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About

Tilman Spohn is a prominent planetary scientist whose research has focused on the thermal evolution and interior properties of rocky planets, with a particular specialization in Mars geophysics. He is best known for his central role in developing the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP³) aboard NASA's InSight mission, the first instrument designed to directly measure the planetary heat flow of Mars at Elysium Planitia. This groundbreaking experiment aimed to probe the Martian subsurface to depths of three to five meters using a self-penetrating heat probe — nicknamed "the mole" — to characterize the planet's geothermal gradient and interior thermal state. Spohn's most-cited work, the 2018 HP³ instrument paper, has accumulated 146 citations, reflecting the scientific community's deep interest in Mars interior exploration. His subsequent publications have contributed valuable insights into Martian regolith properties, soil mechanics, and the operational challenges encountered during the mole's deployment — findings that, despite mechanical setbacks, yielded unexpected knowledge about near-surface Martian soil behavior. His body of work has meaningfully advanced understanding of how terrestrial planets form, cool, and evolve, making him an influential figure in planetary geophysics and space instrumentation development.