Research

Our research advances the fundamental understanding and theories in the fields of dynamical systems, control, estimation, and optimization, and applies these fundamentals to spaceflight, including trajectory optimization, guidance navigation control, autonomy, and space exploration and sciences. Our main research areas are listed below.

 

Space Trajectory Optimization & Mission Design

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Any space mission with a propulsion system (e.g., chemical engine, ion engine, solar sail, etc) cannot fly without designing optimal trajectories under the action of orbit controls. [...] Read more

Relevant projects:

• Indirect forward-backward shooting for low-thrust trajectory optimization in multi-body dynamics
• An adaptive-mesh discretization method for sequential convex programming

 

Spacecraft GNC & Autonomy

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With the exponential growth in the number of satellites launched into space, developing the capability of autonomous spacecraft operation is a pressing need. [...] Read more

Relevant projects:

• Autonomous Navigation in Cislunar Space
• Safe, autonomous on-orbit satellite servicing with risk-aware 6DoF guidance
• Markov-Jump-based control for trajectory design robust to missed thrust events
• Autonomous navigation for asteroid exploration
• Autonomous Horizon-based Asteroid Navigation with Observability Enhancing Maneuvers

 

Control & Planning under Uncertainty

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Any real-world system has to operate under uncertainties; the sources of these uncertainties include robot/operator's imperfect knowledge about the state and properties of the systems, [...] Read more

Relevant projects:

• Nonlinear chance-constrained optimal control under dynamic uncertainty for safety-critical systems
• Robust on-board spacecraft guidance in cislunar space under uncertainty
• Robust NRHO station-keeping under operational uncertainties

 

Dynamical Systems in Spaceflight

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Dynamical systems in spaceflight possess unique properties that are largely different from those of ground-based systems. Deep understanding about the behaviors of these systems is crucial for [...] Read more

Relevant projects:

• Investigating non-Keplerian dynamics around Psyche

 

Space Mission Contributions

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The fundamental research we conduct at our research group is regularly applied and contributes to flight space missions in collaboration with space agencies, including [...] Read more

Relevant projects:

• Robust Solar Sail Trajectory Design for the NEA Scout Mission
• SRP-based orbit control for solar sailing with application to NEA Scout
• Investigating non-Keplerian dynamics around Psyche
• Mission design of SmallSat deep-space exploration