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About

Dr. Sarah Thompson is a pioneering figure in planetary exploration, specializing in the development of autonomous robotic systems for subsurface sampling on extraterrestrial bodies. Her primary research focuses on drilling technologies and sample handling for Mars and the Moon, with a critical emphasis on *In Situ Resource Utilization* (ISRU). Dr. Thompson’s most significant contribution is her work on the Mars Icebreaker Life mission, where she designed the robotic sample handling system that delivers subsurface soil from a one-meter drill to onboard instruments—a crucial step in the search for past or present Martian life. Her foundational paper on this system (26 citations) is a cornerstone of the field. She also advanced the automation of planetary drills by developing control architectures modeled on human drilling behaviors, as detailed in her widely cited 2010 study (13 citations). More recently, Dr. Thompson has applied her expertise to lunar exploration, using near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor volatiles like water ice in frozen lunar simulants during drilling. This work (5 citations) directly supports NASA’s ISRU goals, enabling future missions to harvest local resources for propellant and life support. Her innovative, cross-disciplinary approach is shaping the next generation of robotic explorers.