A journey of knowledge: odyssey of a doctoral thesis on space debris

Since I was a child, I have been drawn to trying to understand how our universe works: from the most basic and everyday things to the more complex ideas and intricacies of science fiction. During my years at university, I dived into research across various fields until I came across space debris. My eagerness to learn more led me to seek opportunities to continue researching, and the project was selected by the Community of Madrid for an industrial doctorate. This type of doctorate is conceived as way to enhance collaboration between industry—GMV—and academia—Carlos III University of Madrid, UC3M. On the one hand, industry is well-acquainted with the problems and challenges society faces, and on the other, academia possesses the knowledge and creativity to tackle new challenges. In this case, we are addressing how to use the space environment sustainably. However, in this article, I would like to share my experience after completing a doctoral thesis from a personal perspective, setting aside the equations and graphs that depict the alarming growth of space debris.

The doctorate has not been a supplementary endeavor to my work at GMV, rather, it has been my full-time job for almost five years. I stress this because I am often asked by someone generally unfamiliar with academia: “Besides working on the thesis, do you have a job?” Unfortunately, a sizeable part of society fails to fully comprehend the sacrifices that scientific work entails, the dedication it requires, and how crucial it is to continue supporting it. It is a task that requires a great deal of motivation. You could say that a doctoral thesis is divided into three steps. First, you identify an existing problem that there is a desire to solve or an unknown phenomenon to be understood. Second, you thoroughly study the related field of knowledge. Third, you conduct research for years to expand the scope of knowledge.

All of this requires considerable effort, as a doctorate is usually a personal project where you often feel lost and alone in the abyss. Mental health issues among doctoral students are a reality, from balancing work and personal life to the stress and uncertainty we face. In my case, I have been fortunate to have two wonderful mentors on each side (academia and business), an excellent group of colleagues at GMV, and, especially, outstanding support from my partner, friends, and family. This positive environment has allowed me to enjoy the process, even amidst a pandemic. 

In spite of these difficulties and the more negative aspects, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the positive points. Working on your own project provides the freedom to explore new ideas and brings great satisfaction when you successfully solve a problem. The scientific approach allows you to delve into the basics and achieve advanced technical knowledge. I have also had the opportunity to attend many international scientific conferences (Bremen, Munich, Logroño, Maui, Houston, etc.) to learn firsthand about what the community is working on and to make my contribution by presenting the results of my thesis. Beyond traveling, which is also interesting, being able to have coffee (or beers) with people working on the subject from different perspectives is very enriching. 

As I am fortunate to work in what I am passionate about, I also enjoy popularizing science and bringing my work to the general public. Using the space environment sustainably is one of the big problems that humans have created. So it is our responsibility to work on resolving it. A month ago, I received the news that the ENAIRE Foundation selected my thesis for the 28th Aeronautical Awards in the space category. I am proud that my work is being recognized and that visibility is being given to the issue of space debris. I hope that this recognition helps young talents become interested in the topic, and perhaps, who knows, decide to venture into a doctorate.

Author: Alejandro Pastor