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About

Daniel A. Herman is a prominent aerospace engineer and propulsion researcher whose work has significantly advanced NASA's electric propulsion capabilities for deep space exploration. His research centers on high-power Hall effect thrusters, ion propulsion systems, and solar electric propulsion (SEP) technologies — fields critical to humanity's ambitions for robotic and crewed missions beyond Earth orbit. Herman has played a pivotal role in developing propulsion systems for some of NASA's most ambitious mission concepts. His work on the 12.5 kW Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS), cited 47 times, demonstrated breakthrough thruster longevity and efficiency through innovative magnetic shielding techniques. He has been a key contributor to the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission's propulsion architecture and led development efforts for the 14 kW Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS), which represents NASA's next generation of high-power in-space propulsion. Beyond hardware development, Herman has addressed practical mission challenges such as large-scale xenon propellant acquisition strategies, reflecting a systems-level understanding of electric propulsion deployment. His cumulative body of work has helped establish the technical foundation for future solar electric propulsion missions, making him a central figure in transitioning high-power electric propulsion from laboratory concept to flight reality.