Multi-agent spacecraft systems
Graduate research in relative orbital mechanics, formation flying, body-fixed hovering, and optimization for proximity operations.
EZ/O — RESEARCH FILEUNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · TUCSON2026 / 001
ETHAN Z. OLSON / AEROSPACE ENGINEER
Planning how spacecraft move together.
I’m an Aerospace Engineering PhD student at the University of Arizona. My research focuses on relative motion, formation planning, and inspection missions for small spacecraft.
- NOW
- PhD researcher · ASVA Lab
- PREVIOUSLY
- Starling CubeSat intern · NASA Ames
- FOCUS
- Spacecraft swarms and proximity operations
PORTFOLIO / ETHAN Z. OLSONRESEARCH · EXPERIENCE · PUBLICATIONS ↓
01 / CURRENT WORK
Research focus.
I study how several small spacecraft can divide the work of inspecting a rotating object. My work combines relative orbital motion, controlled hovering, and mission planning, with attention to fuel use, observation coverage, collision avoidance, and communication.
I’m a PhD researcher in the Autonomous Space Vehicles and Astrodynamics Lab at the University of Arizona, advised by Dr. Eric Butcher. I’m also interested in cislunar trajectory design.
More about my background ↗02 / SELECTED PROJECT
Master’s thesis.
I developed a genetic algorithm to plan an inspection mission around a tumbling spacecraft. The method assigns spacecraft to natural relative orbits or controlled hovering tasks, then compares candidate plans for fuel use, coverage, collision avoidance, and network connectivity.
Read the project ↗
03 / BACKGROUND
Experience and education.
Starling systems engineering
In summer 2026, I was a Starling Swarm CubeSat Systems Engineering Support Intern at NASA Ames Research Center.
From Brighton to Arizona
BEng in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Brighton; MS in Aerospace Engineering completed in August 2026; now pursuing a PhD at Arizona.
04 / PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Selected work.
Research with the ASVA Lab.
01
AAS/AIAA ASTRODYNAMICS SPECIALIST CONFERENCE · 2026
LINK PENDINGOptimal Coordinated Space-Based Swarm Operations Using a Co-evolution Strategy in a Genetic Algorithm
Ethan Z. Olson and Eric A. Butcher · Presented by Ethan Olson
02
IFAC WORLD CONGRESS · 2026
LINK PENDINGDelay Margins for Second Order Multi-Agent Systems with Delayed Proportional-Derivative Consensus Protocols on a Class of Directed Multiplex Networks
Eric A. Butcher, Neo P. Stilson, Ethan Z. Olson, and Mohammad Maadani
03
MECC · 2026
LINK PENDINGMulti-Agent Leader-Follower Formation Tracking Control of a Rigid Body Pose on TSE(3)
Neo P. Stilson, Ethan Z. Olson, Vianella Spaeth, and Eric A. Butcher
04
IEEE CONTROL SYSTEMS LETTERS · VOL. 10 · 2026 / CDC 2026
↗Delay Margins for Second-Order Multi-Agent Systems With Delayed Fractional-Order PDα Consensus Protocols
Neo P. Stilson, Ethan Z. Olson, Mohammad Maadani, and Eric A. Butcher · 913–918
CONTACT
Get in touch.
For questions about my research or experience, send me an email.