Atri Dutta Ph.D.

Overview

Atri Dutta is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. His research and teaching interests in the areas of astrodynamics, control theory, machine learning, mission design and optimization. His research projects have encompassed a variety of topics within astrodynamics: trajectory optimization framework development for spacecraft with solar-electric propulsion, mission design for flying a neutrino detector in space, artificial neural network assisted trajectory design, CubeSat constellation design, and multi-spacecraft maneuver planning. He is an affiliated faculty of WSU’s Space Science Graduate Certificate Program. He serves as a Faculty Advisor of the WSU student organization Wichita State Rocket Club. During 2021-25, he also served as the director of Disaster Resilience and Analytics Center, one of WSU’s convergent science teams. He is an Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and serves on the Astrodynamics Technical Committee of the professional society. 

Academic Interests and Expertise

Doctor of Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. 

Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. 

Bachelor of Technology (Hons.), Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur), 2002. 

Areas of Research Interest

• Astrodynamics 
• Optimal control 
• Mission design and optimization 
• Machine learning applications in astronautics 
• Remote sensing  

Areas of Teaching Interest

• Space dynamics 
• Control system  
• Nanosatellite engineering 
• Dynamics  

Publications

Journal Articles and Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings: 

Underlined students have been directly supervised by Atri Dutta. 

[A] Low-Thrust Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization: 

A.11) A. Arustei and A. Dutta, “Low-thrust Optimization for Lengthy Cislunar Transfers using Nested B-spline Control,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, accepted for publication. 

A.10) S. M. T. Zaidi, A. Arustei, A. Munir and A. Dutta, “Single-Agent Attention Actor-Critic: A Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Solution for Low-Thrust Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization,” in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. 61, No. 5, pp. 11628-11643, Oct 2025, doi: 10.1109/TAES.2025.3569615. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11002711 

A.9) S. M. T. Zaidi, A. Arustei, A. Munir and A. Dutta, “Automated Trajectory Planning: A Cascaded Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Low-Thrust Spacecraft Orbit-Raising,” in IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, in press, doi: 10.1109/MAES.2025.3556795. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10947520 

A.8) A. Hassaan, P. Chadalavada, A. Munir, A. Dutta, M. Qureshi, “Design of deep neural networks for transfer time prediction of spacecraft electric orbit-raising,” Elsevier Intelligent Systems with Applications, Vol. 15, 2022, Article no. 200092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswa.2022.200092 

A.7) A. Arustei, A. Dutta, “Direct Optimization of Low-Thrust Orbit-Raising Maneuvers using Adjoint Sensitivities,” Acta Astronautica, Vol. 219, pp. 965-981, 2024.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.03.059  

A.6) S. Zaidi, P. Chadalavada, H. Ullah, A. Munir and A. Dutta, “Cascaded Deep Reinforcement
Learning-Based Multi-Revolution Low-Thrust Spacecraft Orbit-Transfer,” in IEEE Access,
vol. 11, pp. 82894-82911, 2023. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10207710  

A.5) P. Chadalavada, T. Farabi, A. Dutta, “Sequential Low-Thrust Orbit-Raising of All-Electric Satellites,” MDPI Aerospace, Special Issue on Electric Propulsion, Vol 7(6), No 74, pp. 1-27.  https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7060074 

A.4) S. Sreesawet, A. Dutta, “Fast and Robust Computation of Low-Thrust Orbit-Raising Trajectories,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol 41, No 9, pp. 1888-1905.  https://doi.org/10.2514/1.G003319 

A.3) S. Sreesawet and A. Dutta, “Receding Horizon Control for Spacecraft with Low-Thrust Propulsion,” 2018 Annual American Control Conference (ACC), Milwaukee, WI, USA, 2018, pp. 2996-3001, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8431788 

A.2) P. Libraro, N. J. Kasdin, E. Choueiri, A. Dutta, “Quaternion-Based Coordinates for Non-Singular Modeling of High-Inclination Orbital Transfer,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol 37, No 5, pp. 1638-1643. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.G000613 

A.1) A. Dutta, J. Kasdin, E. Choueiri and P. Francken, “Minimizing Proton Displacement Damage Dose During Electric Orbit-Raising of Satellites,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 39:4, 963-969. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.G000503 

[B] Multi-Spacecraft Maneuver Planning 

B.6) S. Coene, F. Spieksma, A. Dutta and P. Tsiotras, “On the Computational Complexity of P2P Refueling Strategies,” INFOR: Information Systems and Operations Research, Vol 50, No 2, 2012, pp 88-94.  https://doi.org/10.3138/infor.50.2.088 

B.5) A. Dutta, N. Arora, and R. Russell, “Peer-to-Peer Refueling Strategy using Low-Thrust Propulsion,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol 49, No 5, 2012, pp 944-954.  https://doi.org/10.2514/1.A32106 

B.4) A. Dutta and P. Tsiotras, “A Network Flow Formulation for Cooperative P2P Refueling Strategies,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 33(5), 2010, pp. 1539- 1549.  https://doi.org/10.2514/1.45570 

B.3) A. Dutta and P. Tsiotras, “Hohmann-Hohmann and Hohmann-Phasing Cooperative Rendezvous Maneuvers,” AAS Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 57, 2009, pp. 393—417.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321510 

B.2) A. Dutta and P. Tsiotras, “An Egalitarian Peer-to-Peer Satellite Refueling Strategy,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 45 (3), 2008, pp. 608-618. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.31299 

B.1) A. Dutta and P. Tsiotras, “Asynchronous Optimal Mixed Peer-to-Peer Satellite Refueling Strategies,” AAS Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 54 (3-4), Dec 2006, 543-565.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03256505 

[C] In-Space Neutrino Detection Experiments: 

C.2) K. Messick, A. Dutta, H. Meyer, N. Solomey, “Magnetotorquer only control of a 3U CubeSat with limited pointing requirements,” accepted for publication in COSPAR Advances in Space Research. 

