Faculty Directory

Kaplan, Marshall H.

Kaplan, Marshall H.

Professor of Practice
Aerospace Engineering
3181 Martin Hall

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Aeronautical and Astronautical Sciences, Stanford University, 1968
  • M.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962
  • B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, Wayne State University, 1961 (cum laude, ranked 1st in engineering)

BACKGROUND

Marshall H. Kaplan is a consultant to several major research universities in the area of academic research project development and funding acquisition. He regularly presents Research Productivity Seminars around the U.S. and manages international research programs in South America and Asia. He is currently guiding two major research center developments with the objective of creating two multi-disciplinary, multi-university academic research organizations with multiple sponsors.

Dr. Kaplan has served as Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director of a space research institute at Florida Tech and as a tenured full Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State. His academic and professional experience spans several decades. Until recently, he served as a Senior Space Systems Advisor at Johns Hopkins University/Applied Research Laboratory. Prior to that, he was on the research staff at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) with responsibilities as Senior Technical Advisor to the National Security Space Office (NSSO), Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Science and Technology Policy Institute, which supports the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Dr. Kaplan has briefed the Pentagon’s Joint Space Team on multiple occasions.

Dr. Kaplan’s innovations, writings and teachings have created an international reputation as an expert in aircraft, spacecraft and launch vehicle design and engineering. A majority of space professionals have enjoyed his lectures over the past 30 years.  Almost every engineer working in the field of spacecraft dynamics and control is familiar with his unique text on the subject. Dr. Kaplan played pivotal roles in the design of three-axis stabilized satellite designs, the safe reentry of Skylab, and early evaluation of reusable launch system concepts. He has assisted many universities in the development of individual and interdisciplinary research projects and worked directly with faculty in acquiring research grants and creating centers of research excellence.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • DuPont Memorial Fellowship, M.I.T., 1961‑1962
  • NASA Traineeship, Stanford University, 1966‑1967
  • NSF Traineeship, Stanford University, 1967‑1968
  • 1978 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research in the College of Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1995 Appointed to the National Research Council Study Group on Single-Stage-to-Orbit Launch Vehicle Technologies
  • Elected to Fellow grade, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1999
  • Elected to Fellow grade, American Astronautical Society, 2000
  • Elected to Full Membership, International Academy of Astronautics, 2002
  • Served as a member of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Space Research and Space Technology (SP) Focus Area (FA) External Review Panel, August 2011

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Fellow)
  • American Astronautical Society (Fellow)
  • International Academy of Astronautics (Full Member)

Professor of Practice focused on academic research project development and funding acquisition

Books

  • Modern Spacecraft Dynamics and Control, M. H. Kaplan, Wiley and Sons, NY, 1976.
  • SPACE SHUTTLE: America's Wings to the Future, M. H. Kaplan, Aero Publishers, Fallbrook, CA, 1978. Second edition, 1983.
  • Acquiring Major Systems Contracts: Bidding Methods and Winning Strategies, M. H. Kaplan, Wiley and Sons, NY, 1988.
  • University Research Funding Secrets, M.H. Kaplan, in preparation.

