Rex W. Ridenoure
Papers
2
Total Citations
4
H-Index
2
About
Rex W. Ridenoure is a pioneering figure in low-cost robotic lunar exploration, with a career focused on leveraging innovative launch architectures and orbital mechanics to make the Moon more accessible. His key research areas include small satellite mission design, ballistic lunar capture trajectories, and the use of commercial winged rockets for deep space. Ridenoure’s major contribution is the conceptualization and advocacy of a mission architecture that combines the Pegasus air-launched rocket with weak-stability boundary (WSB) trajectories—a "ballistic capture" method that drastically reduces fuel requirements for entering lunar orbit. His 1992 paper, *Robotic lunar exploration using the Pegasus winged rocket and ballistic lunar capture - An update*, and its 2025 successor, *To the Moon from a B-52*, have each garnered 2 citations, reflecting their niche but foundational role in shaping low-cost lunar mission concepts. Notably, his work presaged modern smallsat lunar missions by decades, demonstrating how a B-52-launched Pegasus could deliver a small spacecraft to the Moon via a gravitational "back door." Ridenoure’s vision remains a touchstone for engineers seeking to democratize lunar access.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2