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Planetary Science

Pascal Lee

Senior Planetary Scientist

Disciplines: Planetary Science

Degree/Major: Ph.D., Astronomy & Space Sciences, 1997, Cornell University

Role: Scientist

Biography

Short Bio

Pascal Lee is a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute, the Mars Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. He is also professor of planetary sciences at Kepler Space University. He is internationally known for his research on the Moon and Mars, and for planning their future exploration with humans.

Longer Bio

Dr. Pascal Lee is a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute, the Mars Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. He is also professor of planetary sciences at Kepler Space University, and chief scientist for Ceres Robotics, a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) industry provider.

He also serves as the National Space Society’s Vice-President for Planetary Development.  Dr. Lee holds an M.E. in geology and geophysics from the University of Paris-Sorbonne, and a MS and PhD in astronomy and space sciences from Cornell University where he was Carl Sagan’s last T.A.. (Teaching Assistant). Dr. Lee’s research focuses on the Moon and Mars, and planning the future human exploration of these worlds. He recently co-discovered the Noctis Volcano, an ancient giant volcano near Mars’ equator, and has been advocating the establishment of human exploration bases at Clavius on the Moon and at Noctis on Mars. Dr. Lee has led over 30 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica to study Mars by comparison with the Earth.

He is the director of the NASA Haughton Mars Project, an international planetary analog field research project on Devon Island, High Arctic, often referred to as "Mars On Earth". He also wintered over for402 days at Dumont d’Urville Station in Antarctica, and led the Northwest Passage Drive Expedition - the record-setting vehicular traverse across the Arctic along the fabled Northwest Passage, and now the subject of the award-winning motion picture documentary film, Passage To Mars.

Dr. Lee is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences' steering committee on “A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars”. He is a recipient of the United States Antarctica Service Medal, the National Space Society Space Pioneer Award for Science and Engineering, the Space Frontier Foundation’s Vision to Reality Award, and the Sagan Prize for the Popularization of Science. In his free time, Pascal likes to be walked by his dog Apollo, fly, and paint. He is an FAA-certified helicopter commercial pilot and flight instructor. His oil paintings on Mars exploration and spacetime travel are in collections worldwide.