C.1) K. Messick, A. Dutta, H. Meyer, and N. Solomey, “Mission Analysis for an in-space solar neutrino detection experiment,” in Acta Astronautica, Vol. 239, February 2026, Pages 420-433. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576525007805  

[D] Remote Sensing 

D.4) S. Kshirsagar, B. Chandra, U. Tallal, R. Bagai, A. Dutta, “Geographic Bias Analysis and Cross-Domain Generalization in Deep Learning-Based Building Damage Assessment,” MDPI Remote Sensing, Vol. 18 (10), 1529. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/18/10/1529 

D.3) Z. Demissie, P. Rimal, W. Seyoum, A. Dutta, G. Rimmington, “Flood susceptibility mapping:
Integrating machine learning and GIS for enhanced risk assessment,” Applied Computing and
Geosciences, Vol. 23, Sep 2024, Art. no 100183, pp. 1-13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590197424000302 

D.2) P. Chadalavada and A. Dutta, “CubeSat Formations for Monitoring Hurricanes,” 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference (AERO), Big Sky, MT, USA, 2022, pp. 1-12, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9843636 

D.1) P. Chadalavada, A. Dutta, “Regional CubeSat Constellation Design to Monitor Hurricanes,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 60, pp. 1-8, 2022, Article no. 1001608.  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9600833 

[E] Miscellaneous   

E.2) Y. Zhao, A. Dutta, P. Tsiotras, M. Costello, ”Optimal Aircraft Trajectories for Wind Energy Extraction,” AIAA Journal of Guidance, Dynamics and Control, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2018), pp. 488-496. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.G003048 

E.1) A. Tummala, A. Dutta, “An Overview of Cube-Satellite Propulsion Technologies and Trends,” MDPI Aerospace 2017, 4(4), 58, pp. 1–30. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace4040058 

Working Papers

• Mission design and operations planning for solar neutrino and astroparticle physics (SNAPPY) (Co-authors: Messick, Solomey, Meyer) 
• Hybrid CubeSat constellation design to monitor hurricanes (Co-author: Chadalavada). 

Professional Experience

2026 (Aug) – Current, Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University 

2020-2026, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University 

2014-2020, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University  

2018-2020, Visiting Faculty, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome NY 

2011-2013, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University 

2009-2011, Research Engineer II, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology  

Awards and Honors

• Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautiics (AIAA), 2024. 
• Dwane and Velma Wallace Excellence in Research Award, College of Engineering, Wichita State University, 2023. 
• AIAA Outstanding Section Award, Third Place, Small Category, 2022 (received as the Chair of Wichita Section during 2021 – 2022).  
• Excellent Reviewer, AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 2016, 2019–2022, 2023-2024.
• Member, Sigma Gamma Tau, National Aerospace Engineering Honor Society. 
• Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2017.
• Brenton Myers Innovation in Engineering Education Award, Wichita State University College of Engineering, 2017 

• University Research/Creativity Award, 2020. 

• Award for Research/Creative Projects in Summer, 2017. 
• Multidisciplinary Research Project Award (jointly with Dr. Nick Solomey from Physics), 2016. 

Grants

Research Projects 

• CubeSat Space Flight test of a Neutrino Detector, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program (NIAC) Phase III, Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Nick Solomey, Physics WSU)  
• Artificial Intelligence Assisted Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization and Planning, Funded by NASA EPSCOR CAN Program, 2020-2023, Role: Science Principal Investigator.  
• Continuous Monitoring of Hurricanes using Rain CubeSats, Funded by NASA SMD FINESST Program, 2019-2022, Role: Principal Investigator (Future Investigator: Pardhasai Chadalavada)  
• Astrophysics and Technical Lab Studies of a Solar Neutrino Spacecraft Detector, Funded by NASA NIAC Phase II, 2019-2021, Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Nickolas Solomey, Physics WSU) 
• Integrated Optimization Framework for Detecting and Characterizing Unobserved Spacecraft Maneuvers, Funded by Extension Grant to Visiting Faculty Research Program, Air Force Research Laboratory, 2019, Role: Principal Investigator.  
• Multi-objective Optimization Framework for Spacecraft Low-Thrust Orbit-raising, Funded by Kansas NASA EPSCOR Program Seed Research Initiative, 2014-2015. Role: Primary Investigator

Education/Outreach Grants 

• Enhancing Disaster Literacy of Kansas Communities Through Incorporation Of NASA-Relevant Materials in Middle School Curriculum, NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium, Role: Co-Principal Investigator, 2022-23 (PI: Rajiv Bagai, School of Computing, WSU). 
• Celebrating the Scientific Legacy of NASA and Apollo, Funded by NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium, 2019, Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-organizer of a public symposium, Principal Investigator: James Schwartz, Philosophy WSU). 

Areas of Service

Faculty Advisor, Wichita State Rocket Club, since 2015  

Member, AIAA Wichita Section Council, 2020-2023 (Vice-Chair: 2020-21, Chair: 2021-22, Outgoing Chair: 2022-23) 

Member, AIAA Astrodynamics Technical Committee, since 2016 (Secretary since 2018): AIAA Technical Chair for 2022 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference held at Charlotte NC   

Reviewed for a number of journals, including Acta Astronautica, Journal of Astronautical Sciences, Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems. 

Other Interests

Soccer

Tennis