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Journal Papers     Conference Papers     Ph.D. Dissertations     Master's Theses

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Journal

    * represents advised student author

    ** represents co-advised student author

  1. R. Bommena* and R.M. Woollands, "Path-Constrained Optimal 6-DOF Motion for Multi-Agent In-Space Servicing and Assembly," Acta Astronautica, January 2026.
  2. D. Engel**, Z. Putnam, R.M. Woollands, and S. Dutta, "Optimal Control Comparison of Bank-Angle and Alpha-Beta Steering for Mars Entry Systems," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, July 2025.
  3. J.B. Bouvier**, H. Panag*, R.M. Woollands, and M. Ornik, "Delayed resilient trajectory tracking after partial loss of control," Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, March 2025.
  4. R. Bommena* and R.M. Woollands, "Indirect Trajectory Optimization with Path Constraints for Multi-Agent Proximity Operations," Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, December 2024.
  5. A. Pascarella*, R. Bommena*, S. Eggl, and R.M. Woollands, "Mission Design for Space Telescope Servicing at Sun-Earth L2," Acta Astronautica, November 2024.
  6. B.C. Cline**, A. Pascarella*, J.L. Rovey, and R.M. Woollands, "Indirect Optimal Control Techniques for Multimode Propulsion Mission Design," Acta Astronautica, October 2024.
  7. H.Panag* and R.M. Woollands, "Thruster Pointing Constrained Optimal Control for Satellite Servicing using Indirect Optimization," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, October 2024.
  8. D. Stanley*, R.M. Woollands, F. Rossi, A. Rahmani, and C. Choi, "Enabling Space-Based Computed Cloud Tomography with a Mixed Integer Linear Programming Scheduler," Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, July 2024.
  9. B. Patrick*, A. Pascarella*, and R.M. Woollands, "Hybrid Optimization of High-fidelity Low-thrust Transfers to the Lunar Gateway," The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, August 2023.
  10. A. Pascarella*, R.M. Woollands, E. Pellegrini, M. Sanchez Net, H. Xie, and J. Vander Hook, "Low-thrust trajectory optimization for the solar system pony express," Acta Astronautica, February 2023.
  11. A.M. Atallah**, A. Bani Younes, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, "Analytical Radial Adaptive Method for Spherical Harmonic Gravity Models," The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, May 2022.
  12. R.M. Woollands, F. Rossi, T. Stegun Vaquero, M. Sanchez Net, S. Bae, V. Bickel, and J. Vander Hook, "Maximizing Dust Devil Follow-up Observations on Mars using Cubesats and On-board Scheduling," The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, May 2022.
  13. M. Sanchez Net, E. Pellegrini, W. Parker, J. Vander Hook, and R.M. Woollands, "Cycler Orbits and Solar System Pony Express," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, January 2022.
  14. R.L. Anderson, S. Campagnola, D. Koh, T.P. McElrath, and R.M. Woollands, "Endgame Design for Europa Lander: Ganymede to Europa Approach," The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, April 2021.
  15. S.K. Singh**, R.M. Woollands, E. Taheri, and J.L. Junkins, “Feasibility of Quasi-Frozen, Near-Polar and Extremely Low-Altitude Lunar Orbits,” Acta Astronautica, 116, 450-468, January 2020.
