Photo of Robert Melton

Robert Melton

Professor
DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Affiliation(s):

  • Aerospace Engineering
    •

229B Hammond Building

r81@psu.edu

814-865-1185

Personal or Departmental Website

Research Areas:

Astrodynamics; Vehicle Dynamics and Controls

Interest Areas:

Astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, spacecraft design, trajectory optimization.

 
 

 

Education

  • BS, Physics (cum laude), Wake Forest University, 1976
  • MS, Physics, University of Virginia, 1979
  • Ph D, Engineering Physics, University of Virginia, 1982

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Sharad Sharan, Roshan Thomas Eapen, Puneet Singla and Robert G Melton, 2023, "Accurate Uncertainty Characterization of Impulsive Thrust Maneuvers in the Restricted Three Body Problem", Journal of the Astronautical Sciences
  • Damien Gueho, Puneet Singla, Manoranjan Majji and Robert G Melton, 2022, "Filtered Integral Formulation of the Sparse Model Identification Problem", Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 45, (2), pp. pp 232-247
  • Guanwei He and Robert G Melton, 2021, "Analytic Approximation for Fixed-Angle Constant Thrust Trajectories via Linear Perturbation Theory", Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 44, (1), pp. 8
  • Guanwei He, Davide Conte, Robert G Melton and David B Spencer, 2019, "Fireworks Algorithm Applied to Trajectory Design for Earth to Lunar Halo Orbits", Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 57, (2), pp. 12
  • Robert G. Melton, 2018, "Differential evolution/particle swarm optimizer for constrained slew maneuvers", Acta Astronautica, 148, pp. pp. 246-259
  • Dario Spiller, Robert G Melton and Fabio Curti, 2018, "Inverse Dynamics Particle Swarm optimization applied to constrained minimum-time maneuvers using reaction wheels", Journal of Aerospace Science and Technology, 75, pp. 1-12
  • Seung Pil Kim and Robert G Melton, 2015, "Constrained Station Relocation in Geostationary Equatorial Orbit Using a Legendre Pseudospectral Method", Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 38, (4), pp. 711-719
  • Robert G Melton, 2014, "Maximum-Likelihood Estimation Optimizer for Constrained, Time-Optimal Satellite Reorientation", Acta Astronautica, 103, pp. 185-192
  • Robert G Melton, 2014, "Hybrid methods for determining time-optimal, constrained spacecraft reorientation maneuvers", Acta Astronautica, 94, (1), pp. 294-301
  • Robert G Melton, 2012, "Numerical Analysis of Constrained, Time-Optimal Satellite Reorientation", Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2012
  • B. M. Yutko and Robert G Melton, 2010, "Optimizing Spacecraft Reorientation Maneuvers Using a Pseudospectral Method", Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Sciences and Applications, 2, (1), pp. 1-14
  • Robert G Melton, 2009, "Constrained Time-Optimal Slewing Maneuvers for Rigid Spacecraft", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 135, pp. 107-126
  • P.-S. Hur, Robert G Melton and D. B. Spencer, 2008, "Meeting Science Requirements for Attitude Determination and Control in a Low-Power, Spinning Nanosatellite", Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Science, and Applications, 1, (1), pp. 25-33
  • M. A. Wissler, D. B. Spencer and Robert G Melton, 2007, "Coast-Arc Orbit Stability During Spiral-Down Trajectories about Irregularly Shaped Bodies", Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
  • W. Chadwick, D. B. Spencer and Robert G Melton, 2006, "Geometric Visibility of Ground Sites for Beacon/Relays on the Martian Moons", Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
  • D. B. Spencer, Robert G Melton and S. G. Chianese, 2006, "Selecting Projects for a Capstone Spacecraft Design Course From Real World Solicitations", Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research
  • S. G. Bilen, C. R. Philbrick, T. F. Wheeler, J. D. Matthews, Robert G Melton and D. B. Spencer, 2006, "An Overview of Space Science and Engineering Education at Penn State", IEEE Aerospace and Electronics Magazine

