http://rbs.rbsp.info/RbS/cv.html
CURRICULUM VITAE
Dr. Robert B. Sheldon
Education
ThM Westminster Seminary,
Philadelphia All-But-Dissertation 2014 NT
PhD University
of Maryland, College Park 1990 Physics
MA Westminster
Seminary, Philadelphia 1985 Religion
MS University
of Maryland, College Park 1982 Physics
BS Wheaton
College, Wheaton IL 1981 Physics
Experience in Private Sector
1981 (summer) IBM Thomas J.
Watson Research Center, Research Assistant
1983--1984
L.T.Klauder & Assoc. Engineering
Consultants, Programmer
2005--2007 USRA
consultant on NASA preparations for exploration of lunar
water
2011--2013 Grassmere
Dynamics LLC., consultant on Fission, Fusion, Plasma Rocket
Engines
2015--2016 Grassmere
Dynamics LLC., consultant on Optics
2016--Now Torch
Technologies, analyst/physicist.
Experience in Government & DoD Contracting
1986--2016 NASA
contractor, proposal writer, data analyst, instrument
builder.
2016--Secret Clearance received.
2016--2019 Set up the Advanced Projector Test Lab (APTL) at AMRDEC.
2016--2019 Research, whitepapers on advanced photonic technology.
2016--2018 Designed, operated, diagnosed, repaired 3D printer for optical
hardware.
2017--2018 Researched, calibrated, modelled 100kHz laser steering technology.
2017--2018 Calibrated, displayed, wrote software for Quanergy Lidar sensor in ROS.
2019–2020 Calibrated, modelled, optimized Lidar advanced sensors: linear APD
and SPD (GMAPD).
2020-2021 Calculated, simulated, prototyped magnetically levitating permanent magnet technology
2021-2024 Analyst on HAMRS project, demonstrating single-satellite (bearings
only) tracking
2023-2024 Implemented ranging camera using engineered double-helix point-spread function
Experience in Satellite Hardware and Space
Physics
- NASA/WIND/MASS:
Invention, Simulation, Design, Testing and Flight Calibration of
High Resolution Electrostatic Mass Spectrometer for Space Research
UMD92.
- NASA/WIND/SWICS & ESA/SOHO/MTOF: Characterization
of Scattering, Energy Loss, and Final Charge State of Ion Beams
Penetrating Carbon Foil as a Function of Energy, Charge State and
Foil Thickness UMD87 & UBe95.
-
NASA/AMPTE/CHEM: Model
Development and Data Analysis of the Quiet Terrestrial Ring Current
Ions; PhD Thesis, UMD90.
-
NASA: Development of Novel Algorithms
for Magnetopheric Convection Modelling, and Application to ISEE and
AMPTE Data; UMD92.
-
NASA/WIND/SMS:
Flight Calibration and Analysis, UBe94.
-
NASA/WIND/MTOF:
First Analysis of Solar Wind Isotopes (other than noble gases),
UBe95.
-
ESA/PHOENIX/RAPID: Calibration and Analysis of the IES
Sensor @ GSFC facilities) BU96.
-
NASA/POLAR: Investigator on
instrumentation, BU95-present.
-
NASA/POLAR/CEPPAD: Energetic
Neutral Atom Discoveries including 1st global snapshot of a substorm
injection and 1st storm-time ring current injection. BU96.
-
NASA/POLAR/CAMMICE: Discovery/Theory of the Greater Cusp
Accelerator, the source of MeV "killer" electrons.
BU96/UAH01.
-
NASA: Proposal and business plan for nanosat
communication network using lasers UAH00.
-
NASA/SEDSAT 1:
Faculty advisor and lead on the science recovery effort. UAH01.
-
NASA/BITSY: Faculty advisor and lead on the ground station
development of microsatellite. UAH02.
-
NASA/MagCon: Proposal
and Whitepaper on the use of nanosatellite clusters for tail
research. BU00.
-
A Theory of Ring Current Convective +
Diffusive Transport using a Hamiltonian formalism with ionospheric
fluctuation power input. BU96.
-
Theory/Experiment of Magnetic
Storms and Ring Current Injections. BU96/UAH00.
-
Theory/Experiment
of Young Stellar Object (YSO) and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) jets.
BU97/UAH01.
