With extensive Mars 2020 Science and instrument operations experience, I lead decision-making and target selection for remote and proximity science analysis. I am a Tactical Science Lead on the Mars 2020 Science Team and a collaborator on the RIMFAX, SHERLOC, and Mastcam-Z Instrument Teams.
In the prime mission, I led over 30 sols that collected 3 cores (1 rock, 2 regolith) and dropped 2 cores for Mars Sample Return!
Other operational roles I often hold include: RIMFAX Payload Uplink Lead, RIMFAX Payload Downlink Lead, SHERLOC Science Payload Uplink Lead, Tactical Support Scientist, and Documentarian.
SHERLOC
The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument is a deep UV Raman spectrometer that utilizes a 248.6 nm pulsed laser. Part of SHERLOC is a color camera known as the Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering (WATSON). The SHERLOC suite provides coordinated spectroscopic and imaging capabilities at high spatial resolution (~100 m), to detect minerals and organic molecules in microtextural context via resonance Raman and native fluorescence spectroscopy. SHERLOC enables texture-specific molecular composition measurements of rock and regolith targets on Mars, in pursuit of seeking signs of ancient life.
Where I've talked about the wonders of SHERLOC... Assessing Organic Preservation and the Implications for Potential Biosignatures in the Bastide Member of the Séítah Formation, Jezero Crater, Astrobiology Science Conference Talk, Atlanta, GA (2022)
‘Seeing with SHERLOC’: from the rocks to the regolith in Jezero. After Dark Series: Mars! Exploratorium (2022)
A mast-mounted camera system with a zoom function on the Perseverance rover. Mastcam-Z utilizes its cameras that can zoom in, focus, and take 3D pictures as well as video at high speed to allow detailed examination of afar objects.
Where I've talked about the wonders of Mastcam-Z...
300+ Sols on Perseverance: The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission in Jezero crater, Mars. After Dark Series: Mars! Exploratorium (2022)
From the rocks to the regolith of Jezero crater: the first 300 sols on the Mars 2020 rover, UNLV (Invited, 2022)