Sandra Ortega-Ugalde
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Sandra Ortega-Ugalde is a leading astrobiologist whose research focuses on planetary protection and the safe exploration of Mars. Her work addresses the critical knowledge gaps that must be closed to enable future crewed missions to the Red Planet. In her highly influential 2024 paper, "Planetary Protection Knowledge Gap Closure Enabling Crewed Missions to Mars," which has already garnered 19 citations, she systematically outlines the challenges of preventing forward contamination—protecting Mars from Earth's microbes—and backward contamination—safeguarding Earth's biosphere from potential Martian hazards. Dr. Ortega-Ugalde's contributions are pivotal as space agencies shift from robotic explorers to human explorers, ensuring that scientific integrity and planetary safety remain paramount. Her research not only informs NASA and international policy but also inspires a new generation of scientists to tackle the interdisciplinary challenges of interplanetary travel. By bridging astrobiology, engineering, and policy, she is shaping the ethical and practical framework for humanity's next giant leap.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Planetary Protection Knowledge Gap Closure Enabling Crewed Missions to Mars19 citations · 2024