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About

David Sollberger is a planetary scientist whose research focuses on Martian geophysics and soil mechanics, with a particular emphasis on interpreting in-situ measurements from landed missions. His major contributions center on the NASA InSight mission, where he has been instrumental in analyzing data from the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP³), specifically the "mole" penetrator designed to measure Mars' internal heat flow. Sollberger’s work has been critical in understanding why the mole struggled to penetrate the unexpectedly cohesive, duricrust-like soil at the landing site, leading to novel insights into Martian soil properties and their implications for future drilling and excavation. His 2021 paper on this topic has garnered 3 citations, while his 2024 investigation into the InSight landing site’s soil has received 2 citations, reflecting the niche but vital nature of his research. Notably, Sollberger’s findings have helped refine models of Martian regolith behavior, directly supporting the interpretation of seismic and thermal data from the lander’s seismometer and cameras. His work is essential for engineers and scientists planning future missions that require subsurface access on Mars, making him a key figure in advancing our understanding of the Red Planet’s shallow subsurface.