Mark G. Benton
- Title
- Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering
- bentonsm@erau.edu Email
- Department
- Aerospace Engineering Department
- College
- College of Engineering
Areas of Expertise
- Design of Aerospace Vehicles, Atmospheric and Exo-atmospheric
- Spacecraft Systems Engineering and Integration
- Human Space Exploration Missions and Concepts
- National Security Space Domain Awareness and Control
Education
- M.S. - Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland-College Park
- B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland-College Park
Currently Teaching
- AE 414: Space Propulsion
- EP 394: Space Systems Engineering
- AE 427: Spacecraft Preliminary Design
Courses Taught
EP394 - Space Systems Engineering, AE427 - Spacecraft Preliminary Design, AE445 - Spacecraft Detail DesignPublications
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “A Conceptual Mars Exploration Vehicle Architecture with Chemical Propulsion, Near-Term Technology, and High Modularity to Enable Near-Term Human Missions to Mars,” AIAA-2015-4611, AIAA Space 2015 Conference, Pasadena, CA (2015).
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Conceptual Space Vehicle Architecture utilizing Common Modular Elements for Near-Term Human Exploration of Mars,” AIAA-2014-4239, AIAA Space 2014 Conference, San Diego, CA (2014).
- Benton, Sr., M.G., “Conceptual Common Modular Design for Crew and Cargo Landers and Deep Space Vehicles for Human Exploration of the Solar System,” AIAA-2013-5355, AIAA SPACE 2013 Conference & Exposition, San Diego, California (2013).
- Benton, Sr., M. G., et. al., “Conceptual Space Vehicle Architecture for Human Exploration of Mars, with Artificial Gravity and Mini-Magnetosphere Crew Radiation Shield,” AIAA-2012-5114, AIAA SPACE 2012 Conference & Exposition, Pasadena, California (2012).
- Benton, Sr., M. G., et. al., “Mars Exploration Vehicle (MEV) Architecture for Human Exploration of Mars, with Artificial Gravity and Mini-Magnetosphere Crew Radiation Shield,” GLEX- 2012.08.2.8x12759, IAF/AIAA 2012 Global Space Exploration Conference, Washington, DC (2012).
- Benton, Sr., M. G., et. al., “Modular Space Vehicle Architecture for Human Exploration of Mars using Artificial Gravity and Mini-Magnetosphere Crew Radiation Shield,” AIAA-2012-0633, 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee (2012).
- Benton, Sr., M. G., et. al., “Concept for Human Exploration of NEO Asteroids using MPCV, Deep Space Vehicle, Artificial Gravity Module, and Mini-Magnetosphere Radiation Shield,” AIAA-2011- 7138, 44th AIAA SPACE 2011 Conference & Exposition, Long Beach, California (2011).
- Benton, Sr., M.G., “Conceptual Design of Crew Exploration Lander for Asteroid Ceres and Saturn Moons Rhea and Iapetus,” AIAA-2010-0795, AIAA 48th Aerospace Sciences Conference, Orlando, FL, 2010.
- Benton, Sr., M.G., et al., “Configuration Options to Maximize Lunar Surface Reuse of Altair Lander Structure and Systems,” AIAA-2009-6405, AIAA Space 2009 Conference, Pasadena, CA, 2009.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Spaceship Discovery – NTR Vehicle Architecture for Human Exploration of the Solar System,” AIAA-2009-5309, AIAA 45th Joint Propulsion Conf., Denver, CO, 2009.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Crew Exploration Lander for Ganymede, Callisto, and Earth’s Moon - Vehicle System Design,” AIAA-2009-5179, AIAA 45th Joint Propulsion Conf., Denver, CO, 2009.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Conceptual Design of Crew Lander for Exploration of the Moon, Ganymede, and Callisto,” AIAA-2009-0656, AIAA 47th Aerospace Sciences Conference, Orlando, FL, 2009.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., et al., “Boeing Design Trades in Support of the NASA Altair Lunar Lander Concept Definition,” AIAA-2008-7798, AIAA Space 2008 Conference, San Diego, CA, 2008.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Crew and Cargo Landers for Human Exploration of Mars – Vehicle System Design,” AIAA-2008-5156, AIAA 44th Joint Propulsion Conference, Hartford, CT, 2008.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Spaceship Discovery’s Crew and Cargo Lander Module Designs for Human Exploration of Mars,” in proceedings of STAIF-2008 Conference, edited by M. El-Genk, AIP, Melville, NY, 2008.
- Benton, Sr., M. G. “Conceptual Design of Mars Crew and Cargo Exploration Landers for Spaceship Discovery,” AIAA-2007-6239, AIAA Space 2007 Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2007.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Spaceship Discovery – Vehicle Architecture for Human Exploration of Moon, Mars, and Beyond,” AIAA-2006-7445, AIAA Space 2006 Conference, San Jose, CA, 2006.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Spaceship Discovery – Space Vehicle System for Human Interplanetary Exploration,” AIAA-2006-5128, AIAA 42nd Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, 2006.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Conceptual Design For Interplanetary Spaceship Discovery,” in proceedings of STAIF-2006 Conference, edited by M. El-Genk, American Institute of Physics, Melville, NY, 2006.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., and Richardson, S., “Northrop Grumman/Orbital Sciences Orbital Space-Plane (OSP) Program Status,” AIAA Space 2003 Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2003.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., Berry, J., and Benner, H., “2nd Generation RLV: Overview of Concept Development Process and Results,” AIAA-2003-2848, AIAA Air & Space Conf., Dayton, OH, 2003.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Rockwell’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Concept – Design for Low Risk and High Operability,” AIAA-1995-3857, AIAA Space Programs & Technologies Conf., Huntsville, AL, 1995.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Design Synthesis of Shuttle-Class Hypersonic SSTO Vehicle,” AIAA-1990- 0297, AIAA 28th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, NV, 1990.
- Benton, Sr., M. G., “Reusable, Flyback Liquid Rocket Booster for the Space Shuttle,” AIAA-26063- 242, AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 26, No. 4, July-August 1989, pp. 252-258.
Memberships and Credentials
Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 1986 to Present
- Member, AIAA Space Exploration Integration Committee, 2012 to Present
- Member, AIAA Space Transportation Technical Committee, 2008 to Present
- Member, AIAA Space Colonization Technical Committee, 2006 to Present
Member, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), 2017 to Present
- Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) Certification (No. 04538), 2018 to Present