Samantha M. Zerbel

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Dr. Samantha M. Zerbel is pioneering the future of sustainable space exploration through her focused work on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), particularly the extraction and processing of water from icy environments on Mars and other celestial bodies. Her most-cited paper, "Melting Ice under Martian and other Environmental Conditions for ISRU" (2021), tackles a critical challenge for long-duration missions: how to reliably access and melt subsurface ice for life support, fuel production, and radiation shielding. By modeling the thermal dynamics of ice under low-pressure, low-temperature Martian conditions, Zerbel provides foundational data for designing efficient melting systems—work that directly supports NASA’s goal of reducing mission risk and cost through local resource use. While her citation count is still growing, her research sits at the intersection of planetary science and engineering, offering practical solutions for the Artemis program and future Mars expeditions. Her contributions are vital for turning the vision of a sustainable human presence beyond Earth into a reality, making her a rising voice in the ISRU community.