T. van Houten
Papers
2
Total Citations
5
H-Index
2
About
T. van Houten is a researcher specializing in space mission architecture and planetary exploration, with a focus on lunar science and robotic precursor missions. Their major contributions lie in systematically analyzing large-scale robotic concepts to search for frozen water at the lunar South Pole, a critical resource for future human exploration. Van Houten’s work integrates concurrent design teams, technology-assessment tools, and sensitivity models to evaluate technical feasibility and relative productivity, as demonstrated in their most-cited papers. The 2007 study, "Analysis of Concepts for Large-Scale Robotic Lunar Precursor Missions," has garnered 3 citations, while the 2008 follow-up, "Technical Feasibility and Relative Productivity of Alternate NASA Robotic Missions to a Lunar Dark Crater," has 2 citations. Though citation counts are modest, these papers represent foundational efforts in applying the Strategic Assessment of Risk and Technology (START) methodology to optimize investment and mission design. Van Houten’s research is notable for bridging engineering rigor with strategic planning, offering a framework that informs NASA’s approach to lunar exploration. Their work underscores the importance of systematic analysis in advancing robotic missions to challenging environments like permanently shadowed craters.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Analysis of Concepts for Large-Scale Robotic Lunar Precursor Missions3 citations · 2007
- 2