Goddard Space Flight Center
Solar System Exploration Division.

Solar System Exploration Division


Picture of Michael Mumma

Dr. Michael Mumma

Solar System Exploration Division
NASA/GSFC, Code 690
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-6994

FAX: (301) 286-0212

Email: Michael.J.Mumma@nasa.gov

Current Position


    Director, Goddard Center for Astrobiology, and Senior Scientist, Solar System Exploration Division
    NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Education

    A.B. (Physics, with Honors - 1963) Franklin and Marshall College
    Ph.D. (Physics - 1970) University of Pittsburgh
    Assorted Management Training Workshops and Courses (1975-1984)
    NASA Management Education Program (1981)

Professional Experience


    Scientific Management Experience
  • Direction and supervision of interdisciplinary research activities, and multiple research groups.
  • Organization of intra- and inter-institutional (including international) research activities.
  • Identification, definition, initiation, and development of enabling technologies, new areas of research, and projects.


    • Personal Scientific Research Experience
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics
  • Absolute electron-scattering cross sections
  • Direct excitation
  • Dissociative excitation
  • Translational spectroscopy (time-of-flight)
  • Electronic, vibrational, rotational structure
  • Spectral line intensities, frequencies, and shapes
  • Astrophysical and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Remote sounding
  • Compositions, temperature profiles, and dynamics
  • Thermal- and non-thermal-equilibrium processes
  • Cometary physics and spectroscopy
  • Planetary atmospheres
  • Solar and stellar atmospheres
  • Interstellar medium
  • Active Observer/Team Leader on Hubble Space Telescope, IUE, FUSE, EUVE, ROSAT, Space Shuttle (SKIRT-CVF), Kuiper Airborne Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory (McMath, 50-inch, and 4-meter), Mauna Kea Observatory (Keck-2, Subaru, NASA. IRTF, and UKIRT), and Gemini-South, using (own) heterodyne spectrometers, cryogenic grating spectrometers, infrared camera, Fourier Transform Spectrometers.
  • Development of Advanced Instruments for Quantitative Spectroscopy
  • Vacuum Ultraviolet through Infrared Wavelengths
  • Laboratory and Field Instruments


    • Other Experience:  Expert Witness; Independent Consultant

Position:


2003 - present - Director, The Goddard Center for Astrobiology, NASA Astrobiology Institute
2005 - present - Senior Scientist, Solar System Exploration Division, NASA GSFC
2002 - 2005 - Professor of Physics with Honors (Adjunct), University of Toledo
1990 - 2005 - Chief Scientist, Planetary and Astrophysical Research, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics
1985 - 1990 - Founder & Head, Planetary Systems Branch (**) - 50 people (30 Ph.D's, $7.5M)
1982 - 1989 - Professor (Adjunct), Dept. of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University.
1984 - 1985 - Associate Chief (Acting Chief), Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics. ~150 people (55 Ph.D's)-$13M
1977 - 1984 - Founder and Head, Infrared Astronomy Branch (**) - 50 people (22 Ph.D's, $3M).
1976 - 1977 - Head, Infrared and Radio Astronomy Branch, (**) - 12 people (6 Ph.D's, $0.5M).
1979 - 1982 - Senior Research Associate, Dept. of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University
1970 - 1976 - Research Physicist, Astrochemistry Branch (**).
1975 - 1976 - Study Scientist, InfraRed Astronomy Satellite Mission (IRAS)
1973 - 1975 - Study Scientist, Cometary Explorer Satellite Missions (Three)

Advisory Groups and Scientific Service (* = NASA sponsored)