Links

Publications

Mars and Analogs

  • Schuerger, A. and P. Lee (2015). Microbial Ecology of a Crewed Rover Traverse in the Arctic: Low Microbial Dispersal and Implications for Planetary Protection on Human Mars Missions. Astrobiol. 15 (6). 478-491.
  • Young, K. E., M. c. van Soest, K. V. Hodges, E. B. Watson, B. A. Adams, & P. Lee (2013). Impact thermochronology and the age of Haughton impact structure, Canada. Geophys. Res. Lett. 40, 1-5.
  • Parnell, J., A. J. Boyce, G. R. Osinski, M. R. M. Izawa, N. Banerjee, R. Flemming, & P. Lee (2012). Evidence for life in the isotopic analysis of surface sulphates in the Haughton impact structure, and potential application on Mars. Int. J. Astrobiol., 1-9.
  • Lee, P. (2010). Haughton Crater and Devon Island. In Planetary Analogs (P. Doran et al. eds.). Springer-Verlag, 278-283.
  • Lee, P. (2008). Planetary Analogs: A quantified evaluation standard. GAC-MAC Conf. 2008, Quebec City, 26-28 May 2008. Invited.
  • Lee, P. & C. McKay (2007). Early Mars: Mostly cold and dry. 39th AAS-DPS, Orlando, FL, 7-12 Oct 2007.
  • Lee, P., B. Glass, G. Osinski, J. Parnell, J. W. Schutt, & C. P. McKay (2006). Gullies on Mars: Fresh gullies in dirty snow, Devon Island, High Arctic, as end-member analogs. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXVII, Houston, TX, March, 2006. [1818].
  • Lee, P. & G. R. Osinski (2005). The Haughton-Mars Project: Overview of science investigations at the Haughton impact structure and surrounding terrains, and relevance to planetary studies. Meteor. Planet. Sci. 40 (HMP Special Issue), 1755-1758.
  • Lee, P., A. Bisset, M. Boucher, S. Braham, C. Cockell, C. Desportes, B. Glass, E. Hodgson, D. Lim, C. McKay, G. Osinski, J. Parnell, J. Schutt, K. Snook, & D. Wettergreen (2005). Terrestrial Analogues in Planetary Science and Exploration: Their Four Key Functions. Canadian Space Exploration Workshop 5, St. Hubert, May, 2005.
  • Lee, P., M. Boucher, C. Desportes, B. Glass, D. Lim, C. McKay, G. Osinski, J. Parnell, & J. Schutt (2005). Mars, Always Cold, Sometimes Wet: New Constraints On Mars Denudation Rates and Climate Evolution From Analog Studies at Haughton Crater, Devon Island, High Arctic. 36th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., Mar, 2005 [2270]. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/2270.pdf
  • Lee, P., C. Cockell, & C. P. McKay (2004). Gullies on Mars: Origin by snow and ice melting and potential for life based on possible analogs from Devon Island, High Arctic. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXV, Mar, 2004. [2122].
  • Lee, P. & C. P. McKay (2003). Mars: Always Cold, Sometimes Wet? 34th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., Mar, 2003. [#2127]. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2003/pdf/2127.pdf
  • Lee, P. C. P. McKay, & J. Matthews (2002). Gullies on Mars: Clues to their formation timescale from possible analogs from Devon Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXIII, Mar, 2002.
  • Lee, P., C. S. Cockell, M. M. Marinova, C. P. McKay, & J. W. Rice, Jr. (2001). Snow and ice melt slope flow features on Devon Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada, as possible analogs for recent slope flow features on Mars. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXII, Mar, 2001.
  • Lee, P. (2000). Selective fluvial erosion on Mars: Glacial selective linear erosion on Devon Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada, as a possible analog. Lunar & Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXI, March 2000.
  • Lee, P., & J. W. Rice, Jr. (1999). Small valley networks on Mars: The glacial meltwater channel networks of Devon Island, Nunavut Territory, Arctic Canada, as possible analogs. 5th Mars Conference, Jul 1999.
  • Lee, P., J. W. Rice, Jr., T. E. Bunch, R. A. F. Grieve, C. P. McKay, J. W. Schutt, & A. P. Zent (1999). Possible analogs for small valleys on Mars at the Haughton impact crater site, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXX., Mar 99
  • Lee, P., A. P. Zent, & the Haughton-Mars Project Team (1998). A unique Mars analog site: The Haughton impact crater and surroundings, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc.
  • Lee, P., T. E. Bunch, N. Cabrol, C. S. Cockell, R. A. F. Grieve, C. P. McKay, J. W. Rice, Jr., J. W. Schutt, & A. P. Zent (1998). Haughton-Mars 97 - I: Overview of observations at the Haughton impact crater, a unique Mars analog site in the Canadian High Arctic. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXIX, Mar 98, 1973-1974.
  • Lee, P. (1997). A unique Mars/Early Mars analog on Earth: The Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian Arctic. In Conf. on Early Mars: Geologic and hydrologic evolution, physical and chemical environments, and the implications for life. LPI Contrib. No. 916, 50. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/earlymars/pdf/3059.pdf
