Zachary Bailey
Papers
3
Total Citations
276
H-Index
3
About
Dr. Zachary Bailey is a planetary scientist and aerospace engineer whose work sits at the intersection of astrobiology, instrument design, and deep-space propulsion. He is best known for his central role in NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, where he contributed to the development and operation of the SHERLOC instrument—a sophisticated robotic arm-mounted spectrometer on the Perseverance rover. SHERLOC uses Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy to map organic compounds and minerals on the Martian surface, directly supporting the search for signs of ancient microbial life. Dr. Bailey’s 2021 paper detailing SHERLOC’s design and capabilities has already garnered over 230 citations, underscoring its foundational importance to Mars exploration. He also led the design and outreach efforts for the SHERLOC calibration target, a critical component that ensures data accuracy while serving as a public engagement tool. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bailey explored novel mission architectures, including the use of Hall thrusters for efficient robotic Mars trajectories. His contributions bridge cutting-edge instrumentation with the broader goal of human and robotic exploration of the solar system.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Robotic Mars Exploration Trajectories Using Hall Thrusters4 citations · 2014