-
Invention of the HELIX Ultra High Resolution Mass
Spectrometer, UAH99.
-
Experiment on Dusty Plasma Solar Sails,
UAH01
-
Co-Inventor of Dusty Plasma Fission Fragment Nuclear
Rocket, NSSTC05
-
NASA/RBSP: Proposal for low-cost monitoring of
the radiation belt flux. NSSTC05.
-
Wet Comet Theory for
structure and dynamics of short-period comets, NSSTC05
-
Theory
of Polar Mesospheric Clouds as Dusty Plasmas, NSSTC06
-
Theory
of the diffusion of life throughout the galaxy, NSSTC07
-
Theory
of the origin of life as an addition of information, NSSTC10
-
Demonstration and theory of electrostatic dust confinement in
quadrupole magnetic field, NSSTC11
-
NASA/NIAC: Design of a
fission fragment nuclear rocket, Grassmere 2012
-
NASA/CIF:
Design of a nuclear rocket variable thrust "afterburner",
Grassmere 2013
-
NASA/NIAC: Proposal+design of a fission-fusion
stardrive rocket, Grassmere 2013
-
NASA/NIAC: Proposal+design of
a 3rd generation electric "plasma laser" propulsion,
Grassmere 2013
-
Theory of Magnetized Big Bang Nucleosynthesis &
cometary dark matter, Grassmere 2014
-
Invention of
Gravity-Stabilized Paul trap for Dusty Plasma Levitation, Grassmere
2014
-
Discovery of Eden in dry Med bed with references in
ancient mythology, Grassmere 2014.
-
Design of a Cubesat Gravity
Gradiometer for Planetary Missions, Grassmere 2015.
Books & Patents
- Laser
Satellite Communication: the 3rd generation. Greenwood, 2000.
This book records a business plan that would make satellite
telecommunications affordable by 3rd world countries, who are
straining to enter the information age. The concept inverts the
geosynchronous (or Iridium) satellite model and argues for a fleet
of nanosats in low earth orbit. The innovative design and
communication needs of such nanosats form the basis of the Patent
#US5909299 "Microsatellite system for high-volume orbital
telemetry", granted in 6/1/1999.
- HELIX patent applied for in
2003. This patent is for a very compact mass spectrometer with
applications for space exploration instrumentation, as well as mass
market "digital nose" technology.
- The
Long Ascent: Genesis 1-11 in Science and Myth, Vol. 1, Wipf &
Stock, 2017. First of 3 volumes describing the location of Eden in
the dried Med bed between 11,900--9590 BC.
- The
Long Ascent: Genesis 1-11 in Science and Myth, Vol. 2, Wipf &
Stock, 2019. Second of 3 Volumes, describing the Flood at 9590 BC.
- The
Long Ascent: Genesis 1-11 in Science and Myth, Vol. 3, Wipf &
Stock, 2023. Third of 3 Volumes, describing pre-deluge technology.
Experience in Higher Education
2004-2006 Taylor
University Proposal Consultant to Engineering Physics Dept
2003
(summer) NASA/MSFC/NSSTC/SD50
Summer Faculty Fellow
2002-2003 Wheaton
College Visiting Associate Professor
1998-2002 University
of Alabama in Huntsville Associate Professor
1997-1998
Boston University Senior
Research Associate
1995-1997 Boston
University Research Associate
1993-1995 University
of Bern Physics Laboratory Associate
1986-1990 University
of Maryland Research Assistant
1988-1989 Silver
Spring Christian Academy High School Physics Teacher
1985-1986
University of Maryland Graduate Lab
Teaching Assistant
1981-1982 University
of Maryland Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Courses Taught
Secondary School:
1988-1989 Silver
Spring Academy Physics. Four 10th grade girls. Conceptual
Physics, Hewitt.
2012-2013 Covenant
Christian Academy, Astronomy, Jack Fix's "Astronomy"
2006-2020
Covenant Christian Academy,
Academic Team Coach
2017-2018 Covenant
Christian Academy, High
School Astronomy
Undergraduate:
1982 UMd Introductory Physics Labs. 20 students x 3 sections x 3
semesters.
1998 UAH 1st semester Calculus based Physics. 72
students. Halliday & Resnick
1999 UAH 2nd
semester calculus based physics. 60 students. Halliday &
Resnick
1999 UAH Electronics
for Physics majors. 3 students. Fortney.
