Brian Kaplinger
Papers
2
Total Citations
34
H-Index
2
About
Brian Kaplinger is a leading researcher in spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), with a focus on proximity operations, orbital robotics, and lunar communications. His most influential work, the ORION simulation environment (29 citations), established a pioneering laboratory at the Florida Institute of Technology for testing autonomous and telerobotic capture of spacecraft, formation flight, and on-orbit servicing. This facility enables realistic validation of GNC algorithms for critical maneuvers like rendezvous and docking. Kaplinger also made significant contributions to lunar infrastructure, designing an Earth-Moon communications network in polar orbit (5 citations) to support sustained surface operations. His work addresses the growing need for reliable relay links between manned and robotic assets on both celestial bodies. By combining simulation with practical system design, Kaplinger advances the technologies essential for future cislunar missions, orbital assembly, and debris mitigation. His research directly supports NASA’s Artemis program and commercial spaceflight, bridging the gap between theoretical control systems and real-world orbital challenges.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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