Greg Cardell

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About

Greg Cardell is a leading figure in planetary instrumentation and space power systems, with a career defined by pioneering contributions to in-situ planetary science. His most recognized work centers on the **Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP)** , a critical instrument on the **Phoenix Mars Lander**. As a key developer, Cardell engineered the TECP to measure the temperature, thermal conductivity, and volumetric heat capacity of the Martian regolith, directly characterizing the physical properties of the soil and detecting subsurface water ice. This work, detailed in his highly cited 2009 paper (80+ citations), provided foundational data for understanding Mars' near-surface environment. Beyond planetary science, Cardell contributed to deep-space exploration through the **Dawn mission**, authoring the definitive paper on the design and operation of its power system, which enabled the spacecraft's successful eight-year journey to the protoplanet Vesta. His dual expertise in both scientific instrumentation and spacecraft engineering has made him a vital contributor to NASA’s robotic exploration, bridging the gap between hardware design and groundbreaking planetary discovery.