Afonso Mesquita

Graduate Student

amesquita@caltech.edu

Afonso Mesquita is a graduate student specializing in ultra-thin composite material behavior and testing. He joined the Space Structures Lab in 2024 after receiving his Master of Science from Caltech in Space Engineering and his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon in Portugal in 2023.

 At Técnico, Afonso received the ULisboa Merit Scholarship as the top student in his program and served as Financial Director of JUNITEC, Portugal’s leading Junior Enterprise and a multi-time European Junior Enterprise of the Year. He also led a pioneering innovation program for university students and established a broadly recognized incubation framework that supported the launch of several startups.

 Prior to joining Caltech, Afonso worked at CEiiA, Portugal’s Centre of Engineering and Product Development. He conducted multivariable optimization simulations to find a stiffer, lighter, and more resistant solution for the kick-stage of RFA ONE, a small-lift multistage launch vehicle manufactured by the German company RFA. During his undergraduate studies, Afonso also worked with GFRP for civil engineering structures under the formulation of the 2nd generation of Eurocodes. 

 His current work involves developing a novel testing platform to study the mechanics of ultra-thin composite shells under complex loading conditions.