  • Lee, P. & P. C. Thomas (1994). Longitudinal dunes on Mars: Relation to current wind regimes. J. Geophys. Res. 100, MSATT special issue, 5381-5395.
  • Lee, P., P. C. Thomas, J. Veverka, & S. Calvo (1993). Discovery of longitudinal dunes on Mars. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 25, 1038.
  • Lee, P. (1993). Briny lakes on early Mars? Terrestrial intracrater playas and martian candidates. LPI Tech. Rep. 93-03, Part 1, 17.
  • Lee, P., S. Ebisawa, & A. Dollfus (1990). Crystal clouds in the Martian atmosphere. Astron. Astrophys. 240, 520-532. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990A%26A...240..520L
  • Lee, P. (1990). Impact crater morphology and ground H2O on Mars. Bull. Astron. Soc. of New York 3 (8), 23.
  • Asteroids, Phobos, and Deimos
  • Zakharov, A., M. Horanyi, P. Lee, O. Witasse, and F. Ciriani (2014). Dust at the Martian moons and in the circummartian space. Planet. Space Sci. 102, 171-175.
  • Lee, P. (2011). Phobos and Deimos: Science Goals for Human Exploration. EPSC Abstracts, Vol. 6, EPSC-DPS-2011, 3-7 Oct 2011, Nantes, France. [1716].
  • Lee, P., T. Jones, B. Jaroux, P. D. Klupar, J. Bellerose, J. Chartres, R. De Rosee, T. Fong, A. Genova, J. McCarthy, T. McCarthy, & G. S. Mungas (2011). M4: Mars Moons Multiple-landings Mission. In Abstracts of the Second International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos. Mars Inst. Tech. Pub. MITP-2011-001, Mars Institute, Moffett Field, CA, and SETI Inst. Tech. Pub. SITP-2011-001, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA, p. 19. [11-025].
  • Lee, P. (2011). Phobos and Deimos Sample Return: Importance, Challenges, and Strategy. Solar System Sample Return Mission Workshop, 5-6 Mar 2011, The Woodlands, TX. [5044].
  • Lee, P. J. Veverka, J. Bellerose, M. Boucher, J. Boynton, S. Braham, R. Gellert, A. Hildebrand, D. Manzella, G. Mungas, S. Oleson, R. Richards, P. C. Thomas, & M. D. West (2010). Hall: A Phobos and Deimos Sample Return Mission. 44th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., The Woodlands, TX. 1-5 Mar 2010. [1633]. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010LPI....41.1633L
  • Lee, P. (2009). First International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos, 5-7 Nov 2007 : Summary and Recommendations. Mars Institute Tech. Pub. 2009-001, Mars Institute, 57 pp.
  • Lee, P., R. Richards, A. Hildebrand, & the PRIME Mission Team (2008). The PRIME (Phobos Reconnaissance and International Mars Exploration) Mission and Mars sample Return. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXXIX, Houston, TX, Mar 2008. [#2268]. www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2008/pdf/2268.pdf
  • Lee, P. (2007). Phobos-Deimos ASAP: A Case for the Human Exploration of the Moons of Mars. First Int’l Conf. Explor. Phobos & Deimos. NASA Research Park, Moffett Field, CA, 5-7 Nov 2007. LPI Contrib. 1377, p. 25 [#7044]. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/phobosdeimos2007/pdf/7044.pdf
  • Lee, P. (2007). Phobos ASAP. Phobos as a stepping stone between the Moon and Mars. ISDC 2007, Dallas, TX., 25-27 May 2007.
  • Lee P., Hildebrand, A., Gladman, B., Richards, R., Hahn, J., Braham, S., Cloutis, E., Gellert, R., Ghafoor, N., Brown, P., King, P., Stooke, P., Wiegert, P., Glass, B., Thomas, P., Veverka, J., Parnell, J., Mitrofanov, I., Sugita, S., Kawaguichi, J., Boucher, M., Carroll, K., Desportes, C., West, M., & Wilkinson, N. (2006). PRIME (Phobos Reconnaissance and International Mars Exploration): A small body mission at Mars. Canadian Space Astronomy Workshop, Canadian Space Agency, St Hubert, Nov 23-24, 2006. Abstract.
  • Lee P., Hildebrand, A., Richards, R., Hahn, J., Veverka, J., Braham, S., Desportes, C., West, M., Wilkinson, N., & the PRIME Science Team (2006). Exploration Canada 2006 Workshop, Canadian Space Agency, St. Hubert, Oct 17-18, 2006. Abstract.
  • Lee, P., S. Braham, G. Mungas, M. Silver, P. Thomas, & M. West (2005). Phobos: A Critical Link Between Moon and Mars Exploration. Report of the Space Resources Rountable VII: LEAG Conference on Lunar Exploration, League City, TX 25-28 Oct 2005. LPI Contrib. 1318, p. 72.http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005LPICo1287...56L
  • Lee, P., S. Braham, B. Gladman, G. Mungas, M. Silver, P. Thomas, & M. West (2005). Mars Indirect: Phobos as a Critical Step in Human Mars Exploration. Int’l. Space Dev. Conf., Washington, DC, 19-21 May 2005 [96]. http://isdc2.xisp.net/~kmiller/isdc_archive/isdc.php?link=submissionSelect&submission_id=96.
  • Lee, P. (1997). Physical Properties and Processing of Asteroid Regoliths and Interiors. Ph.D. Thesis. Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 260pp.
  • Lee, P. (1996). Dust levitation on asteroids. Icarus 124, 181-194.
  • Lee, P., J. Veverka, P. Thomas, M. J. S. Belton, C. R. Chapman, P. Geissler, R. Greenberg, J.-M. Petit, R. Greeley, R. Pappalardo, R. Sullivan, & the Galileo SSI Team (1996). Ejecta blocks on 243 Ida and on other asteroids. Icarus 120, 87-105.

