Faculty | Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Stephen Whitmore

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Faculty
Contact Information
Go toOffice Location: ENGR 419F
DialPhone: 435-797-2951
SendEmail: stephen.whitmore@usu.edu
Educational Background
Biography
Dr. Whitmore joined USU in 2005 after more than 25 years as a civil servant for NASA. Prior to accepting early retirement from NASA, Dr. Whitmore served multiple roles within the agency including those of principal investigator, chief engineer, branch chief, and program manager. While at NASA he was fortunate to have worked on 7 different "X-planes." Dr. Whitmore is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, and is a member of the AIAA Space Systems and Hybrid Propulsion Technical Committees. Dr. Whitmore is a strong advocate for the developing commercial space industry, and is a Member of the Commercial Space Flight Federation. Dr. Whitmore is a licensed private pilot with more than 400 hours as pilot in command and has accumulated numerous flight and flight-simulator hours as a flight test engineer in several military-class high performance jet aircraft.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Awards
NASA MSFC Summer Faculty Research Fellowship, 2018
NASAResearcher of the Year, 2017
USU MAE DepartmentNASA MSFC Summer Facuty Fellow Appointment, 2016
NASA Marshall SpaceFlight CenterResearcher of the Year, 2016
USU MAE DepartmentNASA MSFC Summer Facuty Fellow Appointment, 2015
NASA Marshall SpaceFlight CenterBest Technical Paper, 2012
Hybrid and Solid Propellant Technical SessionsWinning Team, Faculty Mentor to Student Design Team NASA/ATK University Student Launch Initiative 2012, 2012
NASA Marshall Spaceflight CenterWinning Team, Faculty Mentor to Student Design Team NASA/ATK University Student Launch Initiative 2011 , 2011
NASA Marshall Spaceflight CenterBest Technical Paper, 2010
Ground Test Sessions, 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion ConferenceUtah Engineering Educator of the Year , 2009
Utah Engineering Council, Governor's Economic CouncilWinning Team, Faculty Mentor to Student Design Team , 2009
NASA/ATK University Student Launch InitiativeUtah Aerospace Engineering Educator of the Year , 2008
Utah Section, AIAAWinning Team, Faculty Mentor to Student Design Team, 2008
NASA/ATK University Student Launch InitiativeAssociate Fellow Appointment , 2000
American Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsNASA Headquarters Achievement Award - Engineering Achievement Medal , 1997
NASANASA DFRC Honor Award - Outstanding Paper for Year 1996, 1996
NASANASA DFRC Honor Award - Outstanding Scientist for Year 1993, 1994
NASAExcellence in Technical Presentation Award, Aerotech '91, 1991
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)NASA ARC Honor Award - Outstanding Scientist for Year 1989, 1990
NASANASA Headquarters Honor Award - Group Engineering Achievement Award , 1984
NASA HeadquartersPublications - Abstracts
Publications - Books & Book Chapters
Book Chapters
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Fact Sheets
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Curriculum
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Journal Articles
- Whitmore, S.A, Walker, S.D, (2016). Engineering Model for Hybrid Fuel Regression Rate Amplification Using Helical Ports. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 32:6, 1674-1694. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.B36208
- Whitmore, S.A, Merkley, S.L, Tonc, L., Mathias, S., (2016). Survey of Selected Additively Manufactured Propellants for Arc Ignition of Hybrid Rockets. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 32:6, 1494-1504. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.B36106
- Whitmore, S.A, (2016). Additive Manufacturing as an Enabling Technology for "Green" Hybrid Spacecraft Propulsion. IEEE Xplore, Additive Manufacturing as an Enabling Technology for "Green" Hybrid Spacecraft Propulsion, 47:2, on-line artical. doi: 10.1109/RAST.2015.7208305
