Seminar: Computational Guidance and Control in Space Exploration - Aug. 27
Ping Lu
Distinguished Professor, Aerospace Engineering, San Diego State University
Wednesday, Aug. 27 | 9:35 A.M. | AERO 232
Abstract: Six decades ago, the Apollo program ushered in the first integrated-circuit flight computer鈥攖he Apollo Guidance Computer鈥攁nd gave rise to the term 鈥渟oftware.鈥 Today, computation permeates deeply every facet of spaceflight. This seminar will explore a transformative paradigm in aerospace engineering known as Computational Guidance and Control (CG&C), with a focus on its growing impact on space flight. Powered by dramatic advances in onboard computational capabilities, CG&C is redefining guidance and control by enabling real-time, vehicle-embedded decision-making capabilities far beyond those of legacy systems.听
Unlike other areas of computational science and engineering, CG&C must operate within the stringent constraints of onboard, real-time execution. Meeting the demands for autonomy, optimization, and fault tolerance, CG&C is unlocking unprecedented levels of onboard intelligence, capability, and safety.听
This seminar will follow a hypothetical human Mars mission 鈥淩ed Horizon鈥 and draw on the speaker鈥檚 own research to contrast CG&C-based approaches with conventional methods across mission phases - from orbital rendezvous and proximity operations to aerocapture at Mars, atmospheric entry, powered descent, and precision landing - demonstrating how this emerging paradigm is poised to enable the next era of space exploration.
Bio: Ping Lu received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. His expertise lies in aerospace guidance, control and flight mechanics, with research focused on advanced guidance and autonomy for space transportation systems. Throughout his career, he has contributed to several major NASA programs, including the X-33, Space Launch Initiative/Next Generation Launch Technology, Crew Exploration Vehicle, and the Evolvable Mars Campaign.听
Previously a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University, Dr. Lu joined San Diego State University in 2016, where he is a Distinguished Professor and the Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He is a Fellow of the AIAA and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, the premier international journal in aerospace guidance, navigation, control, and astrodynamics.