ANTONIETTA CONTE

Head of Propulsion Engineering @D-Orbit
Expert @European Commission
^{Forbes 30 Under 30}

Head of Propulsion Engineering at D-Orbit, I lead an international team delivering propulsion projects from initial concept to operational missions. My experience encompasses research, innovation, and EU funding strategy; previously working at Intesa Sanpaolo on space economy initiatives and serving as an Expert for the European Commission.Across my career, I have contributed to research and technology development, spanning design, analysis, and testing, and held positions at the European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where I also contributed to potential and proposed NASA missions.I hold a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Torino and am committed to professional development through ongoing and completed courses and programs at institutions such as Collège des Ingénieurs Italia, The Wharton School, the European Centre for Space Law.With over nine years of cross-sector experience in technology, finance, and strategy, I am dedicated to advancing innovation and driving impact within the global space economy.

Experience

Education

Publications and Technical Contributions

Selected Honours

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Offering lectures, advisory contributions, and research-based perspectives that support organizations in exploring innovation, technology, and strategic trends.

Highlights

A selection of media mentions and articles featuring my professional journey.

Honours^Awards
1. Forbes Under 30 - Science, Forbes Italia, 2022.
2. Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe - Science & Healthcare, Forbes International, 2021.
3. NASA Engineering and Safety Centre (NESC) Group Achievement Award -Recognition of Outstanding Accomplishment for Contribution to Success of NESC Mission, 10/2019.
4. NASA Engineering and Safety Centre (NESC) Acknowledgement - Outstanding Technical Support and Commitment Provided, 3/2019.
5. Pegasus Award, Partnership of a European Group of Aeronautics and Space Universities (PEGASUS) - Award for Special Achievement through Working Abroad, 07/2017.^{Grants & Fellowships}
1. Italian Embassy Sponsorship: Travel grant for participation in the panel "Latvia as a Space Industry Power?" at the Sarunu Festival LAMPA, Cēsis, Latvia, 2024.
2. Invited Lecturer Grant, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2024.
3. Full-tuition Innovation Fellowship, Collège des Ingénieurs - Politecnico di Torino – CERN Ideasquare, Amount: Fully Sponsored Impact Innovation Program - Project: Technology transfer to developing countries: barriers and challenges, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), 2019.
4. SCUDO Ordinary Position: Fully-funded PhD position with own research topic, Politecnico di Torino, 2018.
5. Caltech Research Scholar Grant, California Institute of Technology, 2017.
6. International Mobility Fellowship (Extra-EU Destination), Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) - Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo - Politecnico di Torino, 2016.
7. Internship Grant, European Space Agency, 2016.

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Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Aerospace Engineering (Propulsion Engineering)
Politecnico di Torino
^{2017 - 2014}

Master of Science - MS, Aerospace Engineering (Space Engineering)
Politecnico di Torino
^{2017 - 2014}

Bachelor of Science - BS, Aerospace Engineering
Politecnico di Torino
^{2014 - 2011}

Professional Development Programs

Specialization Program, Business and Financial Modeling
The Warthon School
^{2024 - Present}

EIC Accelerator 2024 | 2025 | 2026 - Remote Evaluation of Short Application course
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
^{2024 - 2025}

Space Economy, Space Sustainability and New Frontiers Workshop, ESA’s Space Economy Ecosystem Program
SDA Bocconi
²⁰²³

Masterclass - Space and Sustainability: the role of Space in 2030 Agenda, ESA’s Space Economy Ecosystem Program
SDA Bocconi
²⁰²³

Collaborative Innovation Programme, Impact Innovation
Politecnico di Torino, Collège des Ingénieurs Italia, CERN IdeaSquare
²⁰¹⁹

Executive Course on Space Law and Regulations
European Centre for Space Law
²⁰¹⁹

^{Send me a message to receive my full CV:}

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Head of Group - Propulsion Engineering
D-Orbit
^{2024 - Present}

