Linda L. Brewster

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About

Linda L. Brewster is a leading aerospace engineer specializing in automated rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) systems for spacecraft. Her primary research focuses on developing and validating sensor technologies that enable uncrewed spacecraft to autonomously navigate and dock in both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Low Lunar Orbit (LLO). Brewster’s most significant contribution is her pioneering work at NASA’s Flight Robotics Laboratory, where she designed and executed rigorous testing protocols for multi-sensor RPOD systems. Her landmark 2007 paper, “Automated Rendezvous and Docking Sensor Testing at the Flight Robotics Laboratory,” which has garnered 18 citations, established foundational methodologies for verifying sensor performance in simulated space environments. This work directly supports the Exploration Systems Architecture, enabling critical missions that require precise autonomous docking without human intervention. Brewster’s 2008 follow-up study expanded these testing frameworks to incorporate multiple sensor types, enhancing system redundancy and reliability. Her research has proven instrumental in advancing autonomous spacecraft capabilities, reducing mission risks, and paving the way for future lunar exploration and orbital assembly operations. Through her rigorous sensor validation techniques, Brewster has become a key figure in making automated space rendezvous a practical reality.