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Space Flight Projects Laboratory

Publications

Conference Papers

  • Ahuja, K., and Spencer, D., “Aeroacoustics of Advanced STOVL Aircraft Plumes,”
  • Arvidson, R.E., Adams, D., Bandfield, J., Barge, L., Barnes, J., Boynton, W., Christensen, P., Friedson, J., Gillespie, A., Golombek, M.P., Guinn, J., Guinness, E., Kass, D.M., Kirk, R., Knudson, A., Malin, M., McEwen, A., Mellon, M., Michaels, T., Mishkin, A., Mustard, J.F., Paige, D., Parker, T.J., Pelkey, S.M., Poulet, F., Rafkin, S., Rice, J., Seelos, K., Seelos, F, Smith, M.D., Smith, P.H., Spencer, D., Stein, T., Tamppari, L., Tyler, D., “Overview of the Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix Mission Landing Site Selection,” Seventh International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA, July 2007.
  • Bauer, N., Smith, B., Tanner, C., and Spencer, D., “Earth Entry Vehicle Impact Analysis,” Paper No. 476, 7th International Planetary Probe Workshop Proceedings, Barcelona, Spain, June 2010.
  • Betts, B., Nye, B., Greeson, E., Vaughn, J., Chute, R., Spencer, D.A., Ridenoure, R.W., Munakata, R., Wong, S.D., Diaz, A., Stetson, D.A., Foley, J.D., Bellardo, J.M., and Plante, B.A., “LightSail 1 Mission Results and Public Outreach Strategies,” 4th International Solar Sailing Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, January 2017.
  • Betts, B., Spencer, D., Nye, B., Munakata, R., Bellardo, J.M., Wong, S.D., Diaz, A., Ridenoure, R.W., Plante, B.L., Foley, J.D., Vaughn, J., “LightSail 2: Controlled Solar Sailing Using a CubeSat,” 4th International Solar Sailing Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, January 2017.
  • Bonfiglio, E., Adams, D., Craig, L., Spencer, D., Strauss, W., Seelos, F., Seelos, K., Arvidson, R., Heet, T., “Landing Site Dispersion Analysis and Statistical Assessment for the Mars Phoenix Lander,” AIAA 208-7348, AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference and Exhibit, Honolulu, HI, August 2008.
  • Braun, R., Cheatwood, F., Mase, R., Powell, R., and Spencer, D., “The Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander: A First Step Toward Precision Landing,” IAF-98-Q.3.03, 49th International Astronautical Congress, Melbourne, Australia, September-October, 1998.
  • Braun, R.D., Wright, H.S., Croom, M., Levine, J.S., Spencer, D.A., “The Mars Airplane: A Credible Science Platform,” IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, March 2004, DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2004.1367623.
  • Chait, S., and Spencer, D.A., “Prox-1: Automated Image-Based Guidance and Control for On-Orbit Inspection,” American Astronautical Society, 2014 Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Paper No. 14-066, January-February 2014.
  • Chan, B., Bauer, N., Juneau, J., Stout, S., Masuyama, K., and Spencer, D., “Recovery of In-Space CubeSat Experiments (RICE) Project,” Paper No. 423, 7th International Planetary Probe Workshop Proceedings, Barcelona, Spain, June 2010.
  • Golombek, M., Bridges, N., Briggs, G., Gilmore, M., Haldemann, A., Parker, T., Saunders, R., Spencer, D., Smith, J., Soderblom, L., Weitz, C., “Constraints, Approach and Status of the Mars Surveyor ’01 Landing Site Selection,” Abstract No. 6068, The Fifth International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA, July 1999.
  • Kallemeyn, P., Spencer, D., Vaughan, R. and Helfrich, C., “The Mars Pathfinder Navigation System,” AIAA 96-3656, AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialists Conference, San Diego, CA, July 1996.
  • Klesh, A., Angelopoulis, V., Betts, B., Biddy, C., Caron, R., Cutler, J., Desai, M., Gustafson, E., Friedman, L., Hamlin, L., Levin, S., Liewer, P., Lo, M., McComas, D., Murphy, N., Spencer, D., Staehle, R., Svitek, T., Tsudu, Y., Yen, C-W, “SolWise: Sailing on Light with Interplanetary Science and Exploration,” 26th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, August 2012.
  • Long, A., and Spencer, D., “Deployable Drag Device for Launch Vehicle Upper Stage Deorbit,” IAC-14-A6.P.82x25843, 65th International Astronautical Congress, Toronto, Canada, September 2014.
  • Long, A.C. and Spencer, D.A., “Stability of a Deployable Drag Device for Small Satellite Deorbit,” AIAA 2016-5676, AIAA SPACE 2016 Conference and Exposition, Long Beach, CA, September 2016.
