Richard T. Howard
Papers
7
Total Citations
97
H-Index
5
About
Richard T. Howard is a pioneering aerospace engineer whose career has been defined by advancing automated rendezvous and docking (AR&D) technologies for spacecraft — a critical capability for the future of space exploration and satellite servicing. Working primarily within NASA's research infrastructure, Howard has made foundational contributions to the development of sensor systems and simulation frameworks that enable spacecraft to autonomously locate, approach, and dock with one another without direct human intervention. His most recognized work centers on the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS), a sophisticated vision-based system that played a central role in the landmark 2007 Orbital Express mission — the first successful demonstration of fully automated on-orbit satellite servicing — earning his associated publication 33 citations. His earlier work establishing AR&C system simulations (cited 23 times) helped expose the significant gaps in U.S. autonomous docking capabilities and laid conceptual groundwork for subsequent development efforts. Howard also contributed to sensor validation testing at NASA's Flight Robotics Laboratory in support of Lunar and Earth orbit exploration architectures. With research spanning from early video guidance prototyping in 1992 through multi-sensor integration studies in 2008, Howard's career represents a sustained and influential effort to make autonomous space operations both reliable and mission-ready.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Sensors and Systems for Space Applications II12 citations · 2008
- 5Video Guidance Sensor for automated capture6 citations · 1992
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