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Space Trajectory Computation Lab

Space Trajectory Computation Lab

Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

  • families of resonant periodic orbits at Ganymede

    Ganymede periodic orbits

  • analytical solutions to the Stark problem

    Stark

  • plate models for SRP and drag calculation

    Spacecraft shape modelling

  • families of simple planar periodic orbits at Europa

    Periodic orbits at Europa (1)

  • Halo to low altitude science orbit at Europa

    Capture at Europa from staging Halo orbits

  • interplanetary and intermoon flyby tours

    Gravity-assisted flyby tours

  • families of planar periodic orbits at Europa (2)

    Periodic orbits at Europa (2)

  • periodic orbits cycling around Lagrange points at Europa

    Europa periodic orbits

  • catalog tracking, uncertainty propagation, probability of collision

    space catalog applications

  • geopotential (left) and errors (right) using 30720 buried mascons

    Geopotential

  • spacecraft plate models for SRP and drag calculations (2)

    Spacecraft shape modelling (2)

  • Moon with exaggerated gravity field

    Moon gravity field exaggerated

  • three dimensional flybys

    geometry of three dimensional flybys

  • Halo to loose capture at Europa

    Loose capture at Europa from Halo Orbits

  • asteroid SLAM: spacecraft and body state estimation from images

    Small body SLAM

  • families of resonant periodic orbits at Ganymede

    Ganymede periodic orbits

  • analytical solutions to the Stark problem

    Stark

About

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our site.  We are a research group that solves orbital mechanics problems as they relate to space utilization and exploration.  We consist mainly of a professor, graduate students and occasional visiting scholars.  We are in the Orbital Mechanics discipline area … Read More

Research

Areas of Interest: Spaceflight mechanics / Astrodynamics; Optimal control / Optimization / Numerical methods; Orbit determination; Multi-body dynamics; Periodic orbits and general orbit stability (high-fidelity repeat ground track design, constellation design, cyclers, planetary … Read More

Lab News

Summer 2023: Congrats to Shubam Singh for completing the PhD!  Shubham works for Shift Robotics in Austin. Summer 2022: Congrats to David Ottesen and Sean McArdle for completing their PhDs!  Sean works as a civil servant at NASA JSC, and David works for Leo Labs in CA.   … Read More

RSS NASA Image of the Day

  • Turning Vanes inside the Altitude Wind Tunnel
    In this February 1944 publicity photo, men stand in front of turning vanes inside the Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory. The AWT was the only wind tunnel capable of testing full-size aircraft engines in simulated altitude conditions. A large wooden drive fan, located on the […]

RSS SpaceNews

  • Webinar: Competing with the (Space)X Factor March 28, 2025
    Join us on April 16 for a timely discussion on those challenging Starlink and the push for multi-orbit and multi-operator solutions. The post Webinar: Competing with the (Space)X Factor appeared first on SpaceNews.

RSS NASA

  • Visiting Mars on the Way to the Outer Solar System March 28, 2025
    Written by Roger Wiens, Principal Investigator, SuperCam instrument / Co-Investigator, SHERLOC instrument at Purdue University Recently Mars has had a few Earthly visitors. On March 1, NASA’s Europa Clipper flew within 550 miles (884 kilometers) of the Red Planet’s surface on its way out to Jupiter. On March 12, the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft […]

CONTACT

Email: ryan.russell@utexas.edu

Phone: (512) 471-4190

© Ryan P. Russell 2017

Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

Cockrell School of Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

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