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PRESS RELEASE:
Texas A&M University has recently moved aggressively
into research on micro spacecraft and space robotics, under the
direction of Dr. John L. Junkins, Distinguished Professor of Aerospace
Engineering at Texas A&M University and a member of the National
Academy of Engineering, Professors S. Rao Vadali, Thomas
C. Pollock and Kyle T.(Terry) Alfriend, Head of Aerospace Engineering.
Three related projects have been recently initiated, dealing with
(1) research and development of a micro star sensor for pointing
determination via real time star pattern recognition, (2) vision-based
navigation and control of rendezvous and docking of micro-spacecraft,
and (3) mission and control analysis for families of small spacecraft.
The first two projects are sponsored by NASA Langley Research Center,
NASA Goddard Space Center, and NASA Johnson Space Center.
The third project is sponsored by AFOSR. These three research projects are
aimed toward a national technology push by both NASA and DOD toward
smaller, more intelligent, and more adaptive spacecraft to take
full advantage of recent advances in photonics, micro-electronics,
and control theory. The micro star sensor research has led to the StarNav I
experiment that will fly on Space Shuttle Mission STS 107 in the spring of 2002.
Also, a novel split field of view star sensor (StarNav II) has been adopted for the
New Millenium Spacecraft EO-3 GIFTS; the flight hardware will be developed
in collaboration with an industrial partner Jackson and Tull, inc.
PRESS RELEASE:
Dr. John L. Junkins, a distinguished professor of
aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University, recently received
the Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement
Award for Research. This honor is bestowed annually, it consists of a
a gold commemorative watch, a $4000 stipend, and a framed citation.
Junkins was honored in an the annual faculty recognition ceremony
hosted by Texas A&M President Ray Bowen on May 3, 2001.
PRESS RELEASE:
Dr. John L. Junkins, a distinguished professor of
aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University, is the recent recipient
of the Frank J. Malina Medal from the International Astronautical
Federation (IAF). The Malina Medal is the highest international
honor given to recognize academic contributions to aerospace sciences.
This award is made annually to recognize one educator who has
demonstrated the highest international degree of excellence in
astronautics and related space sciences, and especially for inspirational
teaching of outstanding students in this field. Junkins is the
Director of the Center for Mechanics and Control in the Department
of Aerospace Engineering. He also holds the George J. Eppright
Endowed Chair Professorship in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
A Texas A&M faculty member since 1985, Junkins held previous appointments
at the University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
He began his career at age 19 when he joined NASA in 1962 to work
on the Apollo program. Junkins' research has contributed extensively,
over the past three decades, to the development of spacecraft
navigation, guidance, and control. He has recently invented patented
laser sensing technology for applications in navigation, machine
vision and multimedia. Junkins' ideas have been implemented successfully
in many space missions. He has over 350 publications. A member
of the National Academy of Engineering, Junkins is also a Fellow
of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the
American Society of Astronautics, and the International Academy
of Astronautics. His research contributions have been recognized
by a number of previous awards, including the Theodore von Karman
Medal and Lectureship from AIAA in 1997.
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