Publications

This is a list of selected papers Princeton Satellite Systems has published or presented at conferences. Where legally permitted, we have included links to download the papers.

  • Fusion-Enabled Pluto Orbiter and Lander, Stephanie J. Thomas, Michael Paluszek, Samuel Cohen, Nick McGreivy, and Eugene Evans, AIAA Space Forum, September 2017.
  • Reducing  Neutron Emission from Small Fusion Rocket Engines, S.A. Cohen, M. Chu-Cheong, R. Federt, K. Griffin, M. Khodak, J. Klabachat, E. Meier:t, S. Newbury, M. Paluszek, T. Rognlien, S. Thomas, and M. Walsh,  2015 IAC Conference, Jerusalem, Israel, October 2015.
  • Space Rapid Transit – A Two Stage to Orbit Fully Reusable Launch Vehicle, M. Paluszek, J. Mueller, 2014 IAC Conference, Toronto, Ontario, October 2014.
  • Direct Fusion Drive for a Human Mars Orbital Mission, M. Paluszek, S. Cohen, G. Pajer, Y. Razin, J. Slonaker, R. Feder, K. Griffin, 2014 IAC Conference, Toronto, Ontario, October 2014.
  • Asteroid Prospector, Joseph Mueller, Michael Paluszek, Stephanie Thomas,  Amanda Knutson, Douglas Klein and Margaret Tam, 27th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2013.
  • Avoidance Maneuver Planning Incorporating Station-Keeping Constraints and Automatic Relaxation, J. Mueller, S. Thomas, P. Griesemer, Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 10, Issue 6, pp. 306-322, July 2013.
  • Modular Aneutronic Fusion Engine, G. Pajer, Y. Razin, M. Paluszek, A. H. Glasser, S. Cohn, Space Propulsion 2012, May 2012.
  • Modular Aneutronic Fusion Engine for an Alpha Centauri Mission, M. Paluszek, S, Hurley, G. Pajer, S. Thomas, J. Mueller, S. Cohen, D. Welch, DARPA 100 Year Starship Conference, September 2011.
  • Space Rapid Transit Navigation and Control, Paul Griesemer, Joseph Mueller, Michael Paluszek and Pooja Raghavan at EUCASS 2011, 4 – 8 July 2011 in St. Petersburg Russia.
  • System Design of a Reusable, Horizontal Take-Off/Horizontal Landing Two Stage to Orbit Vehicle, Paul R. Griesemer, Joseph B. Mueller, Michael A. Paluszek and Jingwen Du at the 2010 Joint Propulsion Conference, 5 – 28 July 2010 in Nashville, TN, USA.
  • Unified GN&C System for the Space Rapid Transit Launch Vehicle, Joseph B. Mueller, Paul R. Griesemer, Michael A. Paluszek and Jingwen Du at the 2010 AIAA GN&C Conference, 2 – 5 August 2010 in Toronto Ontario, Canada.
  • Space Rapid Transit for Rapid Spacecraft Deployment, Paul R. Griesemer, Michael A. Paluszek, Joseph B. Mueller and Eloisa de Castro, at the 2011 Reinventing Space Conference, 3 – 5 May 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
  • Collision Avoidance Maneuver Planning with Robust Optimization, J. Mueller and R. Larsson, presented at ESA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Tralee, Ireland, June 2008.
  • Critical Orbit Control Issues for Fractionated Spacecraft, Presented by Joseph B. Mueller at the DARPA Fractionated Spacecraft Workshop, August 2006
  • Guidance, Navigation, and Control of High-Altitude Airships, White Paper by Joseph B. Mueller
  • Generalized 3D Spacecraft Proximity Path Planning Using A*, M. Paluszek and S. Thomas, presented at Infotech@Aerospace, Arlington, Virginia, Sep. 26-29, 2005, AIAA-2005-7043
  • AOCS Performance and Stability Validation for Large Flexible Solar Sail Spacecraft, Thomas, S., Paluszek, M., Wie, B., and Murphy, D., presented at 41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, July, 2005.
  • Decentralized Formation Flying Control in a Multiple-Team Hierarchy, Joseph B. Mueller and Stephanie J. Thomas, presented at the 2nd International Conference, New Trends in Astrodynamics and Applications, Princeton University, June 2005. Published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1065, pp. 112-138.
  • Control-Moment Gyroscopes for Joint Actuation: A New Paradigm in Space Robotics, M. Peck, M. Paluszek, S. Thomas, and J. Mueller, presented at 1st Space Exploration Conference: Continuing the Voyage of Discovery, Orlando, Florida, Jan. 30-1, 2005, AIAA-2005-2522.
