Samuel M. Pedrotty
Papers
1
Total Citations
10
H-Index
1
About
Samuel M. Pedrotty is a pioneering aerospace engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center, whose work centers on autonomous spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems for in-space inspection. His most significant contribution is the development of Seeker, an ultra-low-cost, highly automated free-flying inspector designed for extravehicular inspection of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft. As the lead author of the seminal 2019 paper "Seeker Free-Flying Inspector GNC System Overview," which has garnered 10 citations, Pedrotty detailed the incremental development approach that makes Seeker a cost-effective yet sophisticated platform for proximity operations. This work represents a paradigm shift in spacecraft inspection, moving from expensive, crew-intensive methods to autonomous, scalable solutions. Pedrotty’s achievements include leading the design and integration of Seeker’s GNC architecture, enabling precise maneuvering and safe operations near the International Space Station. His research has direct implications for future deep-space missions, where autonomous inspection will be critical for vehicle health monitoring and crew safety. By demonstrating that high-performance inspection capabilities can be achieved at ultra-low cost, Pedrotty has opened new avenues for small satellite applications in human spaceflight.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Seeker Free-Flying Inspector GNC System Overview10 citations · 2019