Edgar Glenn Lightsey

John W. Young Chair
Telephone
Office Building
ESM
Office Room Number
110A/B
Biography

Dr. E. Glenn Lightsey is the John W. Young Chair Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. He currently serves as the interim director for the Space Research Initiative at Georgia Tech. Previously, he was the director of the Space Systems Design Lab from 2016-2023 and Center for Space Technology And Research at Georgia Tech from 2019-2023. 

Dr. Lightsey’s research program focuses on the technology of small satellites, including: guidance, navigation, and control systems; attitude determination and control; formation flying, satellite swarms, and cooperative control; proximity operations and unmanned spacecraft rendezvous; space based Global Positioning System receivers; radionavigation; propulsion; satellite operations; and space systems engineering. Dr. Lightsey’s group has built and operated spacecraft for government sponsors.

Dr. Lightsey has authored and co-authored more than 180 technical articles and publications, including four book chapters. He is an AIAA Fellow and a Founding Member of the AIAA Small Satellite Technical Committee. He is Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Small Satellites. In the past he served as Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics and Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. Dr. Lightsey was previously employed at the University of Texas at Austin and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Research

Lab/Collaborations:

  • Space Systems Design Lab (SSDL)

Disciplines:

  • Systems Design & Optimization
  • Flight Mechanics & Controls

AE Multidisciplinary Research Areas:

  • Space Exploration and Earth Monitoring
Education

B.S.E - Princeton University - Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering; M.S. - Johns Hopkins University - Electrical Engineering; Ph.D. - Stanford University - Aeronautics & Astronautics;

Distinctions & Awards

AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award (2019); AIAA Fellow (2016); Univ. of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2012-2014); John Leland Atwood Award for Outstanding Teaching in Aerospace Engineering (2012); Institute of Navigation Tycho Brahe Award (2005), Big XII Faculty Fellow (2004); Halliburton Young Faculty Excellence Award (2000); NASA Manned Flight Awareness Award (1999)