B.E. MacNeal
Papers
3
Total Citations
12
H-Index
2
About
B.E. MacNeal is a leading voice in deep space communications infrastructure, whose work directly shapes NASA’s strategic planning for interplanetary connectivity. Her research centers on the capacity, architecture, and operational evolution of the Deep Space Network (DSN), with a particular focus on integrating hybrid radio frequency (RF) and free space optical (FSO) systems. MacNeal’s most influential paper, “Recommendations Emerging from an Analysis of NASA’s Deep Space Communications Capacity” (2019, 7 citations), provides critical guidance for managing growing data demands from future missions. She further advanced the field through her technology demonstration analysis in “Architectural and operational considerations emerging from hybrid RF-optical network loading simulations” (2016, 3 citations), which lays the groundwork for operational optical communications at interplanetary distances—a key enabler for both robotic and potential human exploration. Her most recent work, “Future Deep Space Mission Communications Trends and Their Implications for NASA’s Deep Space Network” (2024, 2 citations), continues to inform DSN modernization. MacNeal’s contributions are vital for ensuring that NASA’s communication backbone can support the ambitious science and exploration goals of the coming decades.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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