Moogega Stricker

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Moogega Stricker is a leading planetary protection engineer whose work safeguards both extraterrestrial environments and Earth from biological contamination during space exploration. Her research focuses on implementing sterilization protocols and contamination control strategies for Mars landed missions, ensuring compliance with international space treaties. Her most cited paper, "The Evolution of planetary protection implementation on Mars landed missions" (2017, 10 citations), documents NASA’s evolving requirements to prevent forward and backward contamination—a critical contribution as humanity prepares for sample return missions. Stricker’s expertise has been instrumental in missions like the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, where she helped ensure the spacecraft met stringent cleanliness standards. Beyond her technical achievements, she is a passionate science communicator, frequently inspiring students and the public through media appearances and educational outreach. Her work bridges engineering, microbiology, and policy, making her a key figure in enabling future interplanetary exploration while preserving planetary integrity.