CURRICULUM VITAE

Education

Experience in Private Sector

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

Books & Patents

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. In preparation: Fission, Fusion, and Plasma Electric propulsion

Experience in Higher Education

Courses Taught

Professional and Honorary Associations

Experience in Computation

Selected Publications

1. 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).
2. R. B. Sheldon " Particle Tracing in the Magnetosphere: New Algorithms and Results", Geophys. Res. Let., 20(9) 767-770, 1993.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. R. B. Sheldon and H. E. Spence, "Alfv\'en Boundaries: Noses and Zippers" Advances in Space Research, 20,445-448, 1997.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. R. B. Sheldon and T. Eastman "Particle Transport in the Magnetosphere: A New Diffusion Model", Geophy. Res. Let., 24(7), 811-814, 1997.
15. M. G. Henderson et al. "First Energetic Neutral Atom Images from POLAR/CEPPAD/IPS" Geophys.Res.Lett., 24, 1167-1170, 1997.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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. "
20. R. B. Sheldon, H. E. Spence and J. F. Fennell, "The Observation of 40 keV Oxygen Beams"`, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, May 15, 1998.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. R. B. Sheldon, ``The Bimodal Magnetosphere and Ring Current, Radiation Belt, and Tail Transducers'', Adv. in Space Res. 25, 2347--2356, 2000.
30. R. B. Sheldon and S. Spurrier, ``The Spinning Terrella Experiment: Initial Results'', Physics of Plasmas, 8, 4, 1111-1118, 2001.
31. 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.
32. 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
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. 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).
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. 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.
48. 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.
49. 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.
50. R. B. Sheldon, "Space Sciences" in Mass Spectrometry: Instrumentation, Interpretation, and Applications Ekman, Silberring, Brinkmalm, and Kraj eds., Wiley & Sons, pp. 253-266, 2009.
51. 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.
52. 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.
53. 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.
54. 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.
55. 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.

Special Awards and Honors

1. Organizer for the Huntsville 2000 Workshop (attendance 85).
2. NASA Group Achievement Award for AMPTE Mission Operations (1990)
3. UMd Ralph D. Myers Teaching Award for Graduate Laboratory Teaching Assistant (1986)

Significant Contracts and Grants

1. Global Electric Field Determination in the Earth's Outer Magnetosphere using Charged Particles.
   NASA grant for $123k from Jan 1991-1994
   Real PI: R. Sheldon,
   Co-I's: T. Eastman*, D. Hamilton, and C. McIlwain
2. The Magnetospheric Mapping Mission
   NASA grant for $200k from Feb 1997--1999
   Real PI: R. Sheldon,
   Co-I's: H. Spence*, H. Petschek, G. Siscoe
3. Remote Sensing of Magnetospheric Structure Using (U,B,K) Analysis of GGS Particle and Field Data
   NASA grant for $170k from May 1997--1999
   Real PI: R. Sheldon
   Co-I's H. Spence*, E. Whipple, G. Parks
4. ``A Survey of Ring Current Direct Injection Events''
   NASA grant for $40k from Jan 99-Jan 01
   PI: R. Sheldon
5. ``The Spinning Terrella Plasma Accelerator''
   UAH grant for $8.8k from Apr 99 - Mar 00
   PI: R. Sheldon
6. ``The Properties of Cusp Diamagnetic Cavities''
   NASA grant for $70k from Jun 00 to May 01
   PI: R. Sheldon
7. ``Dynamic and Optical Characterization of Dusty Plasmas for Use as Solar Sails''
   NASA grant for $150k from Jun 01 - Dec 01.
   PI: R.Sheldon,
   Co-I: D.Gallagher, M.Adrian, M.Abbas, P.Craven, E.Thomas,Jr.
8. High Resolution Mass Spectrometer for Lunar Rover
   NASA/MSFC internal grant in 2005
9. Radioactive Dust Levitation Experiment
   NASA/MSFC internal grant in 2011-2013
10. Fission Fragment Dusty Plasma Rocket
    NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts grant for $100k, from 2011-2012
    PI: Bob Werka,
    Co-I's: Rob Sheldon and Rod Clark
11. Afterburner for Fission Fragment Dusty Plasma Rocket
    NASA/MSFC Center Innovation Fund grant for $100k, 2013
    PI: Bob Werka,
    Co-I's: Rob Sheldon and Rod Clark