  16. T. Swenson, M. Lo, and R.M. Woollands, “Invariant manifolds and the capture of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v490, Issue 2, pp 2436-2447, December 2019.
  17. A.M. Atallah, R.M. Woollands, T.A. Elgohary, and J.L. Junkins, “Accuracy and Efficiency Comparison of Six Numerical Integrators for Propagating Perturbed Orbits in Astrodynamics,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, May 2019.
  18. R.M. Woollands, E. Taheri, and J.L. Junkins, “Efficient Computation of Optimal Low Thrust Perturbed Orbit Transfers,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, May 2019.
  19. R.M. Woollands and J.L. Junkins, “Nonlinear Differential Equations Solvers via Adaptive Picard-Chebyshev Iteration: Applications in Astrodynamics,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, January 2019.
  20. R.M. Woollands, J. Read, K. Hernandez, A. Probe, and J.L. Junkins, “Unified Lambert Tool for Massively Parallelizable Applications in Space Situational Awareness,” The Journal of the Astronomical Sciences, v65, Issue 1, pp 29-45, November 2017.
  21. T. Swenson, R.M. Woollands, M. Lo, and J.L. Junkins, “Application of Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration to Differential Correction for Improved Robustness and Computation Time,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, v64, Issue 3, pp 267-284, January 2017.
  22. R.M. Woollands, J. Read, A. Probe, and J.L. Junkins, “Multiple Revolution Solutions for the Perturbed Lambert Problem using the Method of Particular Solutions and Picard Iteration,” The Journal of the Astronomical Sciences, v64, Issue 4, pp 361-378, July 2017.
  23. J.L. Junkins, A. Bani Younes, R.M. Woollands, and X. Bai, "Efficient and Adaptive Orthogonal Finite Element Representation of the Geopotential," The Journal of the Astronomical Sciences, v64, Issue 2, pp 118-155, Februray 2017.
  24. B. Macomber, A. Probe, R.M. Woollands, J.L. Read, and J.L. Junkins, "Enhancements for Modified Chebyshev-Picard Iteration Efficiency for Perturbed Orbit Propagation," Computer Modeling in Engineering Sciences, v111, Issue 1, pp 29-64, 2016.
  25. R.M. Woollands, A. Bani Younes, and J.L. Junkins, "New Solutions for Lambert's Problem Utilizing Regularization and Picard Iteration," Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, v38, Issue 9, pp 1548-1562, 2015.
  26. J.L. Junkins, A. Bani Younes, R.M. Woollands, and X. Bai, “Picard Iteration, Chebyshev Polynomials, and Chebyshev Picard Methods: Applications in Astrodynamics,” The Journal of the Astronomical Sciences, v60, Issue 3-4, pp 623-653, December 2013.
  27. R.M. Woollands, K.R. Pollard, D.J. Ramm, D.J. Wright, and T. Böhm, “Spectroscopic orbital analysis of the delta Scuti binary, RS Cha - High resolution spectroscopy reveals a third component,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v432, pp 327-355, 2013.
  28. R.M. Woollands, P.L. Cottrell, and A. Udalski, “Photometric Analysis of Magellanic Cloud R Coronae Borealis Stars in the Recovery Phase of their Declines,” Publications of the Royal Astronomical Society of Australia, v26, Issue 1, 2009.
  29. A.J. MacDonald, S.E. George, and R.M. Woollands, “Can gravity waves significantly impact PSC occurrence in the Antarctic?,”

