Robert Tolson

Work Address 100 Exploration Way, Hampton, VA 23666
Tel: 757-325-6840

Personal Website Address http://research.nianet.org/~rtolson/

Research Interests

Orbital mechanics, planetary atmospheric flight, spacecraft dynamics and control, optimal trajectories and orbit transfers, astronautics, space flight guidance and navigation

Current Research

· Mars Science Lab. Entry descent and landing

· MAVEN deep dip campaign

· Autonomous aerobraking

· Autonomous landing and hazard avoidance

Publications

Fritts, D.C., Wang, L., Tolson, R.H., "Mean and gravity wave structures and variability in the Mars upper atmosphere inferred from MGS and MO aero-braking densities," J. Geophys. Res. 111, A12304, doi:10.1029/2006JA011897, 2006.

Wang, L., D. C. Fritts, and R. H. Tolson, Nonmigrating tides inferred from the Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor Aerobraking data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L23201, doi:10.1029/2006GL027753.

Spencer, D.A. and Tolson, R.H., Aerobraking Cost and Risk Decisions J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 0022-4650 vol.44 no.6 (1285-1293), Nov. 2007.

Tolson, R.H., Keating, G. M., Zurek, R. W., Bougher, S. W., Justus, C. J., Fritts, D.C., Application of Acclerometer Data to Atmospheric Modeling During Mars Aerobraking Operations, J. Spacecraft and Rockets 2007, 0022-4650 vol.44 no.6 (1172-1179)

Crowley, G., & Tolson, R., Mars Thermospheric Winds from Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey Accelerometers,” J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 0022-4650 vol.44 no.6 (1188-1194), 2007

Baird, D.T., Tolson, R.H., Bougher, S.W., Steers, B, “Zonal Wind Calculations from Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer and Rate Data,” J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 0022-4650 vol.44 no.6 (1180-1187), Nov. 2007

Tolson, Robert . H.; Eammon Bemis; Kristina Zaleski; Gerald Keating; Jeremy D. Shidner; Shaun Brown; Angela Brickler; Michael Scher; Paige Thomas; S. Hough, “Atmospheric Modeling Using Accelerometer Data During Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Aerobraking Operations,” J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 0022-4650 vol.45 no.3 (511-518), 2008.

Tolson, R.H., Willcockson, W. Desai, P., Thomas, P., “Anomalistic Disturbance Torques During the Entry Phase of the Mars Exploration Rover Missions – A Telemetry and Mars-Surface Investigation.” J. of the Astronautical Sciences, vol. 56, no. 1, Jan.-Mar., 2008.

Fuller, J & Tolson, R, Improved Method for the Estimation of Spacecraft Free-Molecular Aerodynamic Properties, doi: 10.2514/1.43205, J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 2009 vol. 46 no. 5, pages (938-948).

Prince, J. L., Dec, J. A., & Tolson, R. H. (2009). Autonomous aerobraking using thermal response surface analysis. J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 46(2), 292-298.