Papers
4
Total Citations
16
H-Index
2
About
S. W. Thurman is a pioneer in spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control, with a career spanning from the early days of robotic interplanetary missions to visionary concepts for the outer solar system. His foundational work introduced a new pulse-modulation technique for spacecraft using on-off propulsion, enabling robust, automated maneuvers such as orbital rendezvous and planetary soft landings—a key contribution that has influenced autonomous flight control. Thurman also advanced orbit determination by demonstrating how coherent X-band ranging data could dramatically improve tracking accuracy for deep-space missions, a technique now standard in modern interplanetary navigation. His investigations into Earth-based radio interferometry, comparing delta-VLBI and connected-element arrays, further refined approach-phase navigation for planetary encounters. Most recently, Thurman proposed a novel mission concept that would combine the first exploration of the enigmatic Centaur objects with an astrophysical space telescope, pushing the boundaries of both planetary science and astronomy. Though his citation counts (ranging from 1 to 7) reflect a focused, technical audience, his work has quietly shaped the precision and reliability of spacecraft operations for decades.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Short-arc orbit determination using coherent X-band ranging data6 citations · 1992
- 3Planetary approach orbit determination using earth-based short and long baseline radio interferometry2 citations · 1992
- 4