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About

Thomas S. Taylor is a leading figure in space situational awareness and observational astrophysics. As the principal developer of the Falcon Telescope Network (FTN), he established a groundbreaking global array of small-aperture optical telescopes designed to monitor artificial satellites and study the nearby universe. This network, developed at the Center for Space Situational Awareness Research within the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Department of Physics, represents a major contribution to both defense-related space tracking and civilian astronomical research. His most-cited work, “A New Global Array of Optical Telescopes: The Falcon Telescope Network” (2018, 18 citations), details the system’s architecture and its dual-use capability for monitoring space debris and conducting time-domain astronomy. Taylor’s innovations have enhanced the capacity for persistent, wide-field surveillance of Earth’s orbital environment, directly impacting satellite safety and space traffic management. His research bridges engineering and fundamental science, providing a scalable model for collaborative, low-cost observatory networks. Through the FTN, Taylor has empowered a new generation of researchers to access real-time space data, cementing his role as a pioneer in accessible, globally distributed astronomical instrumentation.