From Earth to Deep Space: Ethan Burnett Is Developing New Approaches to Autonomous Spaceflight 

As spacecraft venture farther from Earth and space missions grow more complex, they will need to do more than follow instructions sent from the ground — they will need to make decisions for themselves. 

That challenge is central to the research of Ethan Burnett, who joined the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor in January 2026. 

Burnett studies nonlinear dynamics, optimization and computational methods with applications in spacecraft guidance, control and astrodynamics. His research focuses on developing reliable and computationally efficient ways for spacecraft to plan and adjust their trajectories, with applications ranging from satellite servicing to future sustained human and robotic operations in space. 

“I’m interested in how we can bridge complicated systems and simpler, easily computable/intuitable representations in a cohesive and thorough way – and how such connections can then be used in engineering and science,” Burnett said. 

The challenge becomes particularly important as spacecraft operate farther from Earth. Communication delays and a growing number of deep-space missions can make it impractical for spacecraft to rely entirely on instructions from mission control. Instead, future spacecraft may need to assess their environment and make decisions independently. 

Burnett has explored these challenges from both academic and industry perspectives. His doctoral research at the University of Colorado Boulder focused on spacecraft rendezvous and formation flying. After earning his Ph.D. in 2021, he worked at Blue Origin on optimal rendezvous guidance for the next generation of space vehicles. He later joined the Politecnico di Milano in Italy as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow, where he developed techniques for fast and reliable onboard spacecraft guidance. He was hosted by the DART Group, a major academic research lab with real-world experience in deep-space mission design and operations. 

That experience shaped his interest in making spacecraft increasingly autonomous. Rather than requiring a spacecraft to repeatedly solve a complex trajectory optimization problem from scratch, Burnett’s research explores ways to give spacecraft the tools to efficiently re-plan their trajectories onboard as conditions change. His work could help enable more capable spacecraft while reducing the burden on mission operators on Earth. 

But Burnett’s research extends beyond spacecraft engineering. He is also interested in planetary dynamics and space science, which are major drivers of deep-space missions. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a planetary science affiliate at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Research at CU Boulder, where he studied the dynamics of the global ice shell of Jupiter’s moon Europa. 

For Burnett, that breadth is part of what makes research appealing. His work allows him to explore problems at the intersection of mathematics, computational engineering and space science while collaborating with and mentoring students. As Burnett puts it, “two brains are always better than one.” 

That combination of research opportunities and collaboration is what drew Burnett to UT Austin. 

“ASE/EM at UT Austin was on my radar for a long time as one of the top places for studying spaceflight and astrodynamics, with great faculty, a long tradition of excellence in space, and strong connections to NASA and industry,” he said. “Joining the department is a privilege, and I’m excited to teach and do research here.”