  • Mase, R., Spencer, D., Smith, J., Braun, R., “Navigation Strategy for the Mars 2001 Lander Mission,” AAS 99-441, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Girdwood, AK, August 1999.
  • Nehrenz, M., and Spencer, D., “Design Considerations of the Attitude Determination and Control System for LightSail-1,” 1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and CubeSat Workshop, Rome, Italy, January 2011.
  • Okseniuk, K.J., Chait, S.B., Schulte, P.Z., and Spencer, D.A., “Prox-1: Automated Proximity Operations on an ESPA Class Platform,” SSC15-IX-4, 29th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellite, Logan, Utah, August 2015.
  • Paper No. 872358, International Powered Lift Conference and Exposition, Santa Clara, CA, December, 1987.
  • Perino, S., Cooper, D., Rosing, D., Giersch, L., Ousnamer, Z., Jamnejad, V., Spurgers, C., Redmond, M., Lobbia, M., Komarek, T., and Spencer, D., “The Evolution of the Orbiting Sample Container for a Future Mars Sample Return,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, March 2017.
  • Plante, B.A., Spencer, D.A., Betts, B., Chait, S., Bellardo, J.M., Diax, A., Pham, I., “LightSail 2 ADCS: From Simulation to Mission Readiness,” 4th International Solar Sailing Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, January 2017.
  • Ridenoure, R., Munakata, R., Diaz, A., Wong, S., Plante, B., Stetson, D., Spencer, D., and Foley, J., “LightSail Program Status: One Down, One to Go,” SSC15-V-3, 29th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellite, Logan, Utah, August 2015.
  • Ridenoure, R., Spencer, D.A., Stetson, D.A., Betts, B., Munakata, R., Wong, S.D., Diaz, A., Plante, B., Foley, J.D, and Bellardo, J.M., “Status of the Dual CubeSat LightSail Program,” AIAA SPACE 2015 Conference and Exposition, Pasadena, CA, August-September 2015.
  • Schulte, P.Z., and Spencer, D.A., “Development of an Integrated Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control Subsystem for Automated Proximity Operations,” IAC-14-C1.6.4x21108, 65th International Astronautical Congress, Toronto, Canada, September 2014.
  • Schulte, P.Z., Spencer, D.A., Smith, N.G., and McCabe, M.F., “Development of a Fault Protection Architecture Based Upon State Machines,” IAC-16-D1.IP.2x32540, 67th International Astronautical Congress, Guadalajara, Mexico, September 2016.
  • Spencer, D., Bell, J., Beutelschies, G., Mase, R., Smith, J.C., “2001 Mars Odyssey Mission Design,” AAS 01-391, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, July-August 2001.
  • Spencer, D., Blanchard, R., Braun, R., Kallemeyn, P., Peng, C-Y., and Thurman, S., “Mars Pathfinder Atmospheric Entry Reconstruction,” AAS 98-146, AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Monterey, CA, February 1998.
  • Spencer, D., Gibbs, R., Mase, R., Plaut, J., Saunders, R., “2001 Mars Odyssey Project Report,” IAC-02-Q.3.1.01, International Astronautical Congress, Houston, TX, October 2002.
  • Spencer, D., Salama, A., “Computation and Application of the TOPEX/POSEIDON Orbit Event File,” AAS 93-578, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference, Victoria, B.C., August 1993.
  • Spencer, D.A., Bauer, N., Juneau J.R., Willingham, A., Kelly, J., Nehrenz, M., McClellan, J., “SPORE Entry, Descent and Landing,” AIAA-2012-0214, 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Nashville, TN, January 2012.
  • Spencer, D.A., Bauer, N., Juneau, J.R., Kelly, J., Mandalia, A., Nehrenz, M., Willingham, A., McClellan, J., Sisco, J., “Small Probes for Orbital Return of Experiments,” AIAA-2012-0213, 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Nashville, TN, January 2012.
  • Vaughan, R., Kallemeyn, P., Spencer, D., Braun, R., “Navigation Flight Operations for Mars Pathfinder,” AAS 98-145, AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Monterey, CA, February 1998.
  • Veto, M.S., Christensen, P.R., and Spencer, D.A., “The Thermal Camera for Exploration, Science, and Imaging Spacecraft (THESIS) for the Prox-1 Microsat Mission,” Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Vol. 47, pp. 2877, March 2016.
  • Walker, L., and Spencer, D., “R3: Thermal Imaging and Rapid Feature Detection for Small Satellites,” AIAA-RS8-2010-3002, AIAA/8th Responsive Space Conference 2010, El Segundo, CA, April 2010.

