The next generation of space missions will require vehicles to operate in chaotic dynamical environments. Professor Henry’s research seeks to develop geometric theory and computational tools that can inform us how high-dimensional invariant objects (orbits and their hyperbolic manifolds) enforce order within these regimes. Leveraging these insights, he then develops novel spacecraft guidance navigation and control solutions that can cope with chaotic phenomena and leverage them to useful ends. Specific applications have included “zero-propellant” transfer design in cislunar space, quasi-periodic orbit computation in more realistic representations of our solar system, spacecraft formation flying, and the optimal control of space vehicles.

Education

Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 2024

M.S. Aerospace Engineering Sciences,  University of Colorado Boulder, 2021

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2018

Professional Background

Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, 2025 – present

Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Colorado Boulder - VADeR Lab, 2024-2025

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Colorado Boulder – Celestial and Spaceflight Mechanics Lab, 2018-2024

Visiting Technologist, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2023

Visiting Technologist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2022

Visiting Technologist, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, 2020 & 2021

Scientific & Professional Societies

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

Smead Aerospace Outstanding Graduate Research Award

NASA Space Technology Research Fellow 

Smead Scholar

IWSCFF 2022 Best Paper Award

AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics Excellent Reviewer

Jones Diversity Fellowship

Selected Publications

D. B. Henry, D. J. Scheeres. “Fully Numerical Computation of Heteroclinic Connection Families in the Spatial Three-Body Problem,” Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, vol. 130, pp. 107780, 2024.

D. B. Henry, D. J. Scheeres. “Quasi-periodic Orbit Transfer Design via Whisker Intersection Sets,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, vol. 46, no. 10, pp. 1929-1944, 2023.

D. B. Henry, D. J. Scheeres. “Expansion Maps: Designing Relative Trajectories on Quasi-Periodic Orbits,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 457–468, 2021.