World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

D-Index
38
Citations
7272
World Ranking
2228
National Ranking
810

Kyle T. Alfriend publication distribution in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Kyle T. Alfriend sits on this spectrum.

47–56 publications: 10 scientists 57–66 publications: 23 scientists 67–76 publications: 32 scientists 77–86 publications: 62 scientists 87–96 publications: 67 scientists 97–106 publications: 91 scientists 107–116 publications: 113 scientists 117–126 publications: 115 scientists 127–136 publications: 130 scientists 137–146 publications: 140 scientists 147–156 publications: 155 scientists 157–166 publications: 132 scientists 167–176 publications: 133 scientists 177–186 publications: 130 scientists 187–196 publications: 140 scientists 197–206 publications: 115 scientists 207–216 publications: 125 scientists 217–226 publications: 117 scientists 227–236 publications: 99 scientists 237–246 publications: 92 scientists 247–256 publications: 100 scientists 257–266 publications: 95 scientists 267–276 publications: 88 scientists 277–286 publications: 77 scientists 287–296 publications: 74 scientists 297–306 publications: 74 scientists 307–316 publications: 62 scientists 317–326 publications: 70 scientists 327–336 publications: 59 scientists 337–346 publications: 58 scientists 347–356 publications: 45 scientists 357–366 publications: 44 scientists 367–376 publications: 36 scientists 377–386 publications: 41 scientists 387–396 publications: 32 scientists 397–406 publications: 23 scientists 407–416 publications: 28 scientists 417–426 publications: 27 scientists 427–436 publications: 25 scientists 437–446 publications: 23 scientists 447–456 publications: 23 scientists 457–466 publications: 20 scientists 467–476 publications: 12 scientists 477–486 publications: 24 scientists 487–496 publications: 18 scientists 497–506 publications: 12 scientists 507–516 publications: 13 scientists 517–526 publications: 21 scientists 527–536 publications: 12 scientists 537–546 publications: 8 scientists 547–556 publications: 16 scientists 557–566 publications: 3 scientists 567–576 publications: 11 scientists 577–586 publications: 6 scientists 587–596 publications: 5 scientists 597–606 publications: 6 scientists 607–616 publications: 7 scientists 617–626 publications: 7 scientists 627–636 publications: 10 scientists 637–646 publications: 4 scientists 647–656 publications: 3 scientists 657–658 publications: 2 scientists 659+ publications: 100 scientists
47 publications 659+

This scientist: 178 publications — 36th percentile

36% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 659 publications or more.

Kyle T. Alfriend D-index placement in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Kyle T. Alfriend sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 83 scientists 31 D-Index: 113 scientists 32 D-Index: 144 scientists 33 D-Index: 153 scientists 34 D-Index: 189 scientists 35 D-Index: 158 scientists 36 D-Index: 139 scientists 37 D-Index: 127 scientists 38 D-Index: 130 scientists 39 D-Index: 126 scientists 40 D-Index: 104 scientists 41 D-Index: 100 scientists 42 D-Index: 107 scientists 43 D-Index: 101 scientists 44 D-Index: 103 scientists 45 D-Index: 79 scientists 46 D-Index: 88 scientists 47 D-Index: 70 scientists 48 D-Index: 83 scientists 49 D-Index: 44 scientists 50 D-Index: 64 scientists 51 D-Index: 56 scientists 52 D-Index: 50 scientists 53 D-Index: 48 scientists 54 D-Index: 58 scientists 55 D-Index: 52 scientists 56 D-Index: 48 scientists 57 D-Index: 42 scientists 58 D-Index: 34 scientists 59 D-Index: 42 scientists 60 D-Index: 37 scientists 61 D-Index: 42 scientists 62 D-Index: 44 scientists 63 D-Index: 22 scientists 64 D-Index: 33 scientists 65 D-Index: 29 scientists 66 D-Index: 23 scientists 67 D-Index: 29 scientists 68 D-Index: 24 scientists 69 D-Index: 19 scientists 70 D-Index: 34 scientists 71 D-Index: 26 scientists 72 D-Index: 19 scientists 73 D-Index: 18 scientists 74 D-Index: 19 scientists 75 D-Index: 14 scientists 76 D-Index: 19 scientists 77 D-Index: 8 scientists 78 D-Index: 18 scientists 79 D-Index: 16 scientists 80 D-Index: 12 scientists 81 D-Index: 17 scientists 82 D-Index: 11 scientists 83 D-Index: 16 scientists 84 D-Index: 7 scientists 85 D-Index: 9 scientists 86 D-Index: 8 scientists 87 D-Index: 6 scientists 88 D-Index: 6 scientists 89 D-Index: 7 scientists 90 D-Index: 10 scientists 91 D-Index: 4 scientists 92 D-Index: 4 scientists 93+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30 D-Index 93+

This scientist: 38 D-Index — 36th percentile

36% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 93 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2003 - Member of the European Academy of Sciences
  • 1999 - Member of the National Academy of Engineering For theoretical contributions, applied research, and leadership in satellite orbital mechanics and spacecraft attitude control.