  • Spacecraft Attitude Control Simulation, J. Hornsby and H. Sorensen, US Air Force, Mesa, AZ; M. Paluszek, Princeton Satellite Systems, Princeton, NJ, Space 2004 Conference and Exhibit, San Diego, California, Sep. 28-30, 2004, AIAA-2004-5932
  • Development of an Aerodynamic Model and Control Law Design for a High Altitude Airship, Joseph B. Mueller, Michael A. Paluszek, and Yiyuan Zhao presented at the AIAA Unmanned Unlimited Conference in Chicago, IL, Sep. 2004.
  • Benefits of Trajectory Optimization for Airship Flights, Yiyuan Zhao, Joseph B. Mueller and William Garrard presented at the AIAA Unmanned Unlimited Conference in Chicago, IL, Sep. 2004.
  • A Multiple-Team Organization for Decentralized Guidance and Control of Formation Flying Spacecraft, Joseph B. Mueller presented at the AIAA Intelligent Systems Conference in Chicago, IL, Sep. 2004.
  • Formations for Close-Orbiting Escort Vehicles, Thomas, S. and Mueller, J. presented at AIAA Intelligent Systems Technical Conference, Sept. 20-22, 2004.
  • Design and Simulation of Sailcraft Attitude Control Systems Using the Solar Sail Control Toolbox, Thomas, S., Paluszek, M., Wie, B., and Murphy, D., presented at AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, August, 2004.
  • A Distributed Flight Software Design for Satellite Formation Flying Control, Joseph B. Mueller and Margarita Brito. Presented at the AIAA Space 2003 Conference.
  • Distributed Control of Formation Flying Spacecraft Built on OA, Louis Breger, Philip Ferguson, Jonathan P. How, Stephanie Thomas, Terence McLoughlin, and Mark Campbell. Presented at AIAA GN&C Conference, 2003.
  • Monitoring and Analysis of Multiple Agent Systems, Stephanie J. Thomas, Joseph B. Mueller, Christopher G. Harvey, Derek M. Surka. August 31, 2001
  • Agent-Based Control of Multiple Satellite Formation Flying, Joseph B. Mueller, Derek M. Surka, Bogdan Udrea. Presented at the 6th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space, June 18-21,2001, Montreal, Canada.
  • A Background Layer of Health Monitoring and Error Handling for ObjectAgent, Joseph B. Mueller, Derek M. Surka Joy J. Lin. Presented at the FLAIRS 2001 Conference, May 21-23 2001, Key West, FL.
  • ObjectAgent for Robust Control, Derek M. Surka. Presented at the AAAI 2001 Spring Symposium, March 26-28, 2001, Palo Alto, CA.
  • The Real-Time Object Agent Flight Software Architecture for Distributed Satellite Systems, Margarita Brito, Chris Harvey, Derek M. Surka. Presented at the 2001 IEEE Aerospace Conference, March 11-15,2001, Big Sky, MT.
  • Multiple Agent-Based Autonomy for Satellite Constellations, Thomas Schetter, Mark Cambell, Derek M. Surka. Presented at the Second International Symposium on Agent Systems and Applications, September 2000, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Comparison of Multiple Agent-Based Organizations for Satellite Constellations, Thomas Schetter, Mark Cambell, Derek M. Surka. Presented at the FLAIRS 2000 Conference, May 2000, Orlando, FL.
  • Indostar-1: Early Orbit Operations, Marvin Arluk, Derek M. Surka, Michael A. Paluszek, Wendy I. Sullivan. Presented at the 22nd Annual AAS* Guidance and Control Conference, February 3-7, 1999, Breckenridge, CO.
  • Attitude Control Design Using the Spacecraft Control Toolbox, Derek M. Surka, Wendy I. Sullivan, Michael A. Paluszek. Also presented at the 22nd Annual AAS* Guidance and Control Conference, February 3-7, 1999, Breckenridge, CO.
  • Intersatellite Links: Lower Layer Protocols for Autonomous Constellations, Kerri L. Kusza, Michael A. Paluszek. November 21, 2000.
  • Controlling Multiple Satellite Constellations Using the TeamAgent System, Derek Surka, Mark Campbell, Thomas Schetter.
  • The Spin Axis Attitude Determination Package, Wendy I. Sullivan, Michael A. Paluszek, Derek M. Surka. Presented at the 9th Annual AAS/AIAA* Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, February 7-10, 1999, Breckenridge, CO.
  • A New Satellite Attitude Control System, Wendy I. Sullivan, Michael A. Paluszek, Walter K. Daniel.