Meteoritics and Solar System Evolution

  • Cockell, C. & P. Lee (2002). The biology of terrestrial impact craters: A review. Biol. Reviews 77, 279-310.
  • Lee, P., W. Cassidy, D. Apostolopoulos, D. Bassi, L. Bravo, H. Cifuentes, M. Deans, A. Foessel, S. Moorehead, M. Parris, C. Puebla, L. Pedersen, M. Sibenac, F. Valdés, N. Vandapel, & W. Whittaker (1999). Search for meteorites at Martin Hills & Pirrit Hills, Antarctica. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXX, Mar 99.
  • Lee, P., W. A. Cassidy, D. Apostolopoulos, M. Deans, A. Foessel, C. Krause, S. Parra, L. Pedersen, K. Schwehr, & W. L. Whittaker (1998). Search for meteorites in the Patriot Hills area, Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica. Meteorit. & Planet. Sc i., 33 Supplement, A92-A93.
  • Lee, P. & R. W. Kay (1992). Search for a meteoritic component at the Beaverhead impact structure, Montana. LPI Contrib. No.790, 47.
  • Lee, P., P. Helfenstein, J. Veverka, & D. McCarthy (1992). Anomalous-scattering region on Triton. Icarus 99, 82-97.

Human Exploration

  • Fort, J., M. Greene, G. Quinn, & P. Lee (2014). Suitport & tether operational simulations for the 2013 Haughton-Mars Project. Proceed. 44th Int. Conf. Environ. Sys.,Tucson, AZ., ICES-2014-131.
  • Lee, P., S. Dougherty, T. McCarthy, T. Fong, S. Hoffman, E. Hodgson, K. Lorber, R. Mueller, J. Schutt, & L. Alvarez (2012). Human Exploration of Asteroids, the Moon, and Mars Using Robotic Arm-Equipped Pressurized Vehicles. Earth & Space 2012, Pasadena, CA.
  • Genova, A. L., C. Foster, A. Colaprete, P. Lee, J. Battat, and D. W. Dunham (2011). Entering the Interplanetary Gateway: Short-Duration Human Missions to Near-Earth Objects. IAC-11-A5.4.1, 13 pp.
  • Lee, P., S. Braham, M. Deans, T. Fong, E. Heggy, M. Helper, E. Hodgson, S. J. Hoffman, & J. W. Schutt (2011). Pressurized Rover-Based IVA Field Science: Lessons Learned from Moon and Mars Analog Studies at the Haughton-Mars Project, Devon Island, High Arctic. 42nd Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 7-11 Mar 2011, The Woodlands, TX. [2656].
  • Hoffman, S. J., M. J. Leonard, and P. Lee (2011). Evaluation of Robotic Systems to Carry Out Traverse Execution, Opportunistic Science, and Landing Site Evaluation Tasks. NASA/TM-2011-216157, 78 pp.
  • Gaier, J. R., P. G. de Leon, P. Lee, T. R. McCue, E. W. Hodgson, and J. Thrasher (2010). Preliminary Testing of a Pressurized Space Suit and Candidate Fabrics Under Simulated Mars Dust Storm and Dust Devil Conditions. NASA/TM-2010-216787. Also AIAA-2010-6247. 23 pp.
  • Lee, P., S. Braham, C. P. McKay, & J. W. Schutt (2008). Field Science and Exploration Requirements for Lunar and Planetary Outposts: Lessons from Arctic and Antarctic Stations. Earth & Space 2008, Long Beach, 3-5 March 2008.