Contributions to Books and Proceedings

  • "The Road To OOS: Enabling Architecture," M. H. Kaplan, Proceedings of the First Bilateral DLR-CSA Workshop on On-Orbit Servicing of Space Infrastructure Elements via Automation & Robotics Technologies, Nov 24-26, 2002.
  • "A Systems Approach to Developing an Inexpensive Fully-Reusable Two-Stage Launch Vehicle," M. H. Kaplan, R. J. Rey, and S. B. Newman, Vol. 88, Advances in the Astronautical Sciences (Proceedings of the AAS 18th Annual Guidance and Control Conference), February 1995, pp. 291-311.
  • "Transfer Orbit Stage Guidance and Control," J. R. Stuart, R. E. Coffey, M. H. Kaplan, and T. W. White, Proceedings of the AAS 9th Annual Guidance and Control Conference, February 1986, pp. 285‑301.
  • "Ascent Propulsion Study for INTELSAT VI," M. H. Kaplan and W. W. Dorsey, Proceedings of the 8th AIAA Communications Satellite Systems Conference, 1980, pp. 665‑673.
  • "A Concept for Shifting the Reentry Point of Skylab," M. H. Kaplan and S. G. Alexander, in Guidance and Control 1979, Vol. 39, Advances in The Astronautical Sciences, 1979, pp. 391‑405.
  • "A Nuclear‑Powered Communications Satellite for the 1980's," M. H. Kaplan, D. J. Cwynar, and J. J. Bednarz, Proceedings of the 7th AIAA Communications Satellite Systems Conference, 1978, pp. 655‑659.       
  • "Space Nuclear Power Supply Design in the Shuttle Era," M. H. Kaplan, Proceedings of the 12th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1977, pp. 1323‑1328.
  • "Use of the Water Sprays in Space Rescue and Retrieval Operations," M. H. Kaplan and D. C. Freesland, Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Rescue and Safety Studies Symposium, International Academy of Astronautics, 1977.
  • "Active Attitude and Orbit Control of Body‑Oriented Geostationary Communications Satellites," in Satellite Communications Systems, ed. by I. Kadar, AIAA Selected Reprint Series, Vol. XVIII, 1976, pp. 342‑355.
  • "Optimal Detumbling of a Large Manned Spacecraft Using an Internal Moving Mass," B. G. Kunciw and M. H. Kaplan, In Automatic Control in Space 6, Proceeding of the Sixth International Conference, IIa, 1974, pp. 7‑26.
  • "The Transverse Wheel Spin‑Up Maneuver for Attitude Acquisition," M. H. Kaplan and T. C. Patterson, In EASCON 1974 Record, October 1974, pp. 151‑158.
  • "Techniques for Detumbling a Disabled Space Base," M. H. Kaplan, Proceedings of the Sixth International Space Rescue and Safety Studies Symposium, International Academy of Astronautics, 1974.
  • "Active Attitude and Orbit Control of Body‑Oriented Geostationary Communications Satellites," M. H. Kaplan, in Communications Satellite Technology, AIAA Progress Series in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Vol. 33, MIT Press, 1974, pp. 29‑56.
  • "The Problem of Docking with Passive Orbiting Object which Possesses Angular Momentum," M. H. Kaplan, in Astronautical Research 1971, Proceedings of the 22nd I.A.F. Congress, 1973, pp. 203‑217.
  • "Lunar Gravity Model Obtained by Using Spherical Harmonics with Mascon Terms," M. H. Kaplan and B. G. Kunciw, published in the AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, Vol. 15, Use of Artificial Satellites for Geodesy, 1972, pp. 265‑273.
  • "Dynamics and Control of Orbital Retrieval Operations Using the Space Shuttle," M. H. Kaplan, W. H. Yarber, E. J. Creehan, and E. C. Thomas, in Space Shuttle Technology Conference, Vol. 1 ‑ Operations, Maintenance and Safety, NASA Kennedy Space Center TR‑1113, May 1971, pp. 175‑201.
  • "Survey of Lunar Surface Mobility Systems," M. H. Kaplan, In Automatic Control in Space‑3, Proceedings of the Third International Conference, Toulouse, France, 1970, pp. 175‑182.

