Exploration and Characterization of the Regolith of Microgravity Bodies

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. This specific opportunity focuses on developing measurement techniques to characterize the regolith structure, temperature at depth, thermal conductivity, and volatile content of small bodies such as comets, asteroids, and small moons. The project aims to develop a projectile-based probe to measure key properties of the regolith and interiors of small, microgravity bodies. Experimental studies will be conducted to optimize probe penetration and recording of regolith structure, with a focus on understanding near-surface regolith and interiors essential for both robotic and human exploration missions. The research will be conducted at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and will contribute to understanding the formation and evolution of both terrestrial planets and giant planets in our solar system.