Executive Council, NASA Astrobiology Institute (member) 2003 -
*Planetary Astronomy Review Panel (Chair, Planets and Satellites sub-panel) 2004
Keck Observatory Science Steering Committee (NASA Representative) 1995 - 2002.
*Origins of Solar Systems Management Operations Working Group 1999 - 2002.
* Astrobiology Review Panel (CAN-99) 2000.
*NASA Infrared Telescope Facility - Keck Observatory Management Operations Working Group 1997 - 2000.
*Keck Observatory Management Operations Working Group 1996 - 1997.
*Origins Advisory Committee 1996 - 1997.
*Keck Observatory Advisory Committee (NKRT) 1991-1996.
26th Annual Meeting, Division of Planetary Science, Amer. Astron., Soc. (Organizer, chair, 1994).
*NASA Infrared Telescope Facility - Management Operating Working Group 1990- 1994.
*Planetary Astronomy Management Operations Working Group 1989 - 1998
*Near-Earth Object Survey Working Group 1995 - 1996.
*Planetary Systems (TOPS) Science Working Group 1988 - 1993.
*Planetary Astronomy Review Panel 1988-1991
Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee (NAS) 1990-91
Panel on Planetary Astronomy
Panel on Laboratory & Theoretical Studies
Orbital Planetary Telescope - NASA/ESA Science Working Group 1990-1991
*Workshop on Planetary Science with a Ground-based 8-meter Telescope (Convenor, chair) 1990
*Workshop on Astrophysics from the Moon (Convenor; organizer) 1990
*PlanetenTeleskop Earth Orbital Planetary Telescope - Science Working Group 1987-90
*Planetary Atmospheres Review Panel 1987
NSF Panel Review/Site Visit - New Technology Telescope Project 1987
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (U. of Hawaii) - Time Allocation Committee 1986-1988
*SSEC/Planetary Astronomy Committee 1985-1988
NSF Panel Review - ARC 3.5 meter Telescope 1986
*Management Operations Working Group for Airborne Astronomy (KAO and LJO) 1983-1985
*Mars Geoscience and Climatology Orbiter - Science Working Group 1983-1984
*Large Deployable Reflector - Technical Advisory Committee 1983
National Academy of Sciences (Complex).
Summer Study on Instrument Development for Planetary Studies 1981
*Workshop on Vibrational-Rotational Spectroscopy for Planetary Atmospheres (organizer, co-Chair) 1980
Heterodyne Systems and Technology Conference (organizing committee) 1980
*Future Infrared Spaceborne Instrumentation Study 1980
NBS - Vibrational Spectroscopy Conference (organizing committee) 1980
*Workshop on Solar System Studies from Earth Orbit 1980
*Management Operations Working Group for Planetary Atmospheres 1979
*Science Working Group on Extra-Solar Planetary Detection 1978-1979
Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS): Intl. Science Study Team (Co-chair) 1975-1976
*Comet Working Group 1975
Infrared Working Group (GSFC, organizer and Chair) 1975
Multi-Institutional MM/IR Working Group (organizer/chair) 1973-1974
Comet Mission Definition Group - European Space Research Organization (NASA representative) 1974
IAU Colloq. No. 25 (Physics of Comets) Local Committee 1974
*Cometary Explorer Mission: Science Study Team (Chair, three missions) 1973-1975
*Comet Encke Mission Engineering Panel (co-Chair) 1973-1974

Professional Society Memberships


American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Astronomical Society - Div. Planetary Sciences
American Geophysical Union
American Physical Society (Fellow)
International Astronomical Union
Washington Academy of Sciences (Fellow)

Honors and Awards:


Adjunct Professor of Physics with Honors, The University of Toledo (2002 -)
Asteroid 8340 (= 1985 TS1) named "Michael J. Mumma" by Intl. Astron. Union (1999)
Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement: For the first detection of saturated hydrocarbons in a cometary atmosphere (discovery of ethane and methane in comet Hyakutake) (NASA, 1997)
Elected to Fellowship - American Physical Society (1990)
Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement: For the first detection and characterization of cometary water; in comet Halley (NASA, 1988)
Elected to Fellowship - Washington Academy of Sciences (1980)
Adjunci Professor of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University
chievement Awards (NASA/Goddard, 1974, 1983)
Group Achievement Award (NASA/Ames 1987) - KAO Comet Halley Expeditions
Group Achievement Award (NASA/Goddard, 1991) - Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)

Recent Publications


2005  "Methane and H2CO in Comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR ): Search for Heterogeneity within a Comet Nucleus." E. L. Gibb, M. A. DiSanti, K. Magee-Sauer, N. Dello Russo, B. P. Bonev, and M. J. Mumma, Icarus (in prep., Nov. 2004).

2005  " The Organic Composition of Comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR)." K. Magee-Sauer, M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo. E. L. Gibb, and B. P. Bonev, Icarus (submitted, Nov. 2004).

