C. J. Leising

Papers

Total Citations

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About

C. J. Leising is a researcher specializing in the early-stage development and assessment of robotic planetary mission concepts. Their primary contributions lie in creating systematic frameworks to measure the maturity of mission ideas as they evolve from initial, informal "cocktail napkin" sketches through to formal design reviews like the Critical Design Review (CDR). Leising’s most cited work, a 2009 paper with 12 citations and a closely related 2010 follow-up with 7 citations, both titled "Measuring the Maturity of Robotic Planetary Mission Concepts," provides a structured methodology for evaluating the fidelity and resource estimation accuracy of mission proposals at each stage. This work is instrumental in helping space agencies and research teams prioritize and allocate resources effectively during the conceptual phase. By offering a clear, repeatable metric for maturity, Leising has helped bridge the gap between creative brainstorming and rigorous engineering, enabling more efficient planning for planetary exploration. Their research continues to inform how mission concepts are vetted and matured, making it a valuable reference for students and professionals in space mission design and systems engineering.