Ashley Hanna

Papers

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About

Ashley Hanna is a planetary robotics engineer whose work centers on the design and systems integration of extreme-environment exploration vehicles, with a particular focus on icy ocean worlds. Her most impactful contribution is the "Vertical Entry Robot for Navigating Europa (VERNE) Mission and System Design," a 2020 study that has garnered 11 citations. This paper addresses one of the most formidable challenges in astrobiology: accessing subsurface liquid water oceans on moons like Europa, which are considered prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. Hanna’s work on VERNE proposes a novel vertical-entry architecture capable of penetrating thick ice shells, a critical departure from conventional horizontal rovers. By tackling the extreme pressure, radiation, and thermal constraints of such environments, her research provides a foundational framework for future flagship missions. Though early in her career, Hanna’s contributions are already shaping the conversation around how to reach and sample potentially habitable sub-ice environments, marking her as a rising leader in planetary exploration systems engineering.