Chad Hanak
Papers
1
Total Citations
7
H-Index
1
About
Chad Hanak is a leading aerospace engineer specializing in autonomous precision landing systems and hazard avoidance technologies for planetary exploration. His major contributions center on the integration of advanced navigation, propulsion, and robotics for safe spacecraft descent, most notably through his work on NASA’s Morpheus/ALHAT project. Hanak’s key research areas include hazard relative navigation, terrain-relative positioning, and autonomous landing algorithms, which are critical for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. His most-cited paper, “Approach-Phase Precision Landing with Hazard Relative Navigation: Terrestrial Test Campaign Results of the Morpheus/ALHAT Project” (2016, 7 citations), documents groundbreaking flight tests that demonstrated real-time hazard detection and avoidance using lidar and onboard computing—a pivotal step toward enabling crewed and robotic landings in challenging terrains. This work, part of the ambitious Project M, also integrated humanoid robotics and LOX/LCH4 propulsion, showcasing Hanak’s role in cross-disciplinary innovation. While his citation count reflects a focused, high-impact niche, his contributions are foundational to NASA’s Artemis program and commercial lunar landers, making him a key figure in the future of space exploration.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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