Dr. Edgar Lightsey

Professor

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Biography

Edgar Glenn Lightsey is the John W. Young Endowed Chair Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. He serves on the chair executive committee for the Space Research Initiative from 2023 to 2025. His previous roles include Director of the Space Systems Design Lab from 2016-2023 and Director of the Center for Space Technology Research at Georgia Tech from 2019-2023. Dr. Lightsey specializes in technology for small satellites, including guidance, control systems, attitude determination and control, radio systems, propulsion, spacecraft operations, and space systems engineering. His research group has built and operated spacecraft flight hardware, supported by various sponsors. He has co-authored more than 200 technical articles, publications, four book chapters, and holds several patents. He is an AIAA Fellow and a founding member of the AIAA Small Satellite Technical Committee, and has served as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Small Satellites, and as Associate Editor for both the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics and the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. Prior to Georgia Tech, he was employed at the University of Texas at Austin and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Research Interests

Awards

#2019

AIAA Mechanics Control Flight Award

#2016

AIAA Fellow

#

Univ. Texas Academy Distinguished Teachers

#2012

John Leland Atwood Award Outstanding Teaching in Aerospace Engineering

#2005

Institute of Tycho Brahe Award

#2004

Big XII Faculty Fellow

#2000

Halliburton Young Faculty Excellence Award

#1999

NASA Manned Flight Awareness Award

Requirements for Georgia Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:19
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:19
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:5.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in computer science or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.