Gale Paulson
Papers
1
Total Citations
5
H-Index
1
About
Gale Paulson is a pioneering researcher in the field of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), with a focused expertise on the detection and extraction of lunar polar volatiles. Her most-cited work, "Near-Infrared monitoring of volatiles in frozen lunar simulants while drilling" (2016), has garnered 5 citations and represents a foundational contribution to the practical challenges of harvesting water ice and other volatiles from the Moon. In this study, Paulson developed and validated a near-infrared monitoring technique to track volatile loss during simulated drilling operations, directly addressing a critical bottleneck for future lunar missions: how to extract and preserve these precious resources without losing them to sublimation. Her research is pivotal for reducing mission cost and risk by enabling astronauts to produce their own water, breathable air, and rocket propellant from local materials. Paulson’s work bridges the gap between remote sensing detections of lunar ice and the engineering reality of mining it, marking her as a key figure in humanity’s return to the Moon and the sustainable exploration of deep space.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1