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About

Derek King is a planetary scientist whose work focuses on the geology of the Moon and Mars, with a particular emphasis on preparing for future sample return missions. His research centers on detailed morphologic mapping and traverse planning for robotic explorers, a critical step in maximizing the scientific return of complex planetary missions. King’s most cited work, “The CanMars Mars Sample Return analogue mission” (2018, 33 citations), demonstrates his expertise in simulating real-world mission operations, testing strategies for sample selection and caching that will be essential for the upcoming Mars Sample Return campaign. He has also made notable contributions to lunar exploration, co-authoring a detailed study of Schrödinger Basin, a 312 km impact structure near the lunar south pole. This work identified Schrödinger as a high-priority landing site for a potential 2024 mission, showcasing King’s ability to integrate remote sensing data with practical traverse planning. His research directly supports the next generation of robotic and human exploration, bridging the gap between orbital observations and on-the-ground science.