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About

Catherine Maggiori is a planetary scientist whose work bridges the gap between robotic and human exploration of Mars. Her primary research focuses on Mars sample return mission planning, geological field analog studies, and the optimization of rover-based exploration operations. Maggiori’s most significant contribution is her leadership in the CanMars Mars Sample Return analogue mission (2018), a highly cited study (33 citations) that simulated the end-to-end process of selecting, collecting, and caching samples for future return to Earth. This work provided critical insights into how science teams can effectively integrate remote sensing data with in situ observations to maximize sample value. She further advanced the field with her geological evaluation of the MSRAD field site (2019), comparing human field party assessments to rover-based operations to inform both current robotic missions and future human exploration strategies. Maggiori’s research has directly influenced operational protocols for NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and the upcoming Mars Sample Return campaign. Her work exemplifies the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to prepare for humanity’s next giant leap on the Red Planet.