Michael B. Meacham
Papers
1
Total Citations
9
H-Index
1
About
Michael B. Meacham is a leading researcher in supersonic aerodynamic decelerators and entry, descent, and landing (EDL) systems for planetary exploration. His major contributions center on advancing the testing and deployment of Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators (SIADs), which are critical for enabling larger payloads to land on Mars and other planetary bodies. Recognizing the limitations of traditional wind tunnel testing, Meacham pioneered the use of rocket sled propulsion to evaluate SIAD performance under realistic supersonic conditions, as demonstrated in his highly cited 2013 work. This innovative approach has provided essential data on structural integrity and aerodynamic behavior, directly informing NASA’s development of next-generation decelerator technologies. With over 9 citations on this foundational paper alone, his work has shaped the trajectory of EDL research. Meacham’s achievements include contributing to the design of attached SIAD systems that deploy aft of the heatshield, a configuration now central to high-mass Mars entry missions. His research continues to inspire students and engineers seeking to overcome the challenges of atmospheric entry.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1