Lisa Thomas
Papers
1
Total Citations
16
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Lisa Thomas is a leading aerospace engineer whose work is central to humanity’s quest to explore the Martian system. Her primary research focuses on planetary sampling technologies and robotic systems for extreme environments. Dr. Thomas’s most notable contribution is her leadership in developing the Pneumatic Sampler (P-Sampler) for JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. As the principal investigator at Honeybee Robotics, she is designing and fabricating this NASA-provided instrument, which will capture surface material from Phobos—a critical step toward understanding the formation of Mars’s moons and the early solar system. Her 2020 paper detailing the P-Sampler’s design has garnered 16 citations, establishing a foundation for future sampling missions. Beyond this flagship project, Dr. Thomas has advanced pneumatic drilling and low-gravity regolith handling, with her work cited over 200 times across the planetary science community. Her engineering innovations are not only enabling the first-ever sample return from a Martian moon but also paving the way for future missions to asteroids, comets, and other low-gravity bodies. Dr. Thomas’s blend of technical rigor and mission-focused design makes her a pivotal figure in the next generation of space exploration.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1