Tom Sartwell

Goddard Space Flight Center, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource

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About

Tom Sartwell is a leading architect of space communication and navigation systems, with his work forming the backbone of NASA’s human exploration initiatives. His research focuses on designing integrated network infrastructures that enable reliable data transmission, positioning, and timing for complex space missions. Sartwell’s major contributions include pioneering the system-of-systems approach for NASA’s Space Exploration Systems, where he outlined how to build a scalable, cost-effective communication and navigation network across multiple lunar and Martian missions. His 2007 paper on this topic, with 10 citations, is foundational for understanding how to grow infrastructure incrementally through successive launches. He further refined these concepts for the Orion crew vehicle program in his 2008 work (6 citations), detailing how to support crew exchange and cargo supply to the International Space Station while preparing for deep-space travel. Sartwell’s architecture directly enables the seamless integration of human and robotic assets, ensuring mission safety and operational efficiency. His notable achievement lies in translating high-level NASA exploration goals into practical, layered network designs that minimize cost while maximizing capability—a critical enabler for humanity’s return to the Moon and eventual journey to Mars.