Overview

Kyle T. Alfriend is affiliated with Texas A&M University in the United States. Their research spans the fields of Physics and Astronomy as well as Engineering, with a particular focus on several subfields including Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Statistics and Probability.

Their main topics of work include:

  • Astro and Planetary Science
  • Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Space Satellite Systems and Control
  • Target Tracking and Data Fusion in Sensor Networks
  • Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
  • Inertial Sensor and Navigation
  • GNSS positioning and interference

Kyle T. Alfriend has contributed to a range of academic literature, with publications featured in several notable venues such as:

  • Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics
  • Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
  • IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
  • Acta Mechanica Sinica
  • The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences

Some recent representative papers include:

  • "Natural Landing Simulations on Generated Local Rocky Terrains for Asteroid Cubic Lander," 2022, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
  • "On a set of J₂ equinoctial orbital elements and their use for uncertainty propagation," 2021, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
  • "New meteoroid entry method with a deformable non-spherical N-body model," 2023, Acta Mechanica Sinica
  • "Least Sum of Absolute Residuals Orbit Determination," 2021, Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics
  • "Attitude dynamics of a rigid body in Keplerian motion," 2021, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy

Frequent collaborators in their research include Kaushik Prabhu, Xiangyuan Zeng, Tongge Wen, Ziwen Li, and Manoranjan Majji.

Kyle T. Alfriend has also contributed to book literature, including a publication through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics titled "History of U.S. Space Surveillance and Satellite Cataloging: A Long and Winding Road," expected in 2025.

The scientist has been recognized by several honors, such as being named a Member of the European Academy of Sciences in 2003 and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1999, the latter for theoretical contributions, applied research, and leadership in satellite orbital mechanics and spacecraft attitude control.

Best Publications

  • Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, Control and Navigation

    Kyle Terry Alfriend;Srinivas Rao Vadali;Pini Gurfil;Jonathan How

  • State Transition Matrix of Relative Motion for the Perturbed Noncircular Reference Orbit

    Dong-Woo Gim;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • J 2 Invariant Relative Orbits for Spacecraft Formations

    Hanspeter Schaub;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Spacecraft Formation Flying Control Using Mean Orbit Elements

    Hanspeter Schaub;Srinivas R. Vadali;John L. Junkins;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Elementary Magnetic Attitude Control System

    A. Craig Stickler;K.T. Alfriend

  • Non-Gaussian error propagation in orbital mechanics

    John L. Junkins;Maruthi R. Akella;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Impulsive Feedback Control to Establish Specific Mean Orbit Elements of Spacecraft Formations

    Hanspeter Schaub;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Formation Flying: Accommodating Nonlinearity and Eccentricity Perturbations

    Sesha S. Vaddi;Srinivas R. Vadali;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Formation Establishment and Reconfiguration Using Impulsive Control

    S. S. Vaddi;K. T. Alfriend;S. R. Vadali;P. Sengupta

  • Probability of Collision Between Space Objects

    Maruthi R. Akella;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Probability of Collision Error Analysis

    Kyle T. Alfriend;Maruthi R. Akella;Joseph Frisbee;James L. Foster

  • Correlation of Optical Observations of Objects in Earth Orbit

    Jared M. Maruskin;Daniel J. Scheeres;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Hybrid Cartesian and Orbit Element Feedback Law for Formation Flying Spacecraft

    Hanspeter Schaub;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Evaluation and Comparison of Relative Motion Theories

    K. T. Alfriend;H. Yan

  • Analytical Nonlinear Propagation of Uncertainty in the Two-Body Problem

    K. Fujimoto;D. J. Scheeres;K. T. Alfriend

  • An intelligent control concept for formation flying satellites

    S. R. Vadali;S. S. Vaddi;K. T. Alfriend

  • Initial conditions and fuel-optimal control for formation flying of satellites

    S. Vadali;H. Schaub;K. Alfriend

  • SATELLITE RELATIVE MOTION USING DIFFERENTIAL EQUINOCTIAL ELEMENTS

    Dong-Woo Gim;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Dynamic and Control of Spacecraft Formations: Challenges and Some Solutions

    Kyle T. Alfriend;Hanspeter Schaub

  • Solar Sail Body-Fixed Hovering over Elongated Asteroids

    Xiangyuan Zeng;Shengping Gong;Junfeng Li;Kyle T. Alfriend

  • Optimal Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites

    Kyle T. Alfriend;Deok-Jin Lee;N. Glenn Creamer

Frequent Co-Authors

Srinivas R. Vadali
Srinivas R. Vadali Texas A&M University
Pini Gurfil
Pini Gurfil Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Hanspeter Schaub
Hanspeter Schaub University of Colorado Boulder
Maruthi R. Akella
Maruthi R. Akella The University of Texas at Austin
John L. Junkins
John L. Junkins Texas A&M University
Daniel J. Scheeres
Daniel J. Scheeres University of Colorado Boulder
I. Michael Ross
I. Michael Ross Naval Postgraduate School
Richard W. Longman
Richard W. Longman Columbia University
Andrew J. Fleming
Andrew J. Fleming University of Newcastle Australia

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