Conference Proceedings

  • Robert G Melton, 2020, "DE-Sigma: A Modified Differential Evolution Algorithm", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA, 174
  • Damien Gueho, Guanwei He, Puneet Singla and Robert G Melton, 2020, "Optimal spacecraft docking maneuver using direct and indirect collocation method and particle swarm optimization", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Portland, ME, United states, 171, pp. 1875 - 1894
  • Robert G Melton, 2020, "Space Trajectory Optimization: Differential Evolution Redux", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA, 170
  • Damien Gueho, Puneet Singla and Robert G Melton, 2019, "INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENT NEURAL NETWORK ARCHITECTURES FOR DYNAMIC SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION: APPLICATIONS TO ORBITAL MECHANICS", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA, 168
  • Robert G Melton, 2012, "Hybrid Method for Constrained Time-Optimal Spacecraft Reorientation Maneuvers", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 143
  • Robert G Melton, 2012, "Hybrid Methods for Determining Time-Optimal, Constrained Spacecraft Reorientation Maneuvers", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 145
  • Damien Gueho, Guanwei He, Puneet Singla and Robert G Melton, , "OPTIMAL SPACECRAFT DOCKING MANEUVER USING DIRECT AND INDIRECT COLLOCATION METHOD AND PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA
  • Guanwei He and Robert G Melton, , "ANALYTIC APPROXIMATION FOR FIXED-ANGLE LOW-THRUST TRAJECTORIES VIA LINEAR PERTURBATION THEORY", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA
  • Guanwei He and Robert G Melton, , "MULTIPLE SMALL-SATELLITE SALVAGE MISSION SEQUENCE PLANNING FOR DEBRIS MITIGATION", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA
  • Mohammad Azhar and Robert G Melton, , "LOW THRUST TRANSFERS BETWEEN HALO ORBITS IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM", Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Univelt, Inc., San Diego, CA

Research Projects

Honors and Awards

  • Faculty Adviser Award, AIAA, January 2011
  • Sustained Service Award, AIAA, January 2010
  • Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching, Pennsylvania State University, 2006
  • Lawrence J. Perez memorial Student Advocate Award, College of Engineering, Penn State Univ., 2001
  • Special Service Citation, AIAA, 1995
  • Premier Teaching Award, College of Engineering, Penn State Univ., 1992
  • Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, Society of Automotive Engineers, 1986
  • Outstanding Advising Award, College of Engineering, Penn State Univ., 1986
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Engineering, Penn State Univ., 1985
  • Elected Full Member, International Academy of Astronautics, July 2022
  • Corresponding Member, International Academy of Astronautics, July 2018
  • Dirk Brouwer Award, American Astronautical Society, December 2019

Service

Service to Penn State:

  • Committee Work, Chairperson, Chair, P&T (one case), Promotion and Tenure Committee, September 2021 - August 2022
  • Participation in Governance Bodies and Related Activities, Member, University Faculty Senate, Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs, September 2020
  • Committee Work, Chairperson, Dept P &T, Promotion and Tenure Committee, August 2020 - July 2021
  • Committee Work, Chairperson, Dept P&T, Promotion and Tenure Committee, August 2019 - August 2020
  • Committee Work, Faculty, ETM Cmte for COE, Entrance-to-Major Committee, October 2018 - May 2019
  • Committee Work, Committee Member, University Faculty Senate, University Faculty Senate, Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs, August 2016 - May 2024
  • Academic Leadership and Support Work, Representative, Senate Cmte on Curricular Affairs Representative to COE EFC/Undergrad Studies Committee, University Faculty Senate, July 2016 - June 2024
  • Academic Leadership and Support Work, Administrator, Director of Undergraduate Studies, August 2003
  • Academic Leadership and Support Work, Administrator, Lead honors adviser, Schreyer Honors College, August 1983

Service to External Organizations:

  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Committee Member, Space Flight Mechanics Committee, American Astronautical Society, January 2021
  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Committee Member, Astrodynamics TC, International Astronautical Federation, October 2019
  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Committee Member, International Planning Committee, International Astronautical Federation, October 2019
 


 

About

The Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, established in 1961 and the only aerospace engineering department in Pennsylvania, is consistently recognized as one of the top aerospace engineering departments in the nation, and is also an international leader in aerospace education, research, and engagement. Our undergraduate program is ranked 15th and our graduate programs are ranked 15th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, while one in 25 holders of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering in the U.S. earned it from Penn State. Our students are consistently among the most highly recruited by industry, government, and graduate schools nationwide.

The department is built upon the fundamentals of academic integrity, innovation in research, and commitment to the advancement of industry. Through an innovative curriculum and world-class instruction that reflects current industry practice and embraces future trends, Penn State Aerospace Engineering graduates emerge as broadly educated, technically sound aerospace engineers who will become future leaders in a critical industry

Department of Aerospace Engineering

229 Hammond Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2569