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Meet the team

Carlota Keimer

Hypatia III: Backup, Engineer

Pilot trainee and B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering, M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, currently Satellite Operations Trainee at Redwire Space, testing European Space Agency’s ALTIUS satellite.

Carlota Keimer is a Satellite Operations Engineer Trainee at Redwire Space in Belgium, testing European Space Agency’s ALTIUS satellite, a mission dedicated to study the Ozone Layer with an innovative payload to be launched in 2027. A pilot trainee, she was selected for ESA’s Clean Space Training in 2024. She holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Girona, where she earned a scholarship that enabled her to pursue an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (Germany). She also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management with distinction. Passionate about space and the environment, she has volunteered in conservation projects in Australia and New Zealand and organized aerospace events through EUROAVIA. A Femtec graduate awarded the German Femtec Career Building Scholarship, she actively supports women in STEM and has written on aerospace innovations for Espai Media since 2024. She enjoys travelling and hiking, including mountains up to 5,000 meters. 


Research projects

Engineering

Building on Mars: designing habitats with regolith-based materials Project

This project explores the development of a Martian regolith simulant clay-like construction material and a comparison of its structural properties with those of  Earth concrete. The objective is to assess the practicability of regolith-based construction for Martian habitats. Aside from the science experiment, the project also has an outreach component that inspires students and the public to do the simplified experiment at home and participate in a “Design Your Mars Habitat” 3D modeling contest using real planetary data. This two-way project furthers scientific research while teaching and involving potential explorers and engineers.

Human Factors

Simulating reduced gravity through 6° inclined sleep

Mars has about 38% of Earth’s gravity, causing reduced but significant effects on the human body, including fluid shifts, sleep disruption, and cognitive changes. The project discusses how sleeping with a tilted position can model some of the body’s responses to reduced gravity. The subjects are to sleep with a 6° head-down tilt (HDT), a method used in bed rest studies for mimicking fluid shifts and physiological responses similar to microgravity. Results would be compared to individuals sleeping in the supine position. It aims to assess sleep quality, cognitive function, and changes in well-being, while increasing public awareness on the effects of spaceflight on the human body.

Outreach and communication

Letters from the Moon: Lessons from Astronauts for Everyday Human Growth

This book explores the intensive training and everyday life experiences of analog astronauts. Psychological resilience, mental health, teamwork, adaptability and coping with isolation are major themes. Drawing on theories such as Stoicism and Cognitive Behavioral Strategies, it explores how people develop mental resilience and cope with extreme environments. Through diary and mission records, and interviews with professional astronauts, the book provides an intimate, day-by-day look at coping with stress, conflict, adaptability and teamwork in high-pressure situations. Combining personal testimonies with findings from psychology, it distills techniques applicable by anyone to stay afloat despite adversity, to improve teamwork, and build resilience in daily life.