P. D. Spudis

About

Paul D. Spudis was a preeminent planetary geologist whose career centered on lunar science, space exploration architecture, and the strategic utilization of the Moon's resources. With deep expertise in lunar geology and cislunar spaceflight, Spudis made foundational contributions to our understanding of the Moon as both a scientific treasure and a practical stepping stone for human expansion into the solar system. His involvement in the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission — one of the most comprehensive lunar mapping efforts ever undertaken, now with over 400 citations — exemplifies his influence on modern planetary science. Through instruments like the Mini-RF radar, he helped confirm and characterize water ice deposits in permanently shadowed lunar craters, a discovery with profound implications for future exploration. This finding underpinned his visionary work on lunar propellant production and cislunar infrastructure, advocating for reusable, resource-fueled spacecraft systems that could make routine spaceflight economically sustainable. Throughout his career, Spudis also engaged thoughtfully with the humans-versus-robots debate, consistently arguing that human presence offers irreplaceable scientific judgment. From his 1988 work on field geology to his 2019 commercial propellant architecture study, Spudis shaped decades of thinking about how humanity might truly return to — and remain on — the Moon.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Overview: The Instrument Suite and Mission

   401 citations · 2007
2. 2
   Commercial lunar propellant architecture: A collaborative study of lunar propellant production

   149 citations · 2019
3. 3
   The Miniature Radio Frequency instrument’s (Mini-RF) global observations of Earth’s Moon

   80 citations · 2014
4. 4
   Using the resources of the Moon to create a permanent, cislunar space faring system

   31 citations · 2011
5. 5
   An argument for human exploration of the moon and Mars.

   21 citations · 1997
6. 6
   Mission and Implementation of an Affordable Lunar Return

   12 citations · 2010
7. 7
   Geoscience and a Lunar Base: A Comprehensive Plan for Lunar Exploration

   11 citations · 1990
8. 8
   The Roles of Humans and Robots as Field Geologists on the Moon

   10 citations · 1988
9. 9
   Robots vs. Humans: Who Should Explore Space?

   8 citations · 2008
10. 10
    The Moon and the New Presidential Space Vision

    7 citations · 2004

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links