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About

M. Shirley is a leading figure in planetary science and robotic exploration, specializing in the intersection of rover simulation, polar volatiles, and mission operations for lunar exploration. Their work is critical to NASA’s Artemis program, particularly in preparing for human and robotic missions to the Moon’s south pole. Shirley’s most influential paper, “Planetary Rover Simulation for Lunar Exploration Missions” (2019, 62 citations), provides foundational methodologies for developing operator intuition and skills in simulated alien terrains, reducing mission risk before costly deployment. They further advanced the field with “Cryogeomorphic Characterization of Shadowed Regions in the Artemis Exploration Zone” (2022, 20 citations), which characterizes volatile-rich permanently shadowed regions—a key scientific target for future crewed missions. Their terrestrial field campaign, the Mojave Volatiles Prospector (MVP) (2016, 9 citations), yielded critical lessons on rover science operations and mission architecture, directly informing the design of polar rover missions. With a clear focus on bridging simulation, field testing, and real-world lunar operations, Shirley’s research is essential for enabling sustainable exploration of the Moon’s most challenging environments.