Refereed Publications

  • Arvidson, R., Adams, D. Bonfiglio, G., Christensen, P., Cull, S., Golombek, M., Guinn, J., Guinness, E., Heet, T., Kirk, R., Knudson, A., Malin, M., Mellon, M., McEwen, A., Mushkin, A., Parker, T., Seelos, F., Seelos, K., Smith, P., Spencer, D., Stein, T., Tamppari, L, “Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics,” Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets,” Vol. 113, Article No. E00A03, June 19, 2008.
  • Bonfiglio, E., Adams, D., Craig, L., Spencer, D., Arvidson, R., Heet, T., “Landing Site Dispersion Analysis and Statistical Assessment for the Mars Phoenix Lander,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 48, No. 5, September-October 2011, pp. 784-797.
  • Braun, R, Spencer, D., Kallemeyn, P., and Vaughan, R., “Mars Pathfinder Atmospheric Entry Navigation Operations,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 36 Iss. 3, May-June 1999, pp. 348-356.
  • Braun, R., Wright, H., Croom, M., Levine, J., and Spencer, D., “Design of the ARES Mars Airplane and Mission Architecture,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 43 Iss. 5, September-October 2006, pp. 1026-1034.
  • Golombek, M., Anderson, R. Barnes, J., Bell, J., Bridges, N., Britt, D., Bruckner, J., Cook, R., Crisp, D., Economou, T., Folkner, W., Greeley, R., Spencer, D., et al, “Overview of the Mars Pathfinder Mission: Launch through landing, surface operations, data sets, and science results,” Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, Vol. 104, Iss. E4, 25 April 1999, pp. 8523-8553.
  • Lovell, T.A. and Spencer, D.A., “Relative Orbital Elements Formulation Based Upon the Clohessy-Wiltshire Equations,” Journal of Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 61, Iss. 4, pp. 341-366, December 2014, 10.1007/s40295-014-0029-6.
  • Ridenoure, R., Munakata, R., Diaz, A., Wong, S., Plante, B., Stetson, D., Spencer, D., and Foley, J., “The LightSail Program: Demonstrating Solar Sailing Technology Using a CubeSat Platform,” Journal of Small Satellites, Vol 5, No. 3, October 2016.
  • Saunders, R. S., Arvidson, R., Badhwar, G., Boynton, W., Christensen, P., Cucinotta, F., Gibbs, R., Kloss Jr., C., Landano, M., Mase, R., Meyer, M., Pace, G., Plaut, J., Sidney, W., McSmith, G., Spencer, D., Thompson T., and Zenith, C., “2001 Mars Odyssey Mission Summary,” Space Science Reviews, Vol. 110, pp. 1-36, 2004.
  • Schulte, P.Z. and Spencer, D.A., “Development of an Integrated Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control Subsystem for Automated Proximity Operations,” Acta Astronautica, Vol. 118, pp 168-186, Jan.-Feb. 2016, 10.1016/j.actaastro.2015.10.010.
  • Snow, A.C., Worthy, J.L., den Boer, A., Alexander, L.J., Holzinger, M.J., and Spencer, D., “Optimization of CubeSat Constellations for Uncued Electro-Optical Space Object Detection and Tracking,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 53, Iss. 3, pp. 401-419, 10.2514/1.A33386.
