John Christian
Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Programs
Biography
Dr. John A. Christian a Professor and the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. As the director of the Space Exploration Analysis Laboratory (SEAL), he develops algorithms for extracting information from space sensor data. Dr. Christian is most well-known for his contributions in the use of visible/infrared space imagery, especially for celestial optical navigation (OpNav), planetary terrain relative navigation (TRN), and star/asterism identification. His algorithms have been incorporated into numerous space exploration missions. Dr. Christian is the author of the graduate-level textbook “Fundamentals of Spacecraft Optical Navigation.” Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Dr. Christian held faculty positions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Associate Professor, 2020-2021; Assistant Professor, 2017-2019) and West Virginia University (Assistant Professor, 2013-2017). Prior to his academic career, Dr. Christian was an engineer in the GNC Autonomous Flight Systems Branch at NASA Johnson Space Center (2010-2012). Dr. Christian is active in numerous professional societies. He is an American Astronautical Society (AAS) Fellow and an AIAA Associate Fellow. He is also an associate editor of the AAS Journal of the Astronautical Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a B.S. and M.S. in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech.
Teaching Interests
Professor Christian’s teaching interests encompass astrodynamics and aerospace navigation at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He emphasizes integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications to prepare students for challenges in aerospace engineering. His instruction often includes multidisciplinary approaches that address the complexities of modern aerospace vehicles and their operation.
Research Interests
Professor Christian’s research focuses on spacecraft navigation and astrodynamics. His work addresses the extraction of information from space sensor data, with an emphasis on optical and inertial sensors. He is especially active in the area of spacecraft optical navigation (OpNav). His work includes both theoretical algorithm development and experimental validation through field tests.
Research
Lab/Collaborations:
- Space Exploration Analysis Laboratory (SEAL)
Disciplines:
- Flight Mechanics & Controls
- Systems Design & Optimization
AE Multidisciplinary Research Areas:
- Robotics, Autonomy, and Human Interactions
- Space Exploration and Earth Monitoring
Education
- B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology;
- M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology;
- Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Distinctions & Awards
- Outstanding Achievement in Research Innovation Award, Georgia Tech, 2025
- NASA Group Achievement Award (x4), 2006, 2012, 2019, 2024
- American Astronautical Society (AAS) Fellow, 2021
- NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Fellow, 2020
- AIAA Associate Fellow, 2019
- New Researcher of the Year, WVU Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources, 2015
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award, 2015
- AIAA Willy Z. Sadeh Graduate Award in Space Engineering and Space Sciences, 2007
Recent Publications
- Christian, J.A., Fundamentals of Spacecraft Optical Navigation, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2026.
- Driver, T., Vaughan, A., Cheng, Y., Ansar, A., Christian, J.A., and Tsiotras, P., “Stereophotoclinometry Revisited,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2026.
- Mancini, M., Duff, T., Leykin, A., and Christian, J.A., “Geometric Solution to the Angles-Only Inertial Orbit Determination Problem,” Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 72, 2025.
- Krause, M., Thrasher, A., Soni, P., Smego, L., Isaac, R., Nolan, J., Pledger, M., Lightsey, E.G., Ready, W.J., and Christian, J.A., “LONEStar: The Lunar Flashlight Optical Navigation Experiment,” Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 71, 2024. (Editor’s Choice Award)
- Henry, S., and Christian, J.A., “Absolute Triangulation Algorithms for Space Exploration,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2023, pp. 21-46.
- Christian, J.A., Derksen, H., and Watkins, R., “Lunar Crater Identification in Digital Images,” The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 68, 2021, pp. 1056-1144.