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About

Harish Manohara is a pioneering researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, whose work lies at the intersection of space exploration and advanced instrumentation. His primary research areas include wireless power transfer for space applications, planetary sample acquisition and verification, and robotic surface operations. Manohara’s most impactful contribution is his foundational work on millimeter-wave wireless power transfer technology, which has garnered 18 citations and is critical for enabling compact, on-demand power delivery for future lunar and deep-space missions. He also led the development of the BiBlade sampling chain, a novel tool for comet surface sample return missions, and the Fiberscope Sample Imaging (FiSI) system, which provides real-time imaging of collected samples during touch-and-go maneuvers. Additionally, his proof-of-concept sample verification system (SVS) for in-situ mass measurement of planetary rocks and soils has been cited 8 times. Manohara’s achievements include designing the Lunar Surface Operation Testbed (LSOT), a high-fidelity mission concept testbed that allows end-to-end demonstration of surface operations. His work directly supports NASA’s goals for robotic exploration of the Moon, comets, and other small bodies, making him a key figure in advancing autonomous space technologies.