Aerospace Seminar Series

An Introduction to Guidance, Navigation, and Control

Speakers:

• Siddarth Kaki, Ph.D. – Navigation Discipline Engineer, EG6 / GN&C Autonomous Flight Systems Branch, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Jacob Sullivan – EG6 / GN&C Autonomous Flight Systems Branch, NASA Johnson Space Center

Radionavigation

Speaker:

• Dr. Greg Holt - GN&C Autonomous Flight Systems Branch, NASA Johnson Space Center

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Greg Holt is the Navigation Technical Discipline lead and System Manager for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle at NASA Johnson Space Center, having earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and with over 15 years of NASA service.  He has enjoyed many opportunities to be active in technical leadership and is a veteran Mission Control navigator of 8 Space Shuttle missions, the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1, and the Artemis I lunar mission.

Abstract:
Explore the principles and evolution of RadioNavigation, a cornerstone of modern aerospace engineering. We’ll trace the historical progression from early celestial navigation to advanced systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), and emerging lunar relay satellite architectures for Artemis missions.  Through technical insights, practical examples, and discussions of triangulation, signal processing, and deep-space communication challenges, this talk will illuminate the critical role of radio navigation in enabling precise positioning for terrestrial and extraterrestrial exploration.

Entry, Descent, and Landing

Speaker:

• Dr. Sergio Sandoval - Guidance Engineer, NASA Johnson Space Center

Speaker Bio: 
Sergio Sandoval is a guidance engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He received a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in December 2017. During his undergraduate studies, he collaborated with the Space Systems Design Lab as part of Prox-1, the first satellite ever made by Georgia Tech students and with the Aerospace Systems Design Lab doing Systems Engineering for NASA projects such as the Europa Clipper and the TransHab Structure. His participation in these projects led to a Pathways Internship offer at the Johnson Space Center starting in August 2016, and an internship with the Jet Propulsion Lab during the summer of 2016. He completed his PhD in Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego in 2023. During his time at NASA, he has held different positions such as Systems Engineer for the Europa Clipper mission, Trajectory Operations and Planning Engineer for the International Space Station, Structural Engineer for experiments going to the International Space Station, and more recently he started as a Guidance Engineer for human and robotic exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. He currently applies his expertise of Entry, Descent, and Landing to support the Orion Re-entry analysis for the Artemis Program.

Abstract:
Safety, precision, and efficiency are the key ingredients for successful human-scale entry, descent, and landing (EDL) in missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. As one of the most dynamic and challenging phases of any interplanetary mission, it is very important to understand the different techniques, the conditions in which we apply these techniques, and for what reason. In this seminar, we will explore a complete overview of entry and powered descent guidance, from its origin to the state of the art. We will investigate successful examples that have flown to space before, as well as dive into the requirements of a mission in the future.

Optical Navigation

Speaker:

• Dr. Paul McKee

Speaker Bio:
Paul McKee was born and raised in Averill Park, NY. He studied mechanical and aerospace engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), getting his B.S. in 2017, his M.S. in 2018, and his Ph.D. in 2022. His research was on autonomous spacecraft navigation. He now works at NASA Johnson Space Center in the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division. His projects include Optical Navigation hardware and software analysis for the Orion spacecraft, lunar surface navigation algorithm development for the Artemis program, and he is Assistant to the Project Manager for Project TRON -- a next-gen optical navigation early-career project. Paul is also involved in numerous outreach efforts to grade school STEM students, and is a (remote) adjunct professor at RPI, teaching a graduate-level course in spacecraft navigation. 

Abstract:
A spacecraft can determine its position and attitude (orientation) using information in digital images taken with an onboard camera. This is referred to as Optical Navigation (OpNav). This begins with an understanding of cameras as navigation instruments, and how useful data can be extracted from images. Well-established methods of OpNav for attitude determination and localization are discussed, and then time is spent on some of the newer and more exotic problems in OpNav. Audience participation is highly encouraged and imagination will be a requirement.

Spacecraft Controls

Speaker:

• Dr. Omkar Mulekar

Speaker Bio:
Omkar Mulekar joined NASA Johnson Space Center in July 2024 as a navigation analyst for the Orion Relative Navigation system and as a controls engineer for the Gateway Controls system. He holds a PhD and a master’s degree from the University of Florida as well as a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. His graduate research includes the use of neural networks to perform feedback-optimal control of nonlinear systems.

Abstract:
In this presentation, we will discuss the “Control” element of a spacecraft’s Guidance, Navigation, and Control system. From its overarching purpose on a spacecraft to specific examples of how we apply control logic to command actuators onboard autonomous spacecraft, we will explore the modern challenges of maintaining control in complex, harsh environments.

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