NASA Selects Two JPL Scientists for Mars Rover Research Projects

NASA has selected two researchers from Caltech and two from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena as participating scientists for the Curiosity Mars rover mission.

The four are now among 28 new researchers who are part of a science team that also includes about 120 other members, mainly the principal investigators and co-investigators for the rover’s 10 science instruments. They are supported by about 320 science-team collaborators, such as the investigators’ associates and students.

The science team will be working on the Mars Science Laboratory Project, which built and operates the rover.

From Caltech, Bethany Ehlmann and Kenneth Farley were selected as researchers on the Curiosity mission. Abigail Fraeman and Kathryn Stack Morgan were selected from JPL.

Both Fraeman and Morgan have participated in the Curiosity mission previously in other roles. Ehlmann and Farley have also been selected previously as Mars Science Laboratory participating scientists.

The 28 were selected from 89 scientists around the world who submitted research proposals for using data from Curiosity and becoming participating scientists.

As participating scientists on the mission, they will play active roles in the day-to-day science operations of Curiosity, involving heavy interaction with rover engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

JPL manages the mission for NASA.