Paul Schmitz

Glenn Research Center, Vantage Power (United Kingdom)

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Paul Schmitz is a space power systems engineer whose career has focused on developing advanced energy technologies for NASA's robotic and deep space missions. His research centers on two primary areas: Stirling-cycle power generation and nuclear fission reactor systems, both aimed at providing reliable, efficient power in the challenging environments of space exploration. Schmitz made early contributions to Dynamic Isotope Power Systems (DIPS) in the early 1990s, exploring free-piston Stirling engines as cost-effective alternatives to traditional radioisotope thermoelectric generators for unmanned deep space missions. This foundational work laid the groundwork for decades of continued refinement in Stirling Radioisotope Power Systems, which promise roughly four times the efficiency of conventional thermoelectric approaches. His most impactful contribution came with the Kilopower reactor program, where his 2020 paper on higher power design concepts — his most cited work with 18 citations — built on the landmark KRUSTY experiment. That experiment demonstrated stable fission reactor operation under both nominal and severe mission scenarios, dramatically reducing technical risk for future space nuclear power systems. Across more than three decades, Schmitz's work has helped advance humanity's capacity to power spacecraft venturing into the outermost reaches of the solar system.