2000 UAH 3rd
semester calculus based physics. 35 students. H & R
2000
UAH 3rd semester
calculus based physics. 20 students. H & R
2000 UAH
Introduction to
Astronomy. 65 students. Kauffman.
2001 UAH Physics,
Philosophy & Fundamentalism. 7 students.
2002 WC 1st
semester calculus based physics. ~20 students. Giancoli
2002
WC 1st semester elementary physics lab. ~ 65 students
2002 WC
Experimental Physics (design of a vacuum system). 2 students
2003
WC 2nd semester elementary
physics lab. ~20 students
2003 WC Analytical
Mechanics. 9 students. Marion & Thornton
2003 WC Senior
Seminar. 7 students
Graduate:
1986 UMd Graduate
Laboratory. About 15 students x 4 semesters
1995 UniBerne
Graduate Laboratory.
Professional and Honorary Associations
SPIE: International Society for Optical
Engineering
AIAA: American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
AGU:
American Geophysical Union
Wheaton College Scholastic Honor
Society
National
Merit Scholarship Finalist
Experience in Computation
Operating systems: DOS, DEC VAX; Windows 95,98,2k,XP,Vista,7,8;
Linux SCO,RedHat,Fedora,Mandrake,Ubuntu; Mac OS X, Robot Operating
System
Programming Languages: BASIC, FORTRAN, Cobol, Pascal, C,
Python, VRML, Forth, LaTeX, BibTeX
Packages: Word, Excel,
Powerpoint, Corel, Wordperfect, IDL, Linux-lookalikes, Maple, Maxima,
Geant4
Selected Publications
-
D. C. Hamilton, G. Gloeckler, F.M. Ipavich, R.A. Lundgren, R.B.
Sheldon and D. Hovestadt, "A new high resolution electrostatic
ion mass analyzer using time of flight", Rev. Sci. Instrum.,
61, 3104-3106, (Oct 1990).
-
R. B. Sheldon "
Particle Tracing in the Magnetosphere: New Algorithms and Results",
Geophys. Res. Let., 20(9) 767-770, 1993.
-
R. B. Sheldon and D. Hamilton "
Ion Transport and Loss in the Earth's Symmetric Quiet Ring Current:
I. Data and Standard Model", J. Geophys. Res.,
98(A8) 13,491-13,508, 1993
-
R. B. Sheldon "
Ion Transport and Loss in the Earth's Symmetric Quiet Ring Current:
II. Diffusion and Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling", J.
Geophys. Res., 99(A4) 5705-5720, 1994
-
R. B. Sheldon "
Plasmasheet Convection into the Inner Magnetosphere During Quiet
Conditions." in Solar Terrestrial Energy Program: COSPAR
Colloquia Series Vol. 5 edited by D.N. Baker et al., Pergamom
Press, 313-318, 1994.
-
G. Gloeckler, H. Balsiger, P. Bochsler, A. Buergi, A.B. Galvin, J.
Geiss, F. Gliem, D.C. Hamilton, T.E. Holzer, D. Hovestadt, F.M.
Ipavich, E. Kirsch, R.A. Lundgren, K.W. Olgivie, R.B. Sheldon, and
B. Wilken The
solar wind and suprathermal ion composition investigation of the
WIND spacecraft, Space Sci Rev., 71, 79, 1995.
-
P. Bochsler, R. Sheldon, M. Gonin, Th. Zurbuchen, A.B. Galvin, G.
Gloeckler, D.C. Hamilton and D. Hovestadt, "Abundances of Solar
Wind Magnesium Isotopes Determined with WIND/MASS", Solar
Wind Eight, Pergamom Press, 1996.
-
C. M. S. Cohen, M.R. Collier, D.C. Hamilton, G. Gloeckler, R.B.
Sheldon, R. von Steiger, B. Wilken, "Kinetic Temperature Ratios
of O6+ and He2+: Observations from Wind/MASS and Ulysses/SWICS,"
Geophys.Res.Lett., 23, 1187-1190, 1996.
