Todd Litwin began work at JPL in 1979, at first writing ground software to support navigating spacecraft. In the 1980s he moved into robotics research, concentrating on camera calibration, object tracking, and stereo ranging. In the late 1990s he started writing flight software for unmanned spacecraft while still keeping active in ground-based robotic software.

B.S. in Applied Physics (1979), Harvey Mudd College.

MSL Team Award, Jul 2016

AEGIS Team, for Exceptional Achievement in developing and delivering the AEGIS Capability to MSL Operations.

MSL Team Award, Aug 2015

ChemCam Anomaly Response Team, for the successful analysis, development, testing, and resolution of the ChemCam auto-focus and sun-safety anomalies.

MSL Team Award, Aug 2015

R12 FSW and Transition Team, for the successful development, testing, upload, and execution of the R12 Flight Software Load.

Space Act Award, Dec 2013

For the development of a significant scientific or technical contribution, entitled Mars Science Laboratory Flight Software NPO-CC-006, that has been determined to be of value in the conduct of an aeronautical or space activity of NASA. (NASA Software of the Year award.)

NASA Group Achievement Award, Jul 2013

MSL Project Operations Team, for outstanding achievement in the successful execution of the Curiosity rovers mission of exploration to the surface of Gale Crater on Mars.

NASA Group Achievement Award, Jul 2013

MSL Testbed & Simulation Support Equipment Team, for outstanding achievement in the completion of the verification and validation of the MSL system design.

NASA Group Achievement Award, Jul 2013

MSL Flight Software Team, for outstanding achievement in the design and development of the Mars Science Laboratory Flight Software.

NASA Tech Brief Initial Award, May 2010

For contributing to the development of scientific or technical innovation, which has been approved for publication as a NASA Tech Brief, entitled JPL Robot Vision Library (JPLV) NPO-46532.

Whos Who in America, 2009 - 2008

Biographical listing

NASA Space Act Award, Dec 2009

For the development of a significant scientific or technical contribution, entitled Real Time Stitching and De-warping of Multiple Images NPO-46919-1, that has been determined to be of value in the conduct of an aeronautical or space activity of NASA.

NASA Certificate of Recognition, May 2009

JPL Robot Vision Library (JPLV), for the creative development of a technological contribution which has been determined to be of significant value in the advancement of the space and aeronautical activities of NASA.

NASA Certificate of Recognition, Mar 2009

Experimental Semiautonomous Vehicle, for the creative development of a scientific contribution which has been determined to be of significant value in the advancement of the space and aeronautical activities of NASA.

NASA Group Achievement Award, May 2008

MER 3rd and 4th Extended Mission Team, for determination, enthusiasm, talent, ingenuity, technical skill, and scientific curiosity in continuing the exploration of the surface of Mars.

NASA Major Space Act Award, Nov 2007

For creative development of a scientific contribution which has been determined to be of significant value in the advancement of the space and aeronautical activities of NASA and is entitled "Mars Exploration Rovers Flight Software"

NASA Group Achievement Award, Jun 2007

ATHLETE Development Team

NASA Group Achievement Award, May 2007

Research and Technology Studies 2006 Team, in recognition of the successful completion of the 9th Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) field test to demonstrate human-robotic surface exploration systems.

NASA Certificate of Recognition, Mar 2007

For creative development of a scientific contribution which has been determined to be of significant value in the advancement of the space and aeronautical activities of NASA and is entitled "Mars Exploration Rovers Flight Software"

NASA Group Achievement Award, Mar 2005

Mars Exploration Rover Second Extended Mission Team, for excellence in operating the Mars Exploration Rovers during their second mission extension, resulting in an outstanding level of science return with an exceptional operational efficiency

NASA Group Achievement Award, Mar 2005

Mars Exploration Rover First Extended Mission Team, for excellence in operating the Mars Exploration Rovers during their first mission extension, resulting in an outstanding quantity of science data return, even with reduced staffing

NASA Certificate of Recognition, Sep 2004

For creative development of a technological contribution which has been determined to be of significant value in the advancement of the space and aeronautical activities of NASA and is entitled "Hybrid Image-Plane/Stereo (HIPS) Manipulation"

NASA Group Achievement Award, May 2004

Mars Exploration Rover Project Operations Team, for exceptional performance in the successful launch, cruise, entry, descent, landing, and subsequent martian surface operations for rovers Spirit and Opportunity

Mars Exploration Rover Project Certificate of Recognition, Aug 2003

For outstanding performance and lasting contribution to the success of the Mars Exploration Rover Project: Design and Implementation of the Avionics Non-Volatile Memory Management, Imaging, and File System Flight Software Modules

NASA Group Achievement Award, Apr 1998

Mars Pathfinder Microrover Operations Team,
for the design, development, integration, test, and operation on Mars of the Mars Pathfinder microrover, Sojourner

DOD Certificate of Appreciation, Sep 1999

For outstanding support of the Experimental Unmanned Vehicle Program DEMO III Alpha

Section 345 NOVA Award, Jul 1997

Commitment to Excellence

Certificate of Recognition, May 1993

For the creative development of a technical innovation which has been proposed for publication as a NASA Tech Brief entitled "Planetary Rover Navigation Testbed Vehicle (Robby)"

NASA Group Achievement Award, Feb 1993

Mars Science Microrover Demonstration, in recognition of the design, development, and successful ground demonstration of a capable yet affordable approach to the surface exploration of Mars

NASA Group Achievement Award, May 1991

Telerobotics Technology Team, for outstanding achievements in advancing the state of the art in telerobotics technology

NASA Certificate of Recognition, Mar 1991

For the creative development of a technical innovation which has been proposed for publication as a NASA Tech Brief entitled "Autonomous Sensor-Based Dual Arm Satellite Grappling"

NASA Group Achievement Award, Sep 1986

Parkes-CDSCC Telemetry Array, in recognition of outstanding achievement in engineering and implementing the Parkes-Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Telemetry array which provided a significant increase in the science data return from the Voyager Uranus encounter.