Theodore H. Sweetser

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Information Laboratories (United States)

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Theodore H. Sweetser is a pioneering astrodynamicist whose career has been defined by designing the intricate orbital paths that enable humanity’s most ambitious space missions. His research focuses on trajectory design, orbit maintenance, and spacecraft maneuver planning for both robotic and crewed exploration. Sweetser’s most influential work, "Scientific exploration of near‐Earth objects via the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle" (37 citations), demonstrated the feasibility of sending astronauts to asteroids using NASA’s Orion spacecraft—a foundational concept for future deep-space human missions. He also played a key role in the Lunar Observer mission, advancing our global understanding of the Moon as a precursor to human return. His technical expertise in formation flying and eccentricity vector control was critical to the success of NASA’s GRAIL mission, which placed two orbiters in precise formation around the Moon for the first time. More recently, Sweetser has contributed to the NISAR mission, designing orbits that enable sensitive L-band radar interferometry to monitor Earth’s changing topography and ice sheets. With a career spanning from lunar science to asteroid exploration, Sweetser’s work has shaped the trajectory of modern space exploration.