Keith DeWeese
Papers
3
Total Citations
9
H-Index
2
About
Keith DeWeese is a key figure in advancing autonomous navigation and in-space servicing for NASA’s most ambitious robotic missions. His primary research focuses on relative terrain imaging, proximity operations, and on-orbit propellant replenishment, all critical to enabling sustainable deep-space exploration. DeWeese’s most notable contribution is his work on the Relative Terrain Imaging Navigation (RETINA) tool, developed for the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM). This algorithm allows spacecraft to autonomously navigate and capture a multi-ton boulder from an asteroid, a capability essential for the mission’s goal of returning material to lunar orbit. He further detailed the complex proximity operations required for this endeavor, specifically for the reference target asteroid 2008 EV5. Beyond asteroid missions, DeWeese has investigated the logistics of servicing observatories at Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (SEL2), demonstrating how on-orbit propellant replenishment can dramatically increase science return by eliminating mass dedicated to fuel. While his published works have accrued a modest number of citations, their direct relevance to high-profile NASA programs underscores their practical impact. DeWeese’s work represents a crucial step toward a future where robotic servicing and autonomous navigation are routine in space.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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