David Woffinden

Papers

Total Citations

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About

David Woffinden is a leading aerospace engineer at NASA, whose work is central to the future of human space exploration. His research focuses on autonomous spacecraft navigation, specifically precision landing and hazard avoidance (PL&HA) technologies. Woffinden is a key architect of the Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) project, which aims to equip future landers with the ability to touch down on the Moon and Mars with unprecedented accuracy. His major contributions include defining the navigation requirements for future precision lander missions, a critical step for returning humans to the lunar surface. He has also developed sophisticated simulation frameworks to assess these technologies, ensuring they can handle the challenges of real-world terrain. With his most-cited papers accumulating over 16 citations, Woffinden’s work is foundational for NASA’s Artemis program and future Mars sample return missions. His research is not just theoretical; it is actively building the autonomous navigation systems that will enable humanity’s next giant leaps.