Dr. Ojakangas’ research has involved the orbital and volcanic histories of the moons of the solar system, the formation of the solar system, planetary ring dynamics, computer modeling of the human-made population of debris in orbit about the earth, the rotational and orbital history of the earth-moon system as recorded in the geologic record, computational neuroscience, and brain-machine interfaces. He was a finalist in NASA’s astronaut selection program, he is an asteroid discoverer, and an inventor of some peculiar gyroscopic and robotic devices. He has been a consultant for NASA’s orbital debris program over a span of more than twenty years, and he has directed many groups of students in experiments aboard NASA’s reduced gravity “Weightless Wonder” aircraft. His current research focuses on mathematical modeling of stromatolites, and inventing new gyroscopic devices for fun and exercise. Please see the links below for some details. DR. PHYZZ BLOG HERE
Stromatolite modeling: extracting clues to the earth-moon system from the world’s oldest fossils
The Drury University Observatory
Some research projects with students
A motorized three-axis gimbal system for orbital debris rotational modeling
Ojakangas responsible for KINARM robotic exoskeleton EQUATIONS OF MOTION used all over the world
computational neuroscience with brain-machine interfaces
Various robotic arms with simulated muscles
mathematical modeling of orbital debris
Gyroscopic inventions
A unique robot that turns in zero gravity without angular momentum
1.85 billion-year-old tidal rhythmites constrain the ancient lunar orbit
Coupled thermal and dynamical evolution of the Galilean moons of Jupiter
Post-doctoral research on planetary ring dynamics
Thoughts of a physicist and a Christian
Some recent interviews on various media outlets
Almost an astronaut, but glad to be alive!
Asteroid discoverer
Digital image processing enthusiast
The Physics of Star Trek
Pygmy Hippos and National Defense
