Spacecraft and rocket propulsion, propellants and energetics, spacecraft environments and operations, and general applications of plasma chemistry
Multimode spacecraft propulsion is the availability of two separate propulsive modes, high-thrust chemical and high-efficiency electric, on a single spacecraft using a single, shared propellant. Our group’s current focus is on understanding how propellant selection affects thruster and system level performance and, ultimately, how to develop and optimize propellants for use in a multimode system.
Despite numerous advantages for spaceflight applications, so called VLEO (80-250 km) is inaccessible due to the high-drag environment. Our group’s current focus is on understanding fundamental gas- and plasma-surface interactions relevant to spaceflight and propulsion in VLEO and key to unlocking this flight regime.
Funded Projects:
“Data Driven Engineering for VLEO Spacecraft Aerodynamic Performance Enhancement,” DARPA Young Faculty Award, 2024-2026
There have been numerous advancements in spaceflight since the 1960s, but largely the same rocket propellants used in the past are still in use today. Our lab is pursuing efforts that aid in the design, synthesis, and testing of novel propellants that will lead to improvements in performance, stability, and cost, including reduced hazards, alleviation of system design pain points, and new capabilities.
Funded Projects:
“Lunar Missions Enabled by Chemical-Electrospray Propulsion,” NASA Small Satellite Technology Partnerships, 2024-2025
Fundamental research is needed to identify viable pathways to develop technologies which enable fast solar system and interstellar flight. These technologies will involve new physics and/or use of energy sources difficult to harness and may not be fully realizable until 50-100 years from now. Our group is pursuing early-stage research involving nuclear, antimatter, and other exotic energy sources for propulsion and other future spaceflight concepts.