New findings recently published by researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University could significantly impact methods for controlling flight of vehicles in space.

Researchers collaborating with Dr. Morad Nazari in his Dynamics and Control Systems Laboratory have published their work in two different journals, Acta Astronautica and Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications. Both journal articles listed as first author Dr. Brennan McCann, who received his Ph.D. from Embry-Riddle in December 2023 and is currently at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Referring to the Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications article, McCann said: “This has many potential applications, including spacecraft path planning, guidance and trajectory optimization. We have applied these techniques to such scenarios in other conference papers, but this journal article lays the mathematical foundations needed for such developments.”

Dr. Morad Nazari, associate professor of aerospace engineering, said the research, titled “Numerical approaches for constrained and unconstrained static optimization of the special Euclidean group,” could even have applications beyond space operations, with potential advances in other areas, including underwater vehicles and autonomous systems.

Nazari said the research, published in Acta Astronautica, titled “Mass Property Estimation on TSE(3) via Unscented Kalman Filter Using RCS Thrusters,” offers a “practical” solution to another major challenge in space missions – estimating the mass properties of spacecraft. Embry-Riddle graduate student Matthew Wittal, who is based at the Kennedy Space Center, is also an author of the Acta Astronautica paper.

“This leads to more precise and reliable estimates,” said Nazari. “Accurate estimation of mass properties is critical for several aspects of spacecraft operations, including stability, control and fuel efficiency.”

Such estimates are particularly important when the mass properties of a spacecraft change due to cargo distribution, such as when a vehicle undocks from the International Space Station, a spacecraft picks up space debris, or when the OSIRIS-REx mission receives a sample from the asteroid Bennu.

“The ability to provide an accurate estimate of the mass properties of a spacecraft whose mass properties may change during space operations can be useful in a variety of scenarios,” said Marco Fagetti, a PhD student who is listed as an author of the paper in Acta Astronautica. “If these changes are significant enough, they can have serious implications for the vehicle’s motion and safety and the overall success of the mission.”

Fagetti expressed great enthusiasm for the research.

“This research serves as a valuable foundation for many interesting future research approaches and applications for operations in space,” he said. “It is very exciting to observe and contribute to the progress of research from theoretical simulations to practical application one day in the future.”

Dr. Jeremy Ernst, vice president of research and doctoral programs at Embry-Riddle, praised the value of research – for space missions and students.

“The publications of Dr. Nazari and his team demonstrate the research contributions of our institution and their potential use in space missions,” said Ernst. “These are the types of high-impact research opportunities we hope to provide to Embry-Riddle students.”

Posted in: Technology | Research | Space