S.Nataraja Murthy
Papers
1
Total Citations
12
H-Index
1
About
S. Nataraja Murthy is a pioneering researcher in space systems engineering, with a focus on extreme environment power solutions and deployable space structures. His most notable contribution is the TransFormers for Lunar Extreme Environments project, a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) study that addresses one of space exploration’s most daunting challenges: powering robotic missions in the permanently shadowed, cryogenic (70K) interior of Shackleton Crater on the Moon. Murthy’s work proposes using large, origami-inspired deployable solar reflectors positioned on the crater rim to redirect sunlight into the dark interior, enabling sustained exploration without heavy, short-lived batteries. This innovative concept has garnered 12 citations since 2017, reflecting its influence on lunar mission design and deployable structure research. By merging origami engineering with astrodynamics, Murthy has opened new pathways for sustainable power in the solar system’s most hostile environments, making his research essential reading for students and engineers working on next-generation space architectures and in-situ resource utilization.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1