Rory Evans
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Rory Evans is a leading figure in planetary science, whose work centers on lunar geology and the distribution of water on the Moon. As the principal investigator for NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission—a pioneering small satellite selected under the SIMPLEx program in 2019—Evans has driven a transformative effort to map the form, abundance, and distribution of lunar water and understand the Moon’s water cycle. This mission, now in implementation for flight system delivery, represents a paradigm shift in how small spacecraft can address big planetary questions. Evans’s most cited paper (2022, 19 citations) details the mission’s innovative approach, showcasing how cost-effective platforms can yield high-impact science. Beyond this flagship project, Evans has contributed to our understanding of lunar geology, helping to unravel the processes that shape the Moon’s surface and volatile reservoirs. With a career marked by leadership in NASA’s competitive mission portfolio, Evans exemplifies how focused, ambitious research can advance both fundamental knowledge and exploration capabilities. For students and researchers, Evans’s work is a compelling model of how to combine technical ingenuity with scientific curiosity to address the most pressing questions in planetary science.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1