Expert - EIC ACCELERATOR
European Commission
^{2024 - Present}

Senior Associate - R&I and European Funds Advisory (Space Economy)
Intesa Sanpaolo
^{2023 - Present}

Research Fellow/ PhD Candidate/ Adjunct Lecturer & Co-Supervisor - Propulsion Engineering
Politecnico di Torino
^{2018 - 2022}

PhD Secondment/ Research Scholar/ Intern - Propulsion, Thermal and Material Engineering
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
^{2016 - 2018 | 2020 - 2021}

Intern - Propulsion, Flight Vehicles and Aerothermodynamics Engineering
European Space Research and Technology Centre
²⁰¹⁶

Student Trainee - Team DIANA
Politecnico di Torino
^{2014 - 2015}

^{Send me a message to receive my full CV:}

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Publications
^{Refereed Journal Articles}
1. A. Conte, G. Gedda, S. Lerda, F. Masseni, S. Biamino, A. Ferrero, G. Marchese, D. Pastrone, Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Different Internal Surface Features on Additive-Manufactured Resonant Igniters Performance, Acta Astronautica 218, 290-297, 2024.
2. A. Ferrero, A. Conte, E. Martelli, F. Nasuti, D. Pastrone, Dual-bell nozzle with fluidic control of transition for space launchers, Acta Astronautica 193, 130-137, 2022.
3. A. Conte, A. Ferrero, D. Pastrone, Numerical investigation for performance prediction of gas dynamic resonant igniters, Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science 7 (5), 425-440, 2020.
4. F. Collarin, A. Conte, F. Marasca, L. Mascolo, L. Massa, F. Mutti, M.T. Sposato, Simple, affordable evaporative cooler to reduce food loss in developing countries, CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation 3, (2), 2019.^Patents
1. C. Karp, E. Jens, J. Rabinovitch, B. Nakazono, A. Conte, SmallSat hybrid propulsion system, US Patent 11,578,682, 2023.Conference Proceedings
1. A. Ferrero, A. Conte, E. Martelli, F. Nasuti, D. Pastrone, V. Roma, Parametric study of transition fluidic control in a dual-bell nozzle, 9th European Conference for Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences, 2022.
2. A. Ferrero, A. Conte, E. Martelli, F. Nasuti, D. Pastrone, Dual-bell nozzle for space launchers with fluidic control of transition, AIAA Propulsion and Energy 2021 Forum, 2021.
3. A. Conte, A. Ferrero, D. Pastrone, Preliminary study of a resonant igniter for Rocket Engines, AIP Conference Proceedings 2293 (1), 200007, 2020.
4. A. Conte, A. Ferrero, D. Pastrone, Numerical Tool Optimization for Advanced Rocket Nozzle Performance Prediction, AIAA Propulsion and Energy 2019 Forum, 2019.
5. A. Conte, J. Rabinovick, E. T. Jens, A. C. Karp, B. Nakazono, D. Vaughan, Design, Modeling and Testing of a O2/CH4 igniter for Hybrid Rocket Motors, 48th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference, 2018.
6. E. T. Jens, A. C. Karp, J. Rabinovitch, A. Conte, B. Nakazono, D. A. Vaughan, Design of Interplanetary Hybrid CubeSat and SmallSat Propulsion Systems, 2018 Joint Propulsion Conference, 2018.
7. J. Rabinovick, E. T. Jens, A. C. Karp, B. Nakazono, A. Conte, D. Vaughan, Characterization of PolyMethylMethAcrylate as a Fuel for Hybrid Rocket Motors, 2018 Joint Propulsion Conference, 2018.
8. A. Conte, S. Contadin, A. C. Karp, E. T. Jens, D. Vaughan, D. G. Pastrone. CFD Simulation of Hybrid Rocket Motors for Interplanetary CubeSats, 7th European Conference for Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences, 2017.
9. S. Contadin, A. Conte, A. C. Karp, E. T. Jens, D. Vaughan, D. G. Pastrone. Thermal analysis of a hybrid rocket propulsion system for interplanetary CubeSats, 7th European Conference for Aeronautics and Aerospace Sciences, 2017.
10. E. T. Jens, A. C. Karp, S. Contadin, A. Conte, B. Nakazono, D. Vaughan, Development Testing of Hybrid Rocket Motors Using Classical Fuels for Interplanetary CubeSats, 53rd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, 2017.Technical Reports
1. Italian Space Economy and Financial Sustainability, Intesa Sanpaolo, Contribution, 2024.
2. Re-Architecting the NASA Wire Derating Approach for Space Flight Applications, Ch. 7.5.6 Oil Bath Testing to Determine 𝑅𝐿0 and α – Full Chapter, NASA/TM-2018-220114, NESC-RP-17-01264.
3. A. Conte, CFD Simulation of Hybrid Rocket Motors for Interplanetary CubeSats, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Internship Final Report, 2017.
4. A. Conte, Final Report, ESA - European Space Research and Technology Center, Internship Final Report, 2016.
5. Final report of the Assessment of Airborne Launch of Spacecraft Constellation, Ch. 05 Aerothermodynamics - Contribution, CDF, ESA-ESTEC, 2016.Workshops Presentations
1. “Europa Lander Plume-Induced Contamination: DSMC Modeling of Monopropellant Plume Testing”, Pre-RGD32 Online Workshop on Recent Hot Topics in Rarefied Gas Dynamics, 2021, online.

