Gillian S. McGlothin

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About

Gillian S. McGlothin is a leading researcher in deployable space structures and in-space assembly, with a focus on enabling next-generation large-aperture telescopes. Her most cited work, the "TriTruss Packaging and Deployment Trade Study" (2020, 9 citations), represents a foundational contribution to the field of in-space assembled telescopes (iSAT). In this study, McGlothin systematically evaluated concepts of operation for packaging and deploying novel TriTruss modules—modular truss units designed to be robotically assembled in orbit into massive telescope structures. This trade study, part of an ongoing multi-phase project, critically assessed viable deployment strategies, balancing mass, volume, and mechanical complexity to inform future mission architectures. Her work directly addresses the engineering challenges of constructing telescopes far larger than current launch fairings allow, paving the way for revolutionary astronomical observations. McGlothin’s research sits at the intersection of structural mechanics, modular robotics, and space systems engineering, making her a key figure in the push toward autonomous in-space manufacturing and assembly. Her contributions are vital for NASA and commercial efforts to build future observatories capable of directly imaging exoplanets and studying the early universe.