Papers
2
Total Citations
76
H-Index
2
About
Dr. S. M. Clifford is a planetary scientist whose research focuses on the geophysical exploration of Mars, with particular emphasis on the history of water and ice on the Red Planet. A pioneer in the application of in situ luminescence dating techniques, Clifford’s 2003 work on dating martian sediments has garnered 43 citations, establishing a foundational approach for understanding the timing of aqueous and sedimentary processes on Mars. His contributions extend to field-based mission simulations that bridge the gap between terrestrial analogs and extraterrestrial exploration. As a key participant in the 1999 Marsokhod rover mission simulation at Silver Lake, California, Clifford helped demonstrate the operational feasibility of rover-based payloads—including Descent Imagers, PanCams, and Mini-TES instruments—under conditions mimicking a Mars Surveyor mission. This highly cited work (33 citations) provided critical insights into rover navigation, data transmission protocols, and scientific return from simulated martian terrains. Through his integration of laboratory techniques and field robotics, Clifford has advanced both the theoretical and practical frameworks for future in situ investigations of Mars’ paleoenvironment.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Concepts and approaches to in situ luminescence dating of martian sediments43 citations · 2003
- 2