-
M. R. Collier, D.C. Hamilton, G. Gloeckler, P. Bochsler, R.B.
Sheldon, "Neon-20, Oxygen-16, and Helium-4 Densities
Temperatures, and Suprathermal Tails in the Solar Wind Determined
with WIND/MASS," Geophys. Res.Lett., 23, 1191-1194,
1996.
-
A. B. Galvin, C.M.S. Cohen, F.M. Ipavich, G. Gloeckler, D.C.
Hamilton, K. Chotoo, H. Balsiger, R. Sheldon, "Iron Charge
States in the Solar Wind as Measured by SMS on WIND," Solar
Wind Eight, Pergamom Press, 1996.
-
R. B. Sheldon and H. E. Spence, "Alfv\'en
Boundaries: Noses and Zippers", Advances in Space
Research, 20,445-448, 1997.
-
J. Fennell, B. Blake, J. Roeder, R. Sheldon and H. Spence, "Tail
lobe and open field line region entries at mid to high latitudes"
Advances in Space Research, 20, 431-435, 1997.
-
D. N. Baker et al. "Recurrent Geomagnetic Storms and
Relativistic Electron Enhancements in the Outer Magnetosphere: ISTP
Coordinated Measurements", J. Geophys. Res., 102,
14,141-14,148, 1997.
-
R. B. Sheldon and T. Eastman "Particle
Transport in the Magnetosphere: A New Diffusion Model",
Geophy. Res. Let., 24(7), 811-814, 1997.
-
M. G. Henderson et al. "First
Energetic Neutral Atom Images from POLAR/CEPPAD/IPS"
Geophys.Res.Lett., 24, 1167-1170, 1997.
-
J. Chen, T. Fritz, R. Sheldon, H. Spence, W. Spjeldvik, J. Fennell,
S. Livi, "A New Temporarily Confined Population in the Polar
Cap" Geophys.Res.Lett., 24, 1447-1450, 1997.
-
J. Chen, T. Fritz, R. Sheldon, H. Spence, W. Spjeldvik, J. Fennell,
S. Livi, C. Russell, and D. Gurnett, "Cusp Energetic Particle
Events: Implications for a Major Acceleration Region of the
Magnetosphere" J. Geophys. Res., 103, 69-78, 1998.
-
M. R. Collier, D.C. Hamilton, G. Gloeckler, G. Ho, P. Bochsler, R.
Bodmer, and R. Sheldon, "Oxygen 16 to oxygen 18 abundance ratio
in the solar wind observed by Wind/MASS", J. Geophys. Res.,
103, 7-14, 1998.
-
E. Whipple, J. Halekas, J. Scudder, W. Paterson, L. Frank, R.
Sheldon, N. Maynard, D. Weimer, C. Russell, K. Tsuruda, H. Hayakawa,
T. Yamamoto, "Identification of magnetospheric particles that
travel between spacecraft and their use to help obtain
magnetospheric potential distributions", J. Geophys. Res.,
103, 93-102, 1998. "
-
R. B. Sheldon, H. E. Spence and J. F. Fennell, "The
Observation of 40 keV Oxygen Beams"`, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 25, May 15, 1998.
-
J. F. Fennel, M. W. Chen, J., L. Roeder, W. K. Peterson, K. J.
Trattner, R. Friedel, S. Livi, M. Grande, C. Perry, T. A. Fritz, and
R. Sheldon, "Multiple Discrete-Energy Ion Features in the Inner
Magnetosphere: Polar Observations", in Physics of Space
Plasmas, No. 15, pp 395-400, MIT Center for Theoretical
Geo/Cosmo Plasma Physics, Cambridge, MA, 1998.
-
R. B. Sheldon, H.E. Spence, J. Sullivan, T.Fritz, J.Chen, "The
Discovery of Trapped Energetic Electrons in the Outer Cusp",
Geophy. Res. Lett., 25, 1825, 1998.
-
R. B. Sheldon, and H. E. Spence, "A
new magnetic storm model", in Geospace Mass and Energy
Flow: Results from the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Program, AGU Geophysical Monograph 104, pp. 349-354, 1998.
-
H. E. Petschek, C. Rayburn, R. Sheldon, J. Vickers, M. Bellino, G.
Bevis, and H. E. Spence, The
Kilo-Satellite Constellation Concept, in Science Closure and
Enabling Technologies for Constellation Class Missions, V.