Refereed Articles

  • "Finite Burn Effects on Ascent Stage Performance," M. H. Kaplan and W. Yang, Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, October‑December, 1982, pp. 403‑414.
  • "Nuclear‑Powered Communications Satellite for the 1980's," M. H. Kaplan and J. Bednarz, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, July‑August 1979, pp. 268‑272.
  • "Simulation of Skylab Orbit Decay and Attitude Dynamics," M. H. Kaplan, D. J. Cwynar, and S. G. Alexander, Journal of Guidance and Control, November‑December 1979, pp. 511‑516.
  • "Anticipated Attitude Motion of Skylab for 1979 Revisit Mission," M. H. Kaplan, D. J. Cwynar, and S. G. Alexander, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, July‑August 1978, pp. 219‑223.
  • "Design of Satellite Flexibility Experiments," M. H. Kaplan and S. E. Hillard, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 4, 1977, pp. 257 270.
  • "Control and Stability Problems of Remote Orbital Capture," M. H. Kaplan and A. A. Nadkarni, Journal of Mechanics and Machine Theory, Vol. 12, 1977, pp. 57 64.
  • "Nuclear Powered Satellite Design for Shuttle Launches," M. H. Kaplan, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, November 1977, pp. 703 704.
  • "Attitude Acquisition Maneuver for Bias Momentum Satellites," M. H. Kaplan and T. C. Patterson, COMSAT Technical Review, Vol. 6 No. 1, Spring 1976, pp. 1 23.
  • "Optimal Space Station Detumbling by Internal Mass Motion," B. G. Kunciw and M. H. Kaplan, Automatica, Vol. 12, No. 5, Sept. 1976, pp. 417 425."Inclination Correction Strategy with Yaw Sensing via Sun Angle Measurement," M. H. Kaplan COMSAT Technical Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, Spring 1975, pp. 15 27.
  • "Design and Operational Aspects of All Electric Thruster Control Systems for Geostationary Satellites," M. H. Kaplan, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, November 1975, pp. 682 688.
  • "Automatic Spacecraft Detumbling by Internal Mass Motion," T. L. Edwards and M. H. Kaplan, AIAA Journal, April 1974, pp. 496 502.
  • "Stabilization Aspects of a Wheel Energy Storage and Attitude Control Systems for Geostationary Satellites," M. H. Kaplan, COMSAT Technical Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, Spring 1974, pp. 21 40.
  • "All Electric Thruster Control of a Geostationary Communications Satellite," M. H. Kaplan, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, February 1973, pp. 119 125.
  • "Estimation and Correction of Electric Thruster Misalignment Effects on a Geostationary Satellite," M. H. Kaplan, COMSAT Technical Review, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 1973, 57 74.
  • "Control of Spin Ambiguity During Reorientation of An Energy Dissipating Body," M. H. Kaplan and R. J. Cenker
  • "Lunar Gravity Model Obtained by Using Spherical Harmonics with Mascon Terms," M. H. Kaplan and B. G. Kunciw, published in the AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, Vol. 15, Use of Artificial Satellites for Geodesy, 1972, pp. 265 273.
  • "Attitude Dynamics and Control of an Apogee Motor Assembly with Paired Satellites," M. H. Kaplan and N. M. Beck, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, June 1972, pp. 410 415.
  • "Dynamical Equations for the Plane Change Maneuver of the Lunar Hopping Laboratory," M. H. Kaplan, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, April 1970, pp. 491 493.

Other Articles and Papers

  • “The State of the Launch Vehicle Industry,” M. H. Kaplan, Pacific Telecommunications Review, Vol. 24, No. 1, 3rd Quarter 2002, pp. 13-19.
  • “Kaplan’s Laws – What’s the Best Configuration for Next-Generation RLVs?” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 1, February 2000, pp. 20-21.
  • “Kaplan’s Laws - The Launcher Market: How Much Will It Give?” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 2, March 2000, pp. 20-21.
  • “Will the Ongoing Drama of Reducing Launch Costs Ever Have a Happy Ending?” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 7, September 2000, p. 46.
  • "Basic Recipe for RLVs," M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2, March/April 1999, p. 66.
  • “Which is Better?  A Reusable First Stage or Second Stage?” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3, May/June 1999, pp. 50-51.
  • “Kaplan’s Laws – Distribution of Complexity Between the Stages of a Two-Stage Launcher System,” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 4, July/August/September 1999, pp. 28-29.
  • “Kaplan’s Laws – Are RLVs Economically Viable?” M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 5, October/November 1999, pp. 26-27.
  • "Unobtainium: The Ultimate Space Material," M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 1998, p. 6.
  • "The Reusable Launch Vehicle: Is the Stage Set?”  M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 15, 1997, pp. 26-30.
  • "X-33 and VentureStar. Is this a Paradox?"  M. H. Kaplan, Launchspace Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 3, Fall 1996, p. 9.
  • "How Contractors See Systems Acquisition," M. H. Kaplan, Program Manager Magazine, September/October 1990, pp. 38 42.
  • "Funded Research   Getting Started," M. H. Kaplan, Engineering Education, January February 1990, pp. 27 30.

University of Maryland Orbital Debris Education and Research Center to Host Inaugural Workshop

First academically led center will lead workshop to connect academe, industry and government to address critical issues in orbital debris policy, management and mitigation.

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

  • Fellow