- Whitmore, S.A, (2015). Additively Manufactured Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene–Nitrous-Oxide Hybrid Rocket Motor with Electrostatic Igniter. Journal of Propulsion and Power, AIAA, 31:4, 1217-1220. doi: 10.2514/1.B35595
- Whitmore, S.A, Sobbi, M., Walker, S., High Regression Rate Hybrid Rocket Fuel Grains with Helical Port Structures . AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power
- Whitmore, S.A, Peterson, Z.W, Eilers, S.D, Talley, D., (2014). Deep Throttle of a Nitrous Oxide and HTPB Hybrid Rocket Motor. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, 30:01, 78-86. doi: DOI: 10.2514/1.B34967
- Whitmore, S.A, Peterson, Z.P, Gupta., A., (2014). Closed-Loop Precision Throttling of a Hybrid Rocket Motor. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, 30:1, 325-336. doi: DOI: 10.2514/1.34924
- Whitmore, S.A, Eilers, S.D, Merkley, D.P, Judson, M.I, Talley, J.R, (2013). Regeneratively Cooled Multiple-Use Plug Hybrid Motor Nanosatellites. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, 29:6, 1420-1434.. doi: 10.2514/1.B3518
- Whitmore, S.A, Peterson, Z., Eilers, S., (2013). Comparing Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene as Hybrid Rocket Fuels," : AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 29, No 3, May-June, 2013, pp. 582-592.. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, 29:3, 582-592. doi: 10.2514/1.B324382
- Whitmore, S.A, Durgesh, V., Naughton, J., Strike, J., (2013). Experimental Investigation of Base-Drag Reduction via Boundary-Layer Modification. AIAA Journal, 51:2, 416-425. doi: 10.2514/1.J051825
- Whitmore, S.A, Merrill, R.S, Hess, R., (2012). Nonlinear Large Angle Solutions of the Blade Element Momentum Theory Propeller Equations. AIAA J. of Aircraft, 49:4, 321-328.
- Whitmore, S.A, Eilers, S.D, Talley, J.R, (2012). Side Force Amplifcation on an Aerodynamically Thrust Vectored Aerospike Nozzle. AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, 48:4, 811-819.
- Whitmore, S.A, Erni, N.M, Baker, D.J, Rathakrishnan, E., (2012). Closed-Loop Attitude Control Using Fluid Dynamic Vectoring on an Aerospike Nozzle. International review of Aerospace Engineering, 5:1, 8-20.
- Whitmore, S.A, Kraus, K., (2011). Analytical and Experimental Evaluation of Aerodynamic Thrust Vectoring on an Aerospike Nozzle. J. Utah Academy of Arts, Letters and Sciences, 8:1
- Whitmore, S.A, Wilson, M., Friedman, P., (2011). Wiener Deconvolution for Reconstruction of Pneumatically-Attenuated Pressure Signals . AIAA Journal , 49:5, 706-714.
- Whitmore, S.A, Wilson, M., Eilers, S., (2010). A Novel Technique for Reconstructing High-Frequency Transient Rocket Chamber Pressure Measurements . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 47:3, 427-441.
- Whitmore, S.A, Smith , T., (2010). Interim Access to the International Space Station . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 47:3, 503-520.
- Whitmore, S.A, Fox, B., (2009). Improved, Accuracy, "Second order Response Model for Pressure Sensing Systems. AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 46:2
- Whitmore, S.A, Smith , T., (2009). Launch and Development Analysis for a Small, MEO, Technology Demonstration Satellite . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 46:2
- Eilers, S.D, Whitmore, S.A, (2008). Correlation of Hybrid Rocket Propellant Regression Measurements with Enthalpy-Balance Model Predictions . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 45:4, 1010-1020.
- Whitmore, S.A, Bingham, B., Young, Q., (2008). Deployment of a High-Latitude Dynamic E-Field Pico-Satellite Sensor Constellation . International Review of Aerospace Engineering , 1:4, 560-567.
- Whitmore, S.A, (2008). Engineering Model of Temperature-Induced Pressure Gradients in Pneumatic Sensors for rarefied Flow Conditions. AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 45:4, 760-765.
- Whitmore, S.A, Eilers, S.D, (2008). A Single Amplifier Third Order Butterworth Filter for Aerospace Anti-aliasing Applications. International Review of Aerospace Engineering , 1:2, 251-257.
- Whitmore, S.A, Anderson , B., (2008). Aerodynamic Lift Enhancement of a Lunar Return Capsule . International Review of Aerospace Engineering , 2:2, 112-122.