Angelopoulos and P. Panetta, eds., Univ. of California, Berkeley
Press, pp. 51-57, 1998.
-
W. N. Spjeldvik, T.A. Fritz, R.B. Sheldon and J. Chen "Magnetic
Local Time Survey of Radiation Belt Helium Ion Structure Conducted
with Data from the POLAR CAMMICE/HIT Instrument", Phys.
Chem. Earth (C), 24, 233-238, 1999.
-
W. N. Spjeldvik, T. A. Fritz, J. Chen and R. B. Sheldon, "POLAR
Spacecraft Observations of Helium Ion Angular Anisotropy in the
Earth's Radiation Belts", Annales Geophysicae, 17,
723-733, 1999.
-
T. A. Fritz, J. Chen, R. B. Sheldon, H. E. Spence, J. F. Fennell, S.
Livi, C. T. Russell, and J. S. Pickett, "Cusp
energetic particle events measured by POLAR spacecraft",
Phys. and Chem. of the Earth, 24, 135, 1999.
-
V. Jordanova, C. Farrugia, J. Quinn, R. Torbert, J. Borovsky, R.
Sheldon, and W. Peterson, ``Simulation of off-equatorial ring
current ion spectra measured by Polar for a moderate storm at solar
minimum'', J. Geophys. Res. 104, 429--436, 1999.
-
R. B. Sheldon, ``The
Bimodal Magnetosphere and Ring Current, Radiation Belt, and Tail
Transducers'', Adv. in Space Res. 25, 2347--2356, 2000.
-
T. A. Fritz, Jiasheng Chen, and R. B. Sheldon, ``The
role of the cusp as a source for magnetospheric particles: a new
paradigm?", Adv. in Space Res. 25, 2000.
-
R. B. Sheldon and S. Spurrier, ``The
Spinning Terrella Experiment: Initial Results'', Physics of
Plasmas, 8, 4, 1111-1118, 2001.
-
J. Chen, T.A. Fritz, R.B. Sheldon, J.S. Pickett, and C.T. Russell,
"The Discovery of a New Acceleration and Possible Trapping
Region of the Magnetosphere", Adv. Space Res., 27,8,
pp.1417-1422, 2001.
-
R. B. Sheldon, E. Thomas, Jr, M.Abbas, D.Gallagher, M.Adrian and
P.Craven, "Dynamic
and Optical Characterization of Dusty Plasmas for Use as Solar
Sails", in Space Technology and Applications
International Forum-STAIF 2002 ed. M.S. El-Genk, AIP 2002
-
M. M. Abbas, P. D. Craven, J. F. Spann, W. K. Witherow, E. A. West,
D. L. Gallagher, M. L. Adrian, G. J. Fishman, D. Tankosic, A.
LeClair, R. B. Sheldon, and E. Thomas Jr. "Radiation
pressure measurements on micron-size individual dust grains",
J. Geophys. Res., 108(A6), 1229, doi:10.1029/2002JA009744,
2003.
-
R. B. Sheldon, J. Chen, and T.A. Fritz, "Comment
on `Origins of energetic ions in the cusp' by K.J. Trattner et al.",
J. Geophys. Res., 108(A7), 1302, doi:10.1029/2002JA009575,
2003.
-
Jiashen Chen, T. A. Fritz, and R. B. Sheldon, "Comment
on `MeV magnetosheath ions energized at the bow shock' by S.-W.
Chang et al.", J. Geophys. Res., 108 (A8), 1311,
doi:10.1029/2002JA009634, 2003.
-
R. B. Sheldon, T.A. Fritz and J. Chen, "The
Quadrupole as a Source of Cusp Energetic Particles: I. General
Considerations" in Particle Acceleration in
Astrophysical Plasmas: Geospace and Beyond edited by D.
Gallagher, J. Horwitz, J. Perez, R. Preece, and J. Quenby, AGU
Monograph Series v. 156, pp. 197-204, 2005.
-
R. B. Hoover, E. V. Pikuta, N. C. Wickramasinghe, M. K. Wallis, R.
B. Sheldon, "Astrobiology
of Comets" in Instruments, Methods, and Missions for
Astrobiology VII, Hoover, Levin and Rozanov eds, Proc. Of SPIE Vol.