*AAS = American Astronautical Society

*AIAA = American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Patents

In Space Startup Method for Nuclear Fusion Rocket Engines, Paluszek, M., Ham, E., Cohen, S., and Razin, Y. Patent Pending, August 2013, Publication Number 20150055740 (Feb 26, 2015).

Method To Produce High Specific Impulse and Moderate Thrust From a Fusion-Powered Rocket Engine, S. Cohen, G. Pajer, M. Paluszek, Y. Razin, Patent Pending, Publication Number US20150098543, published Apr 9, 2015.

US Patent 8,412,391, April 2, 2013, Proximity Spacecraft Maneuvering.

Provided is a method and system for maneuvering a first spacecraft relative to a nearby second spacecraft that occupies a finite volume of space including obstacles in the vicinity of the second from a measured present relative position to a desired ending relative position. A trajectory is computed for the first spacecraft from the present relative position to the ending relative position using the A* algorithm. One or more thrusters of the first spacecraft are then fired. The first spacecraft’s relative position and velocity are then measured and compared to the computed trajectory.

U.S. Patent 8,311,679, November 13, 2012, Matrix converters for wind energy conversion systems.

The invention is an efficient matrix converter for wind energy conversion systems (WECS) using permanent magnet DC generators, incorporating control algorithms integrated with rotor aerodynamics, generator dynamics and the wind environment. Using a complete model of the system enables the design of an integrated control scheme for the WECS that improves the overall system efficiency. Estimates of wind velocity and rotor speed measurements are fed forward to the matrix converter subsystem for efficient switching..

U.S. Patent 8,193,657, June 5, 2012, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Using Individual Blade Pitch and Camber Control Integrated with Matrix Converter.

A vertical axis wind turbine that can be actively controlled is provided. This invention includes mechanisms and methods for enabling high-efficiency wind energy extraction by a vertical axis wind turbine using active pitch and camber control of individual blades. Blade control is further integrated with generator control and power electronics. Integrated control algorithms are systematically constructed, and transmitted to the wind turbine through a wireless communications interface. The interface also allows the user to continuously monitor the state of the wind turbine system. This invention includes sensors and procedures for periodic self-calibration of wind turbine parameters for preserving the long-term efficiency of wind energy extraction. Furthermore, a capability to intelligently interact with other wind turbine systems in a wind-farm setting is incorporated.

U.S. Patent 8,081,302, December 20, 2011, Multimode Optical Sensor.

A Multimode Optical Sensor (MMOS) is a laser radar (ladar) that employs both coherent, or heterodyne, and noncoherent detection at long range, i.e. ranges for which the target is no more than a pixel in dimension. Coherent detection provides much higher velocity resolution while the noncoherent detection can provide better detectability.