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Presentations
^{Invited talks}
1. "Latvia as a space industry power?", Panelist, 2024 Sarunu Festival LAMPA, Cēsis, LV, 2024
2. “Advanced Concepts for Rocket Engine Applications”, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 2024.^{Campus talks}
1. “Europa Lander Plume-Induced Contamination: DSMC Modeling of Monopropellant Plume Testing”, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, 2021.
2. “CFD analysis of hybrid rocket motors for interplanetary CubeSats”, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, 2017.^{STEM Education & Outreach}
1. D-Orbit Seminar: The Company at a Glance and Opportunities for Master SPICES Students, Università di Bologna, 2025.
2. Talk: Innovative Technologies for Space Exploration, SEDS Italy Poliba, 2022.
3. “Introduction to space systems and missions”, Middle School Project, Istituto Comprensio “Ugo Foscolo” - Torino, 2020

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professional services

Professional & Educational ServicesOver the years, I have collaborated with a variety of organizations, sharing my experience through lectures and testimonials tailored to diverse audiences, including high-level management. Since 2023, I have delivered sessions for clients such as Zoppas Industries, Rinascente, Signify, Atradius, and Nokia through Randstad HR Solutions S.r.l., focusing on themes like innovation, science, technology, women in science, and future trends.My speaking engagements include invited talks such as participating as a panelist at the Sarunu Festival LAMPA in Latvia in 2024, where I contributed to discussions about Latvia’s evolving space industry, and presenting advanced concepts for rocket engine applications at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.I also actively support STEM education and outreach, having delivered seminars for Master SPICES students at the Università di Bologna as part of my work with D-Orbit, given talks for the student branch of SEDS Italy at Poliba, and engaged middle school students at the Istituto Comprensivo "Ugo Foscolo" in Torino, aiming to make space science accessible and exciting for the next generation.My commitment to innovation led me to join a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) initiative centered on technology transfer for developing countries. As a co-author, I contributed to a publication that details the project’s outcomes and insights.I continue to mentor and advise others in my field. I have worked as reviewer for the Journal of Propulsion and Power, and I am a member of the Advisory Council for Harvard Business Review, where I provide perspectives that shape HBR’s content and future direction. As a mentor in the AIAA Mentor Match Program, I have guided emerging aerospace professionals. My advisory support extends to early-stage startups, such as Re Learn and Astradyne, helping them with business planning, funding strategies, and social impact. We engaging with incubation and acceleration programs like the MYllennium Award, ESA BIC Torino, and Leonardo–LVenture BIF.

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highlights

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