5555 (Bellingham, WA) pp 93-106, 2004.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover "Evidence
for Liquid Water on Comets" in Instruments, Methods, and
Missions for Astrobiology VIII, Hoover, Levin, Rozanov, eds. Proc.
Of SPIE Vol 5906A (Bellingham, WA) pp. 196-206, 2005.
-
R. B. Sheldon "Historical
Development of the Distinction between Bio- and Abiogenesis"
in Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VIII,
Hoover, Levin, Rozanov, eds. Proc. Of SPIE Vol 5906A
(Bellingham, WA) pp. 444-456, 2005.
-
R. L. Clark and R. B. Sheldon "Dusty
Plasma Based Fission Fragment Nuclear Reactor" in Proc.
of 41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE JPC, AIAA paper #2005-4460, 2005.
-
J. Chen, T. A. Fritz and R. B. Sheldon "Comparison
of energetic ions in cusp and outer radiation belt", J.
Geophys Res. 110, A12219, doi:10.1029/2004JA010718, 2005.
-
J. Chen, T. A. Fritz and R. B. Sheldon "Multiple
spacecraft observations of energetic ions during a high solar wind
pressure event", J. Geophys. Res. 110, A11212,
doi:10.1029/2005JA011043, 2005.
-
G. V. Khazanov, E. Krivorutsky and R. B. Sheldon "Solid-
and Grid-Sphere Current Collection in View of the TSS-1, TSS-1R
Mission Results", J. Geophys. Res. 110, A12304,
doi:10.1029/2005JA011100, 2005.
-
P. H. Yoon, A. T. Y. Lui and R. B. Sheldon, "On
the current sheet model with κ-distribution" in Physics
of Plasmas, 13(10), pp. 102108-102108-6 (2006).
-
R. B. Sheldon, T.A. Fritz and J. Chen, "The
Quadrupole as a Source of Cusp Energetic Particles: II. The Static
Equinoctal Cusp" in Unpublished AGU Monograph, edited by D.
Gallagher, 2007.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "Implications
of cometary water: Deep Impact, Stardust and Hayabusa" in
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX, Hoover,
Levin, Rosanov eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6309 (Bellingham, WA) pp
6309-0L, 2006.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "The
Cometary Biosphere" in Instruments, Methods, and
Missions for Astrobiology X, Hoover, Levin, Rosanov eds. Proc. of
SPIE Vol. 6694 (Bellingham, WA) pp 6694-0H, 2007.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "Cosmological
Evolution: Spatial Relativity and the Speed of Life" in
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI, Hoover,
Levin, Rosanov eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7097 (Bellingham, WA) pp
7097-41, 2008.
-
R. B. Sheldon, T.A. Fritz and J. Chen, "The
Quadrupole as a Source of Cusp Energetic Particles: III. Outer
Radiation Belt and MeV Electrons" in J. Atmospheric and
Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 70, No. 14, pp. 1829-1846, 2008.
-
R. B. Sheldon, "Space
Sciences" in Mass Spectrometry: Instrumentation,
Interpretation, and Applications Ekman, Silberring, Brinkmalm,
and Kraj eds., Wiley & Sons, pp. 253-266, 2009.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "Cometary
Biosphere and the Origin of Life" in Instruments,
Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XIV, Hoover, Levin, Rosanov
eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8152 (Bellingham, WA) pp 8152-42, 2011.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "More
Evidence for Liquid Water on Comets" in Instruments,
Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XIV, Hoover, Levin, Rosanov
eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8152 (Bellingham, WA) pp 8152-12, 2011.
-
R. B. Sheldon, "Comets,
Information, and the Origin of Life" in Genesis - In The
Beginning: Precursors of Life, Chemical Models and Early Biological
Evolution, Vol 22 in Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats
and Astrobiology, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2941-4_21, 2012.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. B. Hoover, "Carbonaceous
Chondrites as Bioengineered Comets" in Instruments,
Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XV, Hoover, Levin, Rosanov
eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8521 (Bellingham, WA) pp 8521-21, 2012.
-
R. L. Clark, R. B. Sheldon and R. O. Werka "Dusty
Plasma Based Fission Fragment Nuclear Rocket" in,
Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2013,
paper 6790 February, 2013.
