working towards goals with pressurised deadlines, I manage to keep a positive, inspiring and empathetic interpersonal ability, to ensure ideas get implemented while developing and collaborating with others.
The SCF_Lab is a space R&D infrastructure, built by INFN-LNF for its space research programs and AIT/AIV activities, comprising two class 10,000 (ISO 7) clean rooms, and is operational with the SCF and the SCF-G OGSEs. As of 2023, I am in charge of the ACT ITF, an infrastructure belonging to INFN-LNF and especially devoted to astrophysics and cosmology oriented tasks.
Major achievements at my current workplace (from 2014 to 2024) include, yet are not limited to:
- INRRI for Chang’E-6 Lander: the first ‘microreflector’ array deployed on the Far Side of the Moon on the 1st June 2024.
- LaRA for Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover: the third ‘microreflector’ array deployed on Mars on the 18th February 2021.
- LaRRI for InSight Lander: the second ‘microreflector’ array deployed on Mars on the 26th November 2018.
- INRRI for ExoMars 2016 Schiaparelli Lander: the first ‘microreflector’ array deployed (crashed, actually) on Mars on the 19th October 2016.
- Project management of ‘Progetto Premiale’ LR2G, funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and aiming at assessing the optical performances of Galileo IOV laser retroreflectors against LAGEOS.
- Thermo-optical vacuum testing of IRNSS/NavIC LRA QM, and Galileo IOV laser retroreflectors.
- SOC and LOC of major international events, including, yet not limited to: European Lunar Symposia (since 2015), Experimental Gravitation Workshop (in 2020), and Channeling (in 2024).
Keywords: Astrophysics, Data Analysis, Interferometry, Laboratory Operations, Lasers, Optics, Space Qualifications.
Last Update: 1st July 2024.