Conference

    * represents advised student author

    ** represents co-advised student author

  1. B.C. Cline** and R.M. Woollands, "Consistent Modeling of Third-Body Perturbations with Ephemeris Data," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Boston, MA, August 2025.
  2. M. Hubert*. H. Panag*, and R.M. Woollands, "Ellipsoidal Thruster Pointing Constrained Optimal Trajectories for Satellite Servicing at SEL2," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Boston, MA, August 2025.
  3. H. Panag*, R. Bommena*, and R.M. Woollands, "Thruster Pointing Constrained Optimal 6-DOF Proximity Operations using Indirect Optimization," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Boston, MA, August 2025.
  4. R. Bommena*, H. Panag*, and R.M. Woollands, "Optimal 6-DOF Control Strategies for In-Space Servicing and Assembly Missions at Sun-Earth L2," 47th Annual AAS Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Breckenridge, CO, February 2025.
  5. R. Bommena* and R.M. Woollands, "Path-Constrained Optimal 6-DOF Motion for Multi-Agent In-Space Servicing and Assembly," 35th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kauai, HI, January 2025.

    Journal version: paper

  6. B.C. Cline**, J.L. Rovey, and R.M. Woollands, "Optimal Low-Thrust Trajectories with Reference Frame Switching," 35th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kauai, HI, January 2025.
  7. D. Stanley* and R.M. Woollands, "Picard-Chebyshev Methods With Adaptive Segmentation for Propagation of General Dynamical Systems," 35th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kauai, HI, January 2025.
  8. A. Pascarella* and R.M. Woollands, "Multi-parameter Virtual-Eclipse Homotopy for Optimization of Many-Revolution Low-Thrust Transfers," 35th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kauai, HI, January 2025.
  9. D. Engel**, Z. Putnam, R.M. Woollands, S. Dutta, and B. Smith, "Guidance Performance of Bank-Angle and Alpha-Beta Steering for a Large Robotic Mars Entry Vehicle," 35th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kauai, HI, January 2025.
  10. R. Bommena* and R.M. Woollands, "Fuel-Optimal Multi-Agent Operations with Path Inequality Constraints," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Broomfield, CO, August 2024.

    11. Journal version: paper

  11. D. Stanley* and R.M. Woollands, "Efficient Satellite Constellation Orbit Propagation using Picard-Chebyshev Methods," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Broomfield, CO, August 2024.
  12. D. Stanley* and R.M. Woollands, "Gauss-Radau: An Investigation into Varying the Polynomial Degree for Applications in Astrodynamics," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Broomfield, CO, August 2024.
  13. D. Engel**, Z. Putnam, R.M. Woollands, S. Dutta, "Optimal Mars Entry Trajectories for Bank-Angle and Alpha-Beta Steering," IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2024.
  14. D. Engel**, Z. Putnam, R.M. Woollands, and S. Dutta, "Flight Performance Comparison of Bank-Angle Steering and Alpha-Beta Steering for Mars Entry Systems," 46th AAS GNC Conference, Breckenridge, CO, February 2024.
  15. B.C. Cline**, A. Pascarella*, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Rovey, "Indirect Optimal Control Techniques for Multimode Propulsion Mission Design," 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, January 2024.

    16. Journal version: paper

  16. H. Panag* and R.M. Woollands, "Thruster Pointing Constrained Optimal Control for Satellite Servicing using Indirect Optimization," 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, January 2024.
  17. A. Pascarella* and R.M. Woollands, "Adaptive Picard-Chebyshev Methods for Bang-Bang Control Dynamics," 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, January 2024.
  18. B. Patrick*, A. Pascarella*, and R.M. Woollands, "Hybrid Optimization of High-Fidelity Low-Thrust Transfers to the Lunar Gateway," 45th AAS GNC Conference, Breckenridge, CO, February 2023.

    Journal version: paper

  19. H. Panag*, R.M. Woollands, S. Bandyopadhyah, and A. Rahmani, "Reducing Thruster Plume Contamination for Satellite Servicing using Convex Optimization," 45th AAS GNC Conference, Breckenridge, CO, February 2023.
  20. A. Pascarella* and R.M. Woollands, "Low Thrust Trajectory Optimization for Transporting Gateway's Power and Propulsion Elements to a Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit," 33rd AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Austin, TX, January 2023.
  21. D. Stanley*, R.M. Woollands, A. Rahmani, F. Rossi, and C. Choi, "Enabling Space-based Cloud Tomography with a Mixed Integer Linear Programming Scheduler," 33rd AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Austin, TX, January 2023.
  22. J. Fofrich*, A. Pascarella*, R.M. Woollands, A. Rahmani, F. Rossi, and C. Choi, "Optimal Low-Thrust Trajectory from NRHO to LLO using High-Fidelity Dynamics," 33rd AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Austin, TX, January 2023.
  23. J.B. Bouvier**, H. Panag*, R.M. Woollands, and M. Ornik, "Resilience of orbital inspections to partial loss of control authority of the chaser satellite," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, August 2022.
  24. A. Pascarella, R.M. Woollands, E. Pellegrini, M. Sanchez-Net, and J. Vander Hook, "Low Thrust Trajectory Optimization for the Solar System Pony Express," 44th AAS Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, February 2022.

