M. T. Zuber
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View article: First Use of Laser Ranging to Surface Retroreflectors for Orbit Determination: LRO-LOLA at the Moon
First Use of Laser Ranging to Surface Retroreflectors for Orbit Determination: LRO-LOLA at the Moon Open
We document the first operational demonstration of two-way spacecraft-to-surface laser ranging using Laser Retroreflector Arrays (LRAs) for orbit determination (OD) of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). We detail how the Lunar Orbiter…
View article: Shallow Crustal Density in the Lunar South Polar Region
Shallow Crustal Density in the Lunar South Polar Region Open
Numerous space agencies are planning sustainable human presence at the lunar south pole. Understanding the nature of the lunar crust, particularly its three-dimensional density structure, is important, for example, for the search for water…
View article: Large-scale Roughness Properties of the Lunar North and South Polar Regions as Measured by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)
Large-scale Roughness Properties of the Lunar North and South Polar Regions as Measured by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Open
The lunar polar regions are high-priority targets for scientific investigation and exploration. To aid these endeavors, we produced enhanced altimetry data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter for the north polar region, from which we co…
View article: Confronting risks of mirror life
Confronting risks of mirror life Open
Broad discussion is needed to chart a path forward
View article: PCAST: Report to the President on Improving Groundwater Security in the United States
PCAST: Report to the President on Improving Groundwater Security in the United States Open
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PCAST-Report-on-GW_14DEC2024_Final-1.pdf The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is the sole body of advisors from outside the federal government charged w…
View article: The South Pole‐Aitken Basin: Constraints on Impact Excavation, Melt, and Ejecta
The South Pole‐Aitken Basin: Constraints on Impact Excavation, Melt, and Ejecta Open
The formation and evolution of the South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) basin is critical to relating large impact basin formation and modification to lunar geophysical evolution. Most prior models of the SPA impact were conducted in 2D, making it diff…
View article: Minimizing distortion introduced by Psyche’s ellipsoidal shape in cartographic products 
Minimizing distortion introduced by Psyche’s ellipsoidal shape in cartographic products  Open
After its successful launch in October 2023, the NASA Psyche mission is currently on its way to asteroid (16) Psyche where it will arrive in 2029. Psyche is the first metal-rich asteroid to be orbited by a spacecraft (Elkins-Tanton et al.,…
View article: Near-infrared Photometry of the Moon’s Surface with Passive Radiometry from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)
Near-infrared Photometry of the Moon’s Surface with Passive Radiometry from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Open
Examining the reflectance of the Moon’s surface across a broad range of viewing geometries through photometric analysis can reveal physical and geological properties of its regolith. Since 2013 December, the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (…
View article: Nanogap Solid-State Single-Molecule Detection at Mars, Europa, and Microgravity Conditions
Nanogap Solid-State Single-Molecule Detection at Mars, Europa, and Microgravity Conditions Open
Solid-state nanogap systems are an emerging technology for in-situ life detection due to their single-molecule resolution of a wide range of biomolecules, including amino acids and informational polymers, at the parts per billion to trilli…
View article: Constraining the Structure under Lunar Impact Basins with Gravity
Constraining the Structure under Lunar Impact Basins with Gravity Open
The lunar gravity field is used to estimate and constrain the depth of mass anomalies under 19 major lunar impact basins. We use radial gravitational spectra, consisting of accelerations computed either per spherical harmonic degree or cum…
View article: A New View of the Lunar South Pole from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)
A New View of the Lunar South Pole from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Open
Upcoming missions to the lunar south pole require detailed maps over large areas to fully characterize landing sites locally and regionally and to place their data into proper geologic context. To that end, we enhanced the Lunar Orbiter La…
View article: The Magnetometer on the Psyche mission
The Magnetometer on the Psyche mission Open
The asteroid (16) Psyche is the target of the NASA Psyche mission, where the magnetometer is one of the three science instruments on board. Its purpose is to prove whether the asteroid formed from the core of a differentiated planetesimal.…
View article: Implications of Bouguer Gravity Structure Under Major Lunar Basins
Implications of Bouguer Gravity Structure Under Major Lunar Basins Open
Analysis of the lunar Bouguer gravity field under major basins reveals how gravity varies with spherical harmonic degree L and, potentially, with depth (to relate the two we use a relationship based on point masses).  We have studied …
View article: The Psyche Gravity Investigation
The Psyche Gravity Investigation Open
The objective of the NASA Psyche mission gravity science investigation is to map the mass distribution within asteroid (16) Psyche to elucidate interior structure and to resolve the question of whether this metal-rich asteroid represents a…
View article: Solid-State Single-Molecule Sensing with the Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Enceladus/Europa (ELIE)
Solid-State Single-Molecule Sensing with the Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Enceladus/Europa (ELIE) Open
Growing evidence of the potential habitability of Ocean Worlds across our Solar System is motivating the advancement of technologies capable of detecting life as we know it – sharing a common ancestry or common physicochemical origin to li…
View article: The Contribution of Small Impact Craters to Lunar Polar Wander
The Contribution of Small Impact Craters to Lunar Polar Wander Open
Changes in mass distribution affect the gravitational figure and reorient a planetary body’s surface with respect to its rotational axis. The mass anomalies in the present-day lunar gravity field can reveal how the figure and pole position…
View article: Maximum Energies of Trapped Particles Around Magnetized Planets and Small Bodies
Maximum Energies of Trapped Particles Around Magnetized Planets and Small Bodies Open
Energetic charged particles trapped in planetary radiation belts are hazardous to spacecraft. Planned missions to iron‐rich asteroids with possible strong remanent magnetic fields require an assessment of trapped particles energies. Using …
View article: Distinguishing the Origin of Asteroid (16) Psyche
Distinguishing the Origin of Asteroid (16) Psyche Open
The asteroid (16) Psyche may be the metal-rich remnant of a differentiated planetesimal, or it may be a highly reduced, metal-rich asteroidal material that never differentiated. The NASA Psyche mission aims to determine Psyche’s provenance…
View article: Large impact cratering during lunar magma ocean solidification
Large impact cratering during lunar magma ocean solidification Open
<p>The lunar cratering record is used to constrain the bombardment history of both the Earth and the Moon. However, it is suggested from different perspectives, including impact crater dating, asteroid dynamics, lunar samples, impact…
View article: Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Enceladus/Europa (ELIE)
Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Enceladus/Europa (ELIE) Open
Earth and Space Science Open Archive PosterOpen AccessYou are viewing the latest version by default [v1]Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Enceladus/Europa (ELIE)AuthorsChristopherCarriDDanielDuzdevichiDJackSzostakSamLeeMasateruTanig…
View article: Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions
Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions Open
We report the development of a new type of space lidar specifically designed for missions to small planetary bodies for both topographic mapping and support of sample collection or landing. The instrument is designed to have a wide dynamic…
View article: Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions
Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions Open
We report the development of a new type of space lidar specifically designed for missions to small planetary bodies for both topographic mapping and support of sample collection or landing. The instrument is designed to have a wide dynamic…