Jessica Samuels
Papers
1
Total Citations
134
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1
About
Dr. Jessica Samuels is a leading planetary scientist and engineer whose work has fundamentally shaped the robotic exploration of Mars. Her primary research focuses on the development of autonomous sampling systems and in-situ resource utilization for extraterrestrial environments. Dr. Samuels is best known for her pivotal role in designing and operating the Sampling and Caching Subsystem (SCS) aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover. Her landmark 2020 paper, which has garnered over 130 citations, details the intricate engineering behind the SCS—the most sophisticated sample acquisition system ever sent to another planet. This system successfully cored and sealed the first rock samples from Jezero Crater, a former lakebed, laying the groundwork for the Mars Sample Return campaign. Beyond her technical contributions, Dr. Samuels is celebrated for her leadership in cross-disciplinary mission teams and her advocacy for open-source planetary science data. Her work not only advances our understanding of Martian geology and astrobiology but also provides critical blueprints for future human missions to the Red Planet.
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Top Papers
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