    Journal version: paper

  25. V. Arya, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, "Indirect Based Shadow Modelling with Warm-up Time for Perturbed Orbit Transfers," 44th AAS Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, February 2022.
  26. A. Pascarella, R.M. Woollands, and S. Eggl, "Solar Electric Propulsion Mission Design for Space Telescope Refueling and Servicing," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Virtual Conference, August 2021.
  27. R.M. Woollands, F. Rossi, T. Stegun Vaquero, M. Sanchez Net, S. Bae, V. Bickel, and J. Vander Hook, "Maximizing Dust Devil Follow-up Observations on Mars using Cubesats and On-board Scheduling," 31st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, February 2021.

    Journal version: paper

  28. A. Juarez, A. Bani Younes, A. Atallah, and R.M. Woollands, "Model Predictive Control Solver Using Chebyshev Picard Method," AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, August 2020.
  29. R.M. Woollands and S. Eggl, “Optimal Low Thrust Transfers for Space Telescope Refueling at SEL2,” 43rd Annual AAS Guidance & Control Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 2020.
  30. S. Singh, E. Taheri, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Mission Design for Close-Range Lunar Mapping by Quasi-Frozen Orbits,” 70th International Astronautical Congress, Washington, D.C., October 2019.
  31. V. Arya, E. Taheri, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Gravity-Assist Fuel-Optimal Low-Thrust Trajectory Design using Hybrid Optimization Techniques,” 70th International Astronautical Congress, Washington, D.C., October 2019.
  32. R.M. Woollands and E. Taheri, “Optimal Low Thrust Perturbed Orbit Transfers with Shadow Constraints,” AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Portland, Maine, August 2019.
  33. R.L. Anderson, S. Campagnola, D. Koh, T.P. McElrath, and R.M. Woollands, “Endgame Design for Europa Lander: Ganymede to Europa Approach,” AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Portland, Maine, August 2019.

    Journal version: paper

  34. R.M. Woollands, E. Taheri, and J.L. Junkins, “Efficient Computation of Optimal Low Thrust Perturbed Orbit Transfers,” 29th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, Hawaii, January 2019.
  35. S. Kumar Singh, R.M. Woollands, E. Taheri, and John Junkins, “Feasibility Study of Quasi-Frozen, Near-polar and Extremely Low-altitude Lunar Orbits,” 29th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, Hawaii, January 2019.
  36. A. Atallah, A. Bani Younes, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Analytical Radial Adaptive Method for Spherical Harmonics Gravity Models,” 29th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, Hawaii, January 2019.
  37. P. Menon, S. Wagner, D. Jefferson, E. Graat, K. Lee, W. Schulze, R.M. Woollands, and K. Criddle, “Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Navigation Strategy for Support of Insight Lander's Entry, Descent and Landing Sequence,” 29th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, Hawaii, January 2019.
  38. A. Atallah, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Tuning Orthogonal Polynomial Degree and Segment Interval Length to Achieve Prescribed Approximation of Irregular Functions,” 28th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Kissimmee, Florida, January 2018.
  39. J.L. Junkins and R.M. Woollands, “Nonlinear Differential Equation Solvers via Adaptive Picard-Chebyshev Iteration: Applications in Astrodynamics,” AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Stevenson, Washington, August 2017.

