The Era of Autonomy in Space Exploration – It’s Finally Here!

Dr. Robert D. Braun is a space systems engineer, technologist, and organizational leader. He has contributed to the formulation, development, and operation of multiple space flight missions and is a recognized authority in hypersonics technology and the entry, descent and landing domain. Dr. Braun serves on the executive leadership team of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory with responsibilities that span all civil and national security space activities at the Lab. He previously served in executive positions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of Colorado Boulder, and NASA, and has served as a tenured professor at Georgia Tech, CU Boulder and Caltech. He began his engineering career at the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory before serving as a member of the technical staff of the NASA Langley Research Center. Dr. Braun is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the AIAA and AAS, and the author or co-author of over 300 technical publications. Among numerous recognitions, he has been a member of two teams that were each awarded the Collier Trophy.