- Whitmore, S.A, (2007). Design of a Passively Reefed, Collapsible Drough Parachute System . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 44:6, 1822-1839.
- Whitmore, S.A, (2007). Real Gas Extensions to the Tangent Wedge and Tangent Cone Analysis . AIAA Journal , 5:8
- Whitmore, S.A, Ellsworth, J.C, (2007). Reentry Air Data System for a Sub-orbital Spacecraft Based on X-34 Design . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 45:4, 716-732.
- Whitmore, S.A, (2006). A Frequency Response Model for Branched Pneumatic Sensing Systems . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 43:6, 1845-1853.
- Whitmore, S.A, Naughton , J.W, Sprague , S., (2002). Blunt-Body Drag Reduction using Forebody Surface Roughness . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 39:4, 596-604.
- Whitmore, S.A, (2002). Frequency Response of Pressure Sensor Configurations in Slip-Flow Conditions . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 39:2, 219-226.
- Whitmore, S.A, Moes , T.R, (2000). Base-drag reduction experiments on the X-33 Linear Aerospike SR-71 Flight Program . AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets , 37:3, 297-303.
- Rohloff, T.H, Whitmore, S.A, Catton, I., (1999). Fault-Tolerant Neural Network Algorithm for Flush Air Data Sensing . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 36:3, 541-549.
- Rohloff, T.J, Whitmore, S.A, Catton, I., (1998). Air Data Sensing from Surface Pressure Measurements using a Neural Network Method . AIAA Journal, 36:11, 2094-2110.
- Whitmore, S.A, Davis , R.J, Fife, M.J, (1996). In-Flight Demonstration of a Real-Time Flush Air Data Sensing System . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 33:5, 970-977.
- Whitmore, S.A, Petersen, B.J, (1996). Dynamic Response of Pressure Sensing Systems in Slip-Flow with Temperature . AIAA Journal , 37:6, 772-774.
- Whitmore, S.A, Moes, T.R, Larson, T.L, (1992). High Angle-of-Attack Flush Air Data Sensing System . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 29:5, 915-919.
- Whitmore, S.A, Leondes , C.T, (1991). Pneumatic Distortion Compensation for Aircraft Surface Pressure Sensing Devices . AIAA Journal of Aircraft , 28:12, 828-836.
- Whitmore, S.A, Leondes , C.T, (1986). Formulation and Implementation of a Practical Algorithm for Non-Stationary Adaptive State Estimation . International Journal of Control , 44:3, 767-775.
- Whitmore, S.A, Inkley, N.R, Merkley, D.P, Judson, M.I, (2015). Development of a Power-Efficient, Restart-Capable Arc Ignitor for Hybrid Rockets. Journal of Propulsion and Power, AIAA, 31:6, 1739-1749. doi: 10.2514/1.B35681
- Whitmore, S.A, Walker, S.D, Merkley, D.P, Sobbi, M., (2015). High Regression Rate Hybrid Rocket Fuel Grains with Helical Port Structures. Journal of Propulsion and Power, AIAA, 31:6, 1727-1738. . doi: 10.2514/1.B35615
- Whitmore, S.A, Wilson, J.R, Ritter, M.A, Williams, L.T, (2015). Estimating the Enthalpy of Gasification of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene Hybrid Rocket Fuels. Journal of Propulsion and Power, AIAA, 31:4, 1033-1049. doi: 10.2514/1.B35621
- Whitmore, S.A, Talley, D., Electrostatic Ignitor for an Additively Manufactured ABS-Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Rocket Motor. AIAA J. or Propulsion and Power.
- Whitmore, S.A, Bath, A.R, Rathakrishnan, E., (2011). Sounding Rocket Energy Management Using Cold-Gas Aerospike Thrusters: A Senior Capstone Design Course. International Review of Aerospace Engineering, 4:4, 79-96.
Academic Journal
Professional Journal
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Literary Journal
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Publications - MultiMedia
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Publications - Technical Reports
Research Reports
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Translations & Transcripts
Publications - Other
* Has not been peer reviewed