Tom Percy
Papers
1
Total Citations
20
H-Index
1
About
Tom Percy is a leading figure in the field of advanced space propulsion and mission architecture, with a primary focus on enabling human exploration of Mars. His most influential work, "Combining Solar Electric Propulsion and chemical propulsion for crewed missions to Mars," has garnered 20 citations and stands as a cornerstone of modern mission design. In this study, Percy demonstrated how integrating high-power Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) with traditional chemical propulsion could dramatically reduce the mass and cost of crewed Mars missions, leveraging near-term technologies from NASA's Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM). His analysis showed that SEP tugs could pre-position cargo and fuel, while chemical systems handled crewed transit, creating a hybrid architecture that is both efficient and feasible within current budget constraints. Beyond this, Percy has contributed to the broader conversation on sustainable human presence in deep space, influencing how agencies plan for the Moon-to-Mars pipeline. His work is essential reading for anyone interested in practical, near-future pathways to the Red Planet, and his insights continue to shape propulsion strategy at NASA and beyond.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1