Mike Hannan
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Mike Hannan is a leading figure in autonomous spacecraft navigation, with his work centered on passive optical terrain relative navigation (TRN) systems for planetary landings. His most significant contribution is the development of APLNav, an onboard system that enables spacecraft to achieve precision landings on the Moon and small planetary bodies without active sensors. His seminal 2015 paper, "APLNav: Development Status of an Onboard Passive Optical Terrain Relative Navigation System," which has garnered 19 citations, details over a decade of research and testing at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. This work has been critical in advancing the reliability and autonomy of landing systems, reducing reliance on ground-based tracking. Hannan’s contributions have directly influenced the design of future lunar and asteroid missions, providing a robust, passive solution for real-time navigation. His achievements underscore a career dedicated to solving the complex challenge of safe, accurate planetary landing, making him a key innovator in the field of space exploration and autonomous guidance systems.
Research Focus
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