MARS | Editors
Donald Rapp
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
QSS Inc.
Pasadena, CA, US
Webpage: http://www.mars-lunar.net
1979-2002: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA; Senior Research Scientist and Division Technologist, Mechanical Systems Engineering and Research Division
1969-1973: Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics, University of Texas at Dallas
1973-1979: Full Professor of Physics and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas
1965-1969: Associate Professor of Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute of New York
1959-1965: Senior Staff Scientist, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory
Areas of Expertise: Mission architecture, power systems, in situ resource distribution and utilization, exploration strategy
- Proposal manager for a ground-penetrating radar experiment for the Mars Science Laboratory. (2004)
- NASA Exceptional Service Award (2002)
- Writer of the NASA Office of Space Science Technology Blueprint for Harley Thronson, NASA Technology Director, a 100-page assessment of technology needs and capabilities for future missions. (2002)
- Team leader in the investigation of solar power on Mars. Developed models for rate of dust deposition on photovoltaic arrays on Mars, and elucidated the relationship between dust accumulation and power reduction. (2000-2002)
- Brought in a program to JPL to carry out in-situ experiments on the Mars 2001 Lander with a run-out cost of $2M. (1997)
- Proposal Manager on the Genesis (formerly Suess-Urey) Discovery Project, funded at ~ $220M in Discovery 5. (1994-1998)
- Proposal Manager for the Deep Impact Discovery proposal, funded at $320M. (1994-1998)
- Elected fellow of the American Physical Society (1974)
Recent publications:
Preliminary System Analysis Of Mars ISRU Alternatives, with other authors, JPL Report D-31341, November, 2004.
Solar Energy on Mars, Volume 1. Basics, JPL Report D-31341-1, November, 2004.
Solar Energy on Mars, Volume 2, Calculations of Solar Energy on Mars, JPL Report D-31342-2, November, 2004.
Accessible Water on Mars, JPL Report D-31343, December, 2004.
Design Reference Missions for Human Exploration of Mars, with J. Andringa, JPL Report D-31340, January, 2005.