Brian Sutter
Papers
1
Total Citations
10
H-Index
1
About
Brian Sutter is a leading aerospace engineer whose work has been instrumental in advancing asteroid sample-return missions. His primary research areas include mission design, trajectory optimization, and autonomous navigation for deep-space exploration. Sutter is best known for his pivotal role in the OSIRIS-REx mission, where he served as the lead for the Touch-and-Go (TAG) sample collection design. His 2014 paper, "OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go (TAG) Mission Design for Asteroid Sample Collection," has garnered over 10 citations and laid the critical groundwork for safely navigating a spacecraft to the surface of asteroid Bennu, collecting a sample, and returning it to Earth. This work directly enabled one of NASA's most complex and successful robotic missions, which returned pristine asteroid material in 2023. Sutter’s contributions to precision navigation and hazard avoidance have set new standards for future small-body exploration. His achievements highlight the intersection of rigorous engineering and bold scientific ambition, inspiring students and researchers in planetary science and spaceflight mechanics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go (TAG) Mission Design for Asteroid Sample Collection10 citations · 2014