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About

Charles Yana is a key figure in the robotic surface operations of planetary science, with a primary focus on the deployment and manipulation of sensitive instruments on Mars. His major contributions center on the InSight mission, where he played a pivotal role in the complex deployment of the SEIS seismometer and the Instrument Deployment Arm (IDA). Yana’s work directly enabled the first-ever placement of a seismometer on the Martian surface, a feat that required precise robotic arm movements, scooping, and tether burial to optimize seismic signal quality. His research on using wind dispersion effects during tether burial to constrain regolith grain size distribution demonstrates an innovative integration of environmental data with robotic operations. With papers like “Results from InSight Robotic Arm Activities” (17 citations) and “Deployment and surface operations of the SEIS instrument” (4 citations), Yana’s impact is foundational to understanding how robotic systems interact with planetary regolith. His achievements highlight a rare blend of engineering precision and scientific problem-solving, making him a vital contributor to the success of one of NASA’s most ambitious Mars missions.