    Journal version: paper

  40. R.M. Woollands, J.L. Read, and J.L. Junkins, “Minimum-Time Low Thrust Transfers using the Method of Particular Solutions and Picard Iteration,” 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, San Antonio, Texas, February 2017.
  41. N. Budd, J. Read, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Iterative Five-Element Lyapunov Control for Low Thrust Rendezvous with Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration,” 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, San Antonio, Texas, February 2017.
  42. T. Swenson, R.M. Woollands, and M. Lo, “The Dynamics of Comet-Shoemaker-Levy 9: Initial Capture Phase,” 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, San Antonio, Texas, February 2017.
  43. R.M. Woollands, J.L. Read, A. Probe, and J.L. Junkins, “Adaptive Two-Point Boundary Value Problem Tool for Accurate and Efficient Computation of Perturbed Orbit Transfers,” 26th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Napa, California, February 2016.
  44. V. Goecks, A. Probe, R.M. Woollands, J. Hurtado, and J.L. Junkins, “Spacecraft Attitude Estimation for Low Cost CubeSat Missions,” 39th Annual AAS Guidance & Control Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 2016.
  45. T. Swenson, R.M. Woollands, J.L. Junkins, and M. Lo, “Application of Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration to Differential Correction for Improved Robustness and Computation Time,” 26th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Napa, California, February 2016.
  46. R.M. Woollands, J.L. Read, B. Macomber, A. Probe, A. Bani Younes, and J.L. Junkins, “Parallel Generation of Extremal Field Maps for Optimal Multi-Revolution Continuous Thrust O rbit Transfers,” AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Vail, Colorado, August 2015.
  47. R.M. Woollands, A. Bani Younes, B. Macomber, X. Bai, and J.L. Junkins, “Optimal Continuous Thrust Maneuvers for Solving 3D Orbit Transfer Problems,” 38th Annual AAS Guidance & Control Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 2015.
  48. R.M. Woollands, J. Read, B. Macomber, A. Probe, A. Bani Younes, and J.L. Junkins, “Method of Particular Solutions and Kustaanheimo-Stiefel Regularized Picard Iteration for Solving Two-Point Boundary Value Problems,” 25th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, January 2015.
  49. B. Macomber, A. Probe, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Automated Tuning Parameter Selection for Orbit Propagation with Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration,” 25th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, January 2015.
  50. A. Probe, B. Macomber, J. Read, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Radially Adaptive Evaluation of the Spherical Harmonic Gravity Series for Numerical Orbital Propagation,” 25th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Williamsburg, Virginia, January 2015.
  51. R.M. Woollands, A. Bani Younes, B. Macomber, A. Probe, D. Kim, and J.L. Junkins, “Validation of Accuracy and Efficiency of Long-Arc Orbit Propagation Using the Method of Manufactured Solutions and the Round-Trip-Closure Method,” Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, September 2014.
  52. A. Probe, B. Macomber, D. Kim, R.M. Woollands, and J.L. Junkins, “Terminal Convergence Approximation Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration for efficient numerical integration of orbital trajectories,” Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, September 2014.
  53. R.M. Woollands, J.L. Junkins, and A. Bani Younes, “A New Solution for the Generalized Lambert's Problem,” 37th Annual Guidance and Control Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 2014.
  54. B. Macomber, R.M. Woollands, A. Probe, A. Bani Younes, X. Bai, and J.L. Junkins, “Modified Chebyshev Picard Iteration for Efficient Integration of Ordinary Differential Equations,” Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, June 2013.
  55. A. Bani Younes, B. Macomber, R.M. Woollands, A. Probe, X. Bai, and J.L. Junkins, “Fast Gravitational Field Model Using Adaptive Orthogonal Finite Element Approximation,” Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, June 2013.
  56. J.L. Junkins, A. Bani Younes, R.M. Woollands, and X. Bai, “Orthogonal Polynomial Approximation in Higher Dimensions: Applications in Astrodynamics,” presented at the Jer-nan Juang Astrodynamics Symposium, College Station, Texas, June 14-26, 2012.
  57. R.M. Woollands and P.L. Cottrell, “A Photometric Analysis of R Coronae Borealis Stars in the Magellanic Clouds,” Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, v404, 2009.
  58. R.M. Woollands, K.R. Pollard, D.J. Wright, D.J. Ramm, and T. Böhm, “Mt John Spectroscopic Observations of the δ Scuti binary star RS Cha,” Southern Stars, The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, v46, No. 3, 2007.

Ph.D. Dissertations

  1. A. Pascarella, Novel Methods for High-Fidelity Low-Thrust Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization and Mission Design, Summer 2025.
  2. D. Engel, Assessment of Aerosurface-Based Hypersonic Control of Blunt Bodies for Planetary Entry, Spring 2025.

Master's Theses

  1. P. Ravada, Hybrid-Optimization Scheme for Low-Thrust Trajectory Design to the Lunar Gateway, Fall 2023.
  2. J. Fofrich, Designing Low Thrust Missions in Cislunar Space, Fall 2023.
  3. B. Patrick, High-Fidelity Low-Thrust Trajectory Optimization to the Lunar Gateway, Spring 2023.
  4. H. Panag, Reducing Spacecraft Thruster Plume Contamination Using Convex Optimization, Spring 2023.