Shane Malone
Papers
1
Total Citations
8
H-Index
1
About
Shane Malone is a space systems engineer whose research focuses on the intersection of advanced propulsion, power system design, and robotic exploration of small bodies. His most cited work, "Power and Propulsion System Design for Near-Earth Object Robotic Exploration" (2011, 8 citations), provides a foundational framework for leveraging solar electric propulsion to access a wide array of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Malone’s key contribution lies in demonstrating that with the right power and propulsion architecture, these scientifically rich targets become reachable within a few years, offering significant flexibility in launch windows. This work directly addresses a critical gap in mission planning, showing that NEOs—despite being relatively unknown—are highly accessible for robotic study. By quantifying the trade-offs between power generation, propulsion efficiency, and mission duration, Malone’s research has helped shape the conceptual design of low-cost, high-return exploration missions. His contributions are particularly valuable for students and researchers interested in the practical engineering challenges of deep-space robotic exploration, offering a clear path toward unlocking the secrets of our solar system’s most accessible primitive bodies.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1