|
Robert Braun is helping NASA explore Mars without sending a single astronaut.
Braun, the David and Andrew Lewis Associate Professor of Space Technology in Georgia Tech's School of Aerospace Engineering and NASA consultant, studies planetary exploration technologies that can help guide robotic, and eventually human, space missions.
During his sixteen years at the NASA Langley Research Center, he worked on several robot missions to Mars, contributing to the design and flight operations of the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Microprobe flight projects. He also served as a consultant to NASA for the Mars Spirit Rover, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Polar Lander and Mars Odyssey projects.
Braun, who joined Tech's faculty in 2003, is the author or co-author of more than 100 technical publications in the fields of atmospheric flight dynamics, planetary exploration systems, multidisciplinary design optimization and systems engineering.
Braun earned his bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1987. He went on to get his master's degree at George Washington University in 1989 and his doctoral degree from Stanford University in 1996. | 