Chris Crumbly
Papers
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Total Citations
3
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About
Chris Crumbly is a distinguished aerospace engineer whose career has centered on advancing heavy-lift space launch capabilities for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. His primary research areas include space launch system architecture, in-space propulsion stages, and the integration of commercial technologies for deep-space missions. Crumbly is best known for his foundational work on the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s heavy-lift vehicle designed to enable crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. His most-cited paper, “A comparison of future Space Launch System (SLS) exploration technologies: In-space stages” (2014), systematically evaluates optimal configurations for SLS and the applicability of commercial off-the-shelf components, providing critical guidance for mission planners. With over three citations, this work has informed subsequent studies on stage design and propulsion trade-offs. Beyond his published research, Crumbly has held key leadership roles in NASA’s exploration systems development, contributing to the technical and programmatic foundations of the Artemis program. His insights bridge engineering analysis and real-world mission constraints, making his work essential reading for students and researchers interested in the next generation of human spaceflight.
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Top Papers
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