E. Asphaug

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About

Erik Asphaug is a leading planetary scientist whose research focuses on the formation and evolution of asteroids, comets, and planetary systems, with a particular emphasis on impact processes and the origins of planetary bodies. He is best known for his pioneering work on the "hit-and-run" collisions that shaped the terrestrial planets, and for advancing the concept of capturing and returning entire near-Earth asteroids for scientific study. His 2011 paper on the feasibility of capturing a small NEA and returning it to the International Space Station—though modest in citation count—helped lay the conceptual groundwork for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2 missions, demonstrating visionary thinking in asteroid science and resource utilization. Asphaug’s broader body of work, including highly cited studies on planetary accretion and the catastrophic disruption of asteroids, has earned him over 4,000 citations, reflecting his profound influence on the field. He has also contributed to major NASA missions and is a recipient of the Harold C. Urey Prize from the American Astronomical Society. His research continues to inspire new generations of planetary scientists to explore the violent, dynamic history of our solar system.