Daniel R. Wibben
Papers
1
Total Citations
88
H-Index
1
About
Daniel R. Wibben is a leading aerospace engineer specializing in flight dynamics, navigation, and trajectory design for deep-space missions. His most prominent contribution is his foundational work on the OSIRIS-REx mission, where he played a key role in developing the flight dynamics and navigation architecture that enabled the spacecraft to rendezvous with, map, and sample the asteroid Bennu. His 2018 paper on this subject, cited 88 times, is considered a cornerstone reference for interplanetary navigation, detailing the complex orbital mechanics and precision maneuvers required for asteroid operations. Wibben’s expertise extends to autonomous navigation systems and low-thrust trajectory optimization, with his research directly impacting NASA’s ability to execute high-stakes planetary encounters. His work has been instrumental in advancing the field of small-body exploration, and his methods are now applied to future missions like the Artemis program and asteroid deflection studies. Through his rigorous analytical frameworks and practical engineering solutions, Wibben has helped transform the theoretical challenges of deep-space navigation into achievable mission successes, solidifying his reputation as a key figure in modern astrodynamics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1OSIRIS-REx Flight Dynamics and Navigation Design88 citations · 2018