2005  "Parent Volatiles in Comet 9P/Tempel-1: Before and After Impact.", M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, K. Magee-Sauer, B. P. Bonev, G. L. Villanueva, H. Kawakita, N. Dello Russo, E. L. Gibb, G. A. Blake, J. E. Lyke, R. D. Campbell, J. Aycock, A. Conrad, and G. M. Hill, Science 310:270-274.

2005  "The Composition of Cometary Volatiles." D. Bockelee-Morvan, J. Crovisier, M. J. Mumma, and H. A. Weaver, in Comets II, Univ. of Ariz. Press, eds. M. Festou, H. U. Keller, and H. A. Weaver, pp. 391-423.

2005  "Water production rates, rotational temperatures, and spin temperatures in Comets C/1999 H1 (Lee), C/1999 S4, and C/2001 A2." N. Dello Russo, B. P. Bonev, M. A. DiSanti, M. J. Mumma, E. L. Gibb, K. Magee-Sauer, R. J. Barber, and J. Tennyson, Ap. J. 621:537-544.

2004  "Infrared OH Prompt Emission as a proxy of water production in comets: Quantitative analysis of the multiplet near 3046 cm-1 in Comets C/1999 H1 (Lee) and C/2001 A2 (LINEAR)." B. P. Bonev, M. J. Mumma, N. Dello Russo, E. L. Gibb, M. A. DiSanti, and K. Magee-Sauer, Ap. J. 615:1048-1053.

2004  "Water production and release in comet 153P/Ikeya-Zhang (2002 C1): Accurate rotational temperatures retrievals from hot-band lines near 2.9 \265m." N. Dello Russo, M. A. DiSanti, K. Magee-Sauer, E. L. Gibb, M. J. Mumma, R. J. Barber, and J. Tennyson, Icarus 168:186-200.

2003  "Remote infrared observations of parent volatiles in comets: A window on the early solar system." M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo, K. Magee-Sauer, E. Gibb, and R. Novak, Adv. Sp. Res. 31 (No. 12), 2563-2575.

2003  "Methane in Oort Cloud Comets". E. L. Gibb, M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo, and K. Magee-Sauer, Icarus 165:391-406.

2003  "Evidence for a dominant native source of carbon monoxide in comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake)." M. A. DiSanti, M. J. Mumma, N. Dello Russo, and K. Magee-Sauer, J. Geophys. Res. 108, No. E6, pp. 15-1-19, 5061, doi:10.1029/2002JE001961.

2002  "Production of HCN and C2H2 in C/2002 C1 Ikeya-Zhang on UT 2002 April 13.8." K. Magee-Sauer, N. Dello Russo, M. A. DiSanti, E. L. Gibb, and M. J. Mumma, in Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors ESA SP-500, pp. 549-532.

2002  "Production of C2H6 and H2O in comet 2002 C1 Ikeya-Zhang on UT 2002 April 13.7-13.9." N. Dello Russo, M. A. DiSanti, K. Magee-Sauer, E. L. Gibb, and M. J. Mumma, in Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors ESA SP-500, pp. 689-692.

2002  "CO, H2CO, and CH3OH in comet Ikeya-Zhang." M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo, K. Magee-Sauer, E. L. Gibb, D. C. Reuter, and M. J. Mumma, in Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors ESA SP-500, pp. 571-574.

2002  "An infrared search for HDO in comets." E. L. Gibb, M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo, and K. Magee-Sauer, in Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors ESA SP-500, pp. 705-708.

2002  "The organic volatile composition of Oort-cloud comets: Evidence for chemical diversity in the giant-planets' nebular region." M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, N. Dello Russo, K. Magee-Sauer, E. Gibb, and R. Novak, in Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors ESA SP-500, pp. 753-762.

2002  "Chemical diversity among comets: Implications for delivery of water and prebiotic organics to early Earth." M. J. Mumma, Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta 66 (No. S1):A534.

2002  "Hydrogen Cyanide in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake." K. Magee-Sauer, M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, and N. Dello Russo, J. Geophys. Res. 107, No. E11, 5096, 10.1029/2002JE001863 (2002).

2002  "Production of ethane and water in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake." N. Dello Russo, M. J. Mumma, M. A. DiSanti, and K. Magee-Sauer, J. Geophys. Res. 107, No. E11, 5095, doi:10.1029/2001JE001838 (2002).

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