Marcos Arias

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Marcos Arias is a pioneering researcher in the emerging field of lunar subsurface exploration, with a focused expertise in radio frequency (RF) propagation and wireless communications for extraterrestrial robotics. His work is foundational to the future of human habitation on the Moon, specifically addressing the critical challenge of enabling reliable robot-to-robot communication inside lunar lava tubes. These caves, formed by ancient lava flows, are considered prime candidates for future human settlements due to their natural shielding from radiation and micrometeorites. Arias’s major contributions include developing and validating ray tracing models for RF propagation within these complex subterranean environments. His 2025 papers, including "Propagation Analysis Inside Lunar Caves" and "Propagation in Lunar Caves: Terrestrial Measurement Campaign and Ray Tracing Modeling," are among the first to combine terrestrial analog measurements with computational modeling to predict signal behavior in lunar pits. While his citation counts are currently modest, reflecting the nascent stage of this field, his work is highly notable for its direct application to upcoming robotic precursor missions. By solving the communication puzzle for autonomous cave explorers, Arias is laying the essential groundwork for humanity’s permanent return to the Moon.