Michael P. Doherty
Papers
2
Total Citations
17
H-Index
2
About
Michael P. Doherty is a pioneering aerospace engineer whose work has been instrumental in advancing nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) and cryogenic fluid management for deep space exploration. His research focuses on developing the propulsion and in-space resource technologies necessary for sustainable human missions to Mars and beyond. Doherty’s most influential contribution is his 1994 study on NEP for a “split-sprint” human Mars mission, which demonstrated how nuclear-powered systems could enable faster, safer, and more cost-effective transportation for both crewed and robotic cargo flights. This foundational work has shaped NASA’s long-term architecture for interplanetary travel, earning 11 citations. He also led critical efforts on cryogenic propellant storage and transfer, authoring a 2013 paper outlining a technology maturation roadmap for a demonstration mission. This work addresses one of the key challenges of deep space travel: preventing propellant boil-off during long-duration missions. With a career spanning decades, Doherty’s contributions have directly influenced NASA’s strategic planning for human exploration, making him a respected figure in propulsion and space systems engineering.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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