  • Spencer, D. and Braun, R., “Mars Pathfinder Atmospheric Entry: Trajectory Design and Dispersion Analysis,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 34 No. 2, March-April 1997.
  • Spencer, D. and Tolson, R., “Aerobraking Cost and Risk Decisions,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 44 No. 6, November-December, 2007, pp 1285-1293.
  • Spencer, D., Adams, D., Arvidson, R., Bonfiglio, E., Golombek, M., Seelos, K., “Phoenix Landing Site Hazard Assessment and Selection,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, No. 6, November-December 2009.
  • Spencer, D., Blanchard, R., Braun, R., Kallemeyn, P., Peng, C-Y., and Thurman, S., “Mars Pathfinder Entry, Descent and Landing Reconstruction,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 36 Iss. 3, May-June 1999, pp. 357-366.
  • Spencer, D.A. and Lovell, T.A., “Maneuver Design Using Relative Orbital Elements,” Journal of Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 62, Iss. 4, pp. 315-350, December 2015, 10.1007/s40295-015-0072-y.
  • Spencer, D.A., “Automated Trajectory Control Using Artificial Potential Functions to Target Relative Orbits,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 39, Iss. 9, pp. 2142-2148, 2016, 10.2514/1.G001487.
  • Spencer, D.A., Chait, S.B., Schulte, P.Z., Okseniuk, K.J., and Veto, M., “Prox-1 University-Class Mission to Demonstrate Automated Proximity Operations,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 53, Iss. 5, pp. 847-863, 10.2514/1.A33526.
  • Spencer, D.A., Gast, M.A., “Dynamics of Extra-Vehicular Activities in Low-Gravity Surface Environments,” International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 1, March 2013, pp. 11-18.
  • Vaughan, R., Kallemeyn, P., Spencer, D., Braun, R., “Navigation Flight Operations for Mars Pathfinder,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 36 Iss. 3, May-June 1999, pp. 340-347.
  • Vedie, N., Spencer, D., Walker, L., “Autonomous Ocean Current Geolocation from Orbit,” Journal of Small Satellites, Vol. 2, No. 1, July 2013.
  • Walker, S.E., Kelly, J.R., Spencer, D.A., “Link Analysis Methodology for Secondary Payloads,” Journal of Small Satellites, Vol. 2, No. 1, July 2013.

Theses

  • Spencer, D., “Automated Trajectory Control for Proximity Operations Using Relative Orbital Elements,” PhD Dissertation, Georgia Institute of Technology, May 2015.  Advisor: Dr. Robert D. Braun.
  • Spencer, D., “Multiple Lunar Encounter Trajectory Design Using a Multi-Conic Approach,” M.S. Thesis, Purdue University, December 1991.  Advisor: Dr. Kathleen C. Howell.

Opinion Editorials

  • Spencer, D., “Extending Shuttle a Setback for U.S. Space Program,” Opinion Editorial, Space News, September 14, 2010.