Worked for nine years on the Galileo project, designing the orbital path of the spacecraft for its trip to Jupiter and its moons. An expert on orbital trajectories, he and students have found a gravity-assisted trajectory, similar to that of Voyager's, which would support a mission to Uranus, Neptune and Pluto sometime after the year 2000. Is faculty adviser for student group, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. Is investigating use of composites to extend life of aging aircraft. Is a fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of American Association of Mechanical Engineers.
Research integrates active control systems with aircraft structural design.