Dynamic Response of the Environment At the Moon

Picture of Richard Elphic

Richard Elphic


1. What is your role on the DREAM team?


Provide expertise on the distribution and state of lunar polar hydrogen, as well as background on lighting conditions and surface temperatures.


2. What about DREAM do you find most interesting? Most challenging?


The issue of lofted, charged dust is something we know very little about, but one which could be hugely important. DREAM will address this from a theoretical perspective, setting the stage for measurements by missions such as the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer.


3. What other NASA programs or missions have you participated in?


Lunar Prospector, Mars Odyssey, LCROSS, LRO. Before these, a large number of space physics missions.


4. What kind/level of education do you have?


PhD in Geophysics and Space Physics, UCLA.


5. What advice do you have for students who want to work for NASA or on NASA-related research?


Dream big! Reach out for what you really have a passion to do, work hard in school, and don't stay in grad school too long.


6. What are your favorite things to do outside of work?


Hiking, kayaking, reading, music, cooking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, sailing, flying.



 
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