Luis Mendoza Zambrano

Dr. Luis Mendoza is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Physical Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach Campus. He teaches undergraduate courses in physics and aerospace engineering, including Physics II for Engineers and Space Mechanics.

Mendoza earned both his Ph.D. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle and holds bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida.

His research focuses on astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and nonlinear control theory. His work includes adaptive control applications and the development of computational methods using the Theory of Functional Connections (TFC) for trajectory design. He has applied these methods to solar-sail trajectory design, spacecraft guidance using higher-fidelity ephemeris models and orbital dynamics within the circular restricted three-body problem.

Mendoza is currently investigating the use of TFC for lunar rover guidance, with a focus on operations subject to inequality constraints.

Outside the classroom and laboratory, Mendoza enjoys scuba diving, running and playing soccer.

Journal Publications

3. A. Richichi, O. Fors, D. Canales, K. Patel, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, R. Bevilacqua, S. Eikenberry, and J. M. Gómez, “Lunar occultations events from the Earth–Moon equilateral Lagrangian point: simulations and scientific potential,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 527, November 2023, pp. 6616–6623, doi:10.1093/mnras/stad3473.

2. K. Patel, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, D. Canales, R. Bevilacqua, S. Eikenberry, O. Fors, J. M. Gómez, and A. Richichi, “Controlled short-period orbits around Earth–Moon equilateral libration points for lunar occultations,” Acta Astronautica, Vol. 211, October 2023, pp. 781–794, doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.07.015.

1. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano and R. Bevilacqua, “Solar sailing adaptive control using integral concurrent learning for solar flux estimation,” Acta Astronautica, Vol. 213, December 2023, pp. 408–417, doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.09.025.

Engineering Notes

1. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, R. Bevilacqua, D. Canales, O. Fors, A. Aran, J. M. Gómez, and A. Richichi,  “Solar sailing periodic orbits around the Earth–Moon L₄ for stellar observations,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Article in Advance, November 2025, doi:10.2514/1.G009112.

Conference Proceedings

10. S. G. Jo, C. Waldecker, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, R. Schmitt, J. Schmitt, D. Cordoba Paez, and D. Canales, “Optimal computer vision-based spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations in the cislunar region”, AIAA SCITECH 2026 Forum, Orlando, 2026, Paper No. AIAA-2026-2200. doi:10.2514/6.2026-2200.

9. F. Criscola, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, R. Bevilacqua, A. Farres, and D. Canales, “Study of L₄ quasi-periodic tori and their stability for solar coronography”, International Astronautical Congress, Sydney, Australia, 2025, Paper No. IAC–25–C.1.10.7. doi:10.52202/083087-0087.

8. F. Criscola, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, R. Bevilacqua, A. Aran, S. Eikenberry, O. Fors, J. M. Gómez, A. Farres, and D. Canales, “Mission concept for the study of cislunar space weather and lunar occultations from stable Earth-Moon L₄ orbits”, International Astronautical Congress, Sydney, Australia, 2025, Paper No. IAC–25–B.4.2.6. doi:10.52202/083084-0011.  

7. S. G. Jo, R. Schmitt, L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, C. Waldecker, J. Schmitt, and D. Canales, “Spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations using computer vision and SE(3) dynamics”, International Astronautical Congress, Sydney, Australia, 2025, Paper No. IAC–25–C.1.IPB.2. doi:10.52202/083087-0136

6. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, N. Woodward, R. Bevilacqua, D. Canales, O. Fors, A. Aran, J. M. Gómez, “Solar sailing orbit-attitude control on TSE(3) using integral concurrent learning for online parameter estimation”, 7^th International Symposium on Space Sailing (ISSS 2025), Delft, The Netherlands, 30 June – 4 July 2025.

5. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, D. Canales, R. Bevilacqua, S. Eikenberry, O. Fors, A. Aran, J. M. Gómez, A. Richichi, and E. Georgoulis, “Solar sailing periodic orbits around Earth-Moon libration point L₄ for lunar occultations”, American Astronautical Society Conference: Flight Space Mechanics Meeting, Kauai, HI, 2025, Paper No. AAS 25-445.

4. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, N. Woodward, R. Bevilacqua, D. Canales, A. Richichi, J. M Gómez, O. Fors, A. Aran, S. Eikenberry, and E. Georgoulis, “Fuel-optimal trajectories of the perturbed circular restricted three-body problem for lunar occultations”, International Astronautical Congress, Milan, Italy, 2024, Paper No. IAC-24-C1.4.7. doi:10.52202/078368-0035.

3. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano, F. Criscola, D. Canales, R. Bevilacqua, S. Eikenberry, O. Fors, J. M. Gómez, and A. Richichi, “Feedback control methods on short period orbits of the Earth-Moon equilateral libration points”, American Astronautical Society Conference: Flight Space Mechanics Meeting, Big Sky, MT, 2023, Paper No. AAS 23-334.

2. L. E. Mendoza Zambrano and R. Bevilacqua, “Solar sailing adaptive control using integral concurrent learning for solar flux estimation”, American Astronautical Society Conference: Flight Space Mechanics Meeting, Austin, TX, 2023, Paper No. AAS 23-146.

1. M.J. Traum and L.E. Mendoza Zambrano, “A fluids experiment for remote learners to test the unsteady Bernoulli equation using a burette”, International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Online Meeting, 2021, Paper No. IMECE2021-70018, doi:10.1115/IMECE2021-70018.