Kathleen C. Howell

Kathleen C. Howell is the Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Her expertise spans orbit mechanics, spacecraft trajectory optimization, and mission design in multi-body systems. She holds degrees from Iowa State University (B.S., 1973), Stanford University (M.S., 1977; Ph.D., 1983).

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University, 1973
• M.S. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, Stanford University, 1977
• Ph.D. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Sciences, Stanford University, 1983

Her research focuses on libration point orbits, solar sail trajectories, and trajectory optimization in Earth-Moon and interplanetary systems. She has pioneered methods for analyzing Lissajous trajectories, invariant manifolds, and low-thrust mission design. Recent work includes solar sail applications for lunar coverage and ARTEMIS mission trajectory analysis.

Publications highlight innovations in multi-body dynamics, with contributions to journals like Acta Astronautica, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, and AIAA/AAS Conference Proceedings. Her work emphasizes practical mission design tools and visualization techniques.

Awards:

• Fellow, AIAA (2013)
• W.A. Gustafson Teaching Award (2012)
• Dirk Brouwer Award (2004)
• Presidential Young Investigator Award (1984)
• Multiple Elmer F. Bruhn Teaching Awards

Her advising and grants include leadership in space mission design, formation flight, and solar sail technology. She has collaborated on projects like the TRIANA mission and contributed to the Cassini end-of-mission analysis. Active in professional societies, she has edited conference proceedings and delivered invited lectures globally.