2025

S. Kumar, D. Thomas & J. Cassibry, “Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engine System Trades for Robotic Missions." AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. (submitted)

M. Schroll, R. Frederick, & D. Thomas, “Reactor Core Geometry Optimization with Application for Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rockets,” Nuclear Technology. (submitted)

Ghossein, C. Mueller, J. Mulloy, & D. Thomas, “Automated Control for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Transient Phases using Point Kinetics-Based Power Balance Modeling,” Annals of Nuclear Energy. April 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.111166.

S. Kumar, D. Thomas, & J. Cassibry, “Application of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for Sustainable Cislunar Exploration, “Acta Astronautica. March 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.11.045.

Dakota Santana & D. Keith Hollingsworth (22 Aug 2024): Vaporization in Liquid-Core Nuclear Thermal Rockets, Nuclear Science and Engineering, DOI: 10.1080/00295639.2024.2380633

D. Thomas, M. Houts, D. Wang, K. Hollingsworth, R. Frederick, & J. Cassibry, “Research Progress toward Engineering Feasibility of the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket,” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. DOI: 10.59332/jbis-076-06-0190.

D. Gorokhovskaya & D. Thomas, “Radiator Production for Pylon Fission Surface Power System through Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization,” Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NSTOR). DOI: 10.12688/nuclscitechnolopenres.17501.1.

D. Thomas, “Nuclear Thermal Propulsion – Progress and Potential,” International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety Journal of Space Safety Engineering, June 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsse.2024.04.001.

W. Ziehm & D. Thomas, “Exploring the Feasibility of Kuiper Belt Missions Supported by Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Propulsion,” Nuclear Technology, April 2024. DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2024.2323242.

Aueron & D. Thomas, “Assessment of Electric Pump Fed Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for Near Term Missions,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, March 2024. DOI: 10.2514/1.A35805.

Campbell & D. Thomas, “Basic Orbit Design and Maneuvers for Satellite Constellations Deployed using Momentum Exchange Tethers,” MDPI Aerospace, February 2024. DOI: 10.3390/aerospace11030182.

M. Schroll, P. D. na Ayuthya, R. Frederick, J. Cassibry, & D. Thomas, “Experimentally Backed Model of Bubbly Flow in a CNTP Reactor,” Acta Astronautica. February 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.12.012.

Bendoyro, D. Thomas, J. Cassibry, and W. Emrich, "Shielding Factors for a Fission-Powered Mars Exploration Rover," Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NSTOR). DOI: 10.12688/nuclscitechnolopenres.17438.310.12688/nuclscitechnolopenres.17438.2.

A. Bendoyro, D. Thomas, J. Cassibry, and W. Emrich, "Shielding Factors for a Fission-Powered Mars Exploration Rover," Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research (NSTOR), October 2023.

Da. Nikitaeva & D. Thomas, “In-Situ Propellant Alternatives for a Lunar Ascent/Descent Vehicle,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. May 2023. DOI: 10.2514/1.A35507.

S. Rawlins & D. Thomas, “Reliability Assessment of Nuclear Thermal Engine Configuration and Health Monitoring System,” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 76(4), April 2023. DOI: 10.59332/jbis-076-04-0145.

J. Kolligs & D. Thomas, “Alternate Media Viability for Systems Requirements,” Systems, Volume 11, Issue 4, 176. March 2023. DOI: 10.3390/systems11040176.

Da. Nikitaeva & D. Thomas, “Propulsion Alternatives for Mars Vehicle Architectures Using In-Situ Propellants,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. March 2023. DOI: 10.2514/1.A35506.

Di. Nikitaeva & D. Thomas, “In-Situ Resource Utilization on the Moon for Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Production,” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, February 2023. DOI: 10.59332/jbis-076-02-0056.

V. Lopez & D. Thomas, “Proposed metric for complexity assessment using SysML,” Aerospace. October 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9100612

Grumbach & D. Thomas, “Quantitative Validation of the Principles of Complex System Integration,” Systems Engineering. DOI: 10.1002/sys.21641

S. Rawlins, Y. Kim, & D. Thomas, “Feasibility of Low-Enriched Uranium Fueled Nuclear Thermal Propulsion in the Low-Thrust Region Below 16klbf,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, 179(22), December 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2022.109368.

J. Grumbach & D. Thomas,” Systems Integration Implications of Component Reuse” Systems Engineering. DOI: 10.1002/sys.21636.

D. Nikitaev & D. Thomas, “Impacts of In-Situ Alternative Propellant Utilization on Mars Vehicle Architectures Using Nuclear Thermal Propulsion,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. DOI: 10.2514/1.A35399.

S. Kumar, D. Thomas, & J. Cassibry, “Decoding the Mission Design Problem for NTP Systems for Outer Planet Robotic Missions,” Nuclear Technology. DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2022.2096388.

D. Thomas, M. Houts, W. Walters, K. Hollingsworth, R. Frederick, & J. Cassibry, “Toward the Engineering Feasibility of the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket,” Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 75(5) May 2022, pp. 181-188.

D. Nikitaev & D. Thomas, Alternative Propellant NTP Vehicle Architectures, AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A35289

D. Nikitaev & D. Thomas, “Preliminary Results for In-Situ Alternative Propellants for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion,” Nuclear Technology.

S. Kumar, D. Thomas, & J. Cassibry, “Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for Jupiter and Saturn Rendezvous Missions,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. February 2022. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.A35212

J. Grumbach & D. Thomas, "Integration Principles for Complex Systems," Wiley Systems Engineering, SYS-20-018.R2, September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/sys.21554

J. Kolligs & D. Thomas, "The Origins and Evolution of Requirements in Engineering," IEEE Systems Journal, June 2020. DOI: 10.1109/JSYST.2020.2999557

Morris, D. Thomas & K. Hollingsworth, “Stay Cool—Alternatives for Long-Term Storage of Large Quantities of Liquid Hydrogen on a Mars Transfer Vehicle,” Nuclear Technology, 2020; 207(6), pp. 860-865. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00295450.2020.1819157

Hydrogen on a Mars Transfer Vehicle", *Nuclear Technology*, December 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1819157

D. Nikitaev & D. Thomas, "Seeded Hydrogen in Mars Transfer Vehicles Using Nuclear Thermal Propulsion," AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, July 2020. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.A34722

D. Nikitaev & D. Thomas, "Seeded Hydrogen in Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engines," AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, April 2020. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.A34711

D. Thomas & E. Patterson, E., Systems Modeling Language viewpoint utilization to facilitate shared mental models among system stakeholders. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 37(1), 2020, pp.128-140. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2610

A. Aueron, D. Thomas, & J. Cassibry, "Analytical Modeling of Radiation Attenuation and Heat Deposition in Propellant for Nuclear Thermal Rockets," AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, March 2019. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.A34389