Kathleen Howell

Howell's research focuses on the areas of spacecraft trajectory design and optimization as well as maneuver strategies for transfers and on-orbit operations. She is best known for trajectory design and analysis in multi-body dynamical environments. She is a fellow of the American Astronautical Society; she continues active involvement with the AAS, AIAA, and the Astrodynamics Committee of the International Astronautical Federation.

She obtained her BS degree from Iowa State, and her master's and doctoral degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering both came from Stanford University. After working for Proctor and Gamble Manufacturing Co., she moved to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and subsequently joined Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.