ESPL is an interdisciplinary space research group that brings together scholars from the applied and social sciences. We welcome individuals with experience or demonstrated interest in areas like astrodynamics, space systems engineering, computer science, data analysis and visualization, public policy, international relations, and law, among others.
Prof. Thomas González Roberts
Director, Engineering Space Policy Laboratory
Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Assistant Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering
Biography
Thomas González Roberts is the Director of the Engineering Space Policy Laboratory and an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Using tools from observational astronomy and computational astrodynamics, Prof. Roberts studies the behavior of Earth-orbiting satellites to understand how space actors engage with outer space governance. His research interests include international coordination, sustainability, and security in space. Prof. Roberts’ work has been supported by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation, and earned recognition with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Prize for Open Data, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy’s Prize for Innovation in Global Security, and a placement on Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Science list. He holds a PhD and SM in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, an SM in technology and policy from MIT, and a BA in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University.
Learn more about Prof. Roberts on his homepage →
Schedule (Fall 2025)
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:30–11:00 am (Habersham 305)
Where is Prof. Roberts?
Lab Members
Meet the talented students contributing to active projects within the lab this term.