Popular Articles by Pascal Lee

  • Lee, P. (2014). Plasma Drilling on Mars. The NRP Post – A Publication of NASA Research Park, Summer 2014, 16.
  • Lee, P. (2013.) Generation Mars : Reading today to realize your dreams. HuffingtonPost.com, 11 Oct 2013.
  • Lee, P. (2013). Mars Institute : Educating Future Mars Explorers. The NRP Post – A Publication of NASA Research Park, Summer 2013, 10-11.
  • Lee, P. (2013.) First Field Simulation of the Human Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids, Phobos, and Deimos. The NRP Post – A Publication of NASA Research Park, Summer 2013, pp. 10, 20.
  • Lee, P. (2012). Humans to Mars. SETI Institute Explorer, Second Issue 2012, 14-15.
  • Lee, P. (2011). Longevity of the Australian Cattle Dog : Results of a 100-Dog Survey. ACD Spotlight, Vol. 4, Issue 1, Spring 2011, 94-103.
  • Lee, P. (2010). Northwest Passage Drive : Preparing for Mars. Above & Beyond, Canada’s Arctic Journal, Sep-Oct 2010, 35-39.
  • Lee, P. (2002). Mars on Earth: The NASA Haughton-Mars Project. Ad Astra, May-Jun 2002.
  • Lee, P. (2002). From the Earth to Mars. Part Two: Robots and Humans Working Together. The Planetary Report, May-Jun 2002.
  • Lee, P. (2002). From the Earth to Mars. Part One: A Crater, Ice, and Life. The Planetary Report, Jan-Feb 2002.
  • Lee, P. (1990). Men Wanted for Hazardous Journey. Compass, Cornell's International Magazine, 2 (1), 26-31.
  • Lee, P. (1988). Phobos. L'Astronomie - Spécial Planète Mars. Société Astronomique de France, 102, Mar 1988, 110-121.
  • Lee, P. (1987). Voyages vers Mars. In Des Planètes et des Hommes (C. Lardier & P. Lee, eds.). Cosmos Club de France, 1987, 47-68.

Popular Books by Pascal Lee

  • Lee, P. (2013). Mission: Mars. Scholastic, New York. 48 pp.
  • Braham, S. & P. Lee (2002). Bases on the Moon, Mars and Beyond. In Solar System (N. Hey, ed.), Chap. 3. Wiley & Sons.

Pascal Lee’s Work Described in Popular Science Books

  • Aldrin, B. and L. David (2013). Mission to Mars. National Geographic. 258 pp.
  • Clancey, W. J. (2012). Working on Mars. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 310 pp.
  • Pyle, R. (2012). Destination Mars. Prometheus Books. 348 pp.
  • Roach, M. (2010). Packing for Mars. Norton. 334 pp. – New York Times Bestseller.
  • Bizony, P. (2009). How to Build Your Own Spaceship. Plume. 224 pp.
  • Fox, W. L. (2006). Driving to Mars. Shoemaker & Hoard. 264 pp.
  • Thomas, K. S., & H. J. McMann (2006). US Spacesuits. Springer & Praxis. 397 pp.
  • Klerkx, G. (2004). Lost in Space. Pantheon Books, New York. 392 pp.
  • Morton, Oliver (2002). Mapping Mars. Picador USA. 357 pp.
  • Couper, H. & N. Henbest (2001). Mars. The Inside Story of the Red Planet. Headline. 224 pp.