-
R. B. Sheldon and G. Webb, "Comets
and entropy hydrodynamics: How does evolution violate the 2nd law?"
in, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVI,
Hoover, Levin, Rosanov and Wickramasinghe eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol.
8965 (Bellingham, WA) pp 8965-09, 2013.
-
R. B. Sheldon, "Primordial
Comets: Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, Dark Matter and Life" in,
Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVII, Hoover,
Levin, Rosanov and Wickramasinghe eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 9606
(Bellingham, WA) pp 9606-27, 2015.
-
M. I. Sheldon and R. B. Sheldon, "Arrhenius
Reconsidered: Astrophysical Jets and the Spread of Spores"
in, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVII,
Hoover, Levin, Rosanov and Wickramasinghe eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol.
9606 (Bellingham, WA) pp 9606-28, 2015.
-
R. B. Sheldon, "Wet
Comet Model: ROSETTA Redux" in, Instruments, Methods,
and Missions for Astrobiology XVII, Hoover, Levin, Rosanov and
Wickramasinghe eds. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 9606 (Bellingham, WA) pp
9606-41, 2015.
-
R. L. Clark and R. B. Sheldon, "A
Six Component Model for Dusty Plasma Nuclear Fission Fragment
Propulsion" in Proc. Nucl. and Emerging Tech. for Space
2016, 6506, February 2016.
-
R. B. Sheldon and R. L. Clark, "A
Half-Gigawatt Space Power System using Dusty Plasma Fission Fragment
Reactor" in Proc. Nucl. and Emerging Tech. for Space
2016, 6505, February 2016.
-
R. B. Sheldon, "Comets,
Water and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis" in, Communications
of the Blythe Institute, Vol 3, No. 1, pp. 9-22, 2021.
Special Awards and Honors
- Organizer for the Huntsville
2000 Workshop (attendance 85).
- NASA Group Achievement Award for
AMPTE Mission Operations
(1990)
- UMd Ralph D. Myers Teaching Award for Graduate Laboratory
Teaching Assistant (1986)
Significant Contracts and Grants
- Global
Electric Field Determination in the Earth's Outer Magnetosphere
using Charged Particles.
NASA ($123k) 1/1991-12/1994
Acting
PI: R. Sheldon, Co-I's: T. Eastman*, D. Hamilton, and C. McIlwain
- The
Magnetospheric Mapping Mission, NASA ($200k)
2/1997--12/1999
Acting PI: R. Sheldon, Co-I's: H. Spence*, H.
Petschek, G. Siscoe
- Remote
Sensing of Magnetospheric Structure Using (U,B,K) Analysis of GGS
Particle and Field Data
NASA ($170k) 5/1997--4/1999
Acting
PI: R. Sheldon Co-I's H. Spence*, E. Whipple, G. Parks
- ``A Survey
of Ring Current Direct Injection Events'', NASA ($40k)
1/1999--1/2001
PI: R. Sheldon
- ``The
Spinning Terrella Plasma Accelerator'', UAH ($8.8k)
4/1999--3/2000
PI: R. Sheldon
- ``The
Properties of Cusp Diamagnetic Cavities'', NASA ($70k)
6/2000--5/2001
PI: R. Sheldon
- ``Dynamic
and Optical Characterization of Dusty Plasmas for Use as Solar
Sails''
NASA ($150k) 6/2001--12/2001.
PI: R. Sheldon,
Co-I: D.Gallagher, M.Adrian, M.Abbas, P.Craven, E.Thomas,Jr.
- High
Resolution Mass Spectrometer for Lunar Rover
NASA/MSFC internal
grant in 2005
- Radioactive
Dust Levitation Experiment
NASA/MSFC internal grant in
2011-2013
- Fission
Fragment Dusty Plasma Rocket, NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
($100k), 2011-2012
PI: Bob Werka, Co-I's: Rob Sheldon and Rod
Clark
- Afterburner
for Fission Fragment Dusty Plasma Rocket, NASA/MSFC Center
Innovation Fund ($100k), 2013
PI: Bob Werka, Co-I's: Rob
Sheldon and Rod Clark
- Levitating
Magnet, Torch Firepit ($20k) 2019--
R. Sheldon and G. Bergstue
- Monocular
Ranging Camera, Torch Firepit ($10k) 2023--
R. Sheldon and D.
Vasquez