Bruce Martin Jakosky has been involved with the Viking

Viking program

The Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2. Each spacecraft was composed of two main parts, an orbiter designed to photograph the surface of Mars from orbit, and a lander designed to study the planet from the surface...

, Solar Mesosphere Explorer

Solar Mesosphere Explorer

The Solar Mesosphere Explorer was an United States unmanned spacecraft to investigate the processes that create and destroy ozone in Earth's upper atmosphere. The mesosphere is a layer of the atmosphere extending from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about...

, Clementine, Mars Observer

Mars Observer

The Mars Observer spacecraft, also known as the Mars Geoscience/Climatology Orbiter, was a 1,018-kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on September 25, 1992 to study the Martian surface, atmosphere, climate and magnetic field...

, Mars Global Surveyor

Mars Global Surveyor

The Mars Global Surveyor was a US spacecraft developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched November 1996. It began the United States's return to Mars after a 10-year absence. It completed its primary mission in January 2001 and was in its third extended mission phase when, on 2...

, Mars Odyssey, Mars Science Laboratory

Mars Science Laboratory

The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...

 and MAVEN spacecraft missions, and is involved in planning future spacecraft missions.

Career

Jakosky heads up the University of Colorado at Boulder

University of Colorado at Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...

 team within the NASA Astrobiology Institute

NASA Astrobiology Institute

The NASA Astrobiology Institute was established in 1998 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration "to develop the field of astrobiology and provide a scientific framework for flight missions". The NAI is a virtual, distributed organization that integrates astrobiology research and...

. He serves on numerous national advisory committees. He serves as Associate Director for Science in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics is a research organization at the University of Colorado at Boulder. LASP is a research institute with over 100 research scientists ranging in fields from solar influences, to Earth's and other planetary atmospherics processes, space weather, space...

 at the University of Colorado at Boulder

University of Colorado at Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...

. He is an expert in Earth and planetary geology

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

 and extraterrestrial life

Extraterrestrial life

Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...

, including both the science and the societal and philosophical issues relating to the science. His research interests are in the geology

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

 of planetary surfaces, specifically the geology of Mars

Geology of Mars

The geology of Mars is the scientific study of the surface, crust, and interior of the planet Mars. It emphasizes the composition, structure, history, and physical processes that shape the planet. It is fully analogous to the field of terrestrial geology. In planetary science, the term geology is...

, the evolution of the martian atmosphere

Atmosphere of Mars

The atmosphere of Mars is relatively thin and is composed mostly of carbon dioxide . There has been interest in studying its composition since the detection of trace amounts of methane, which may indicate the presence of life on Mars, but may also be produced by a geochemical process, volcanic or...

 and climate, atmospheric chemistry

Atmospheric chemistry

Atmospheric chemistry is a branch of atmospheric science in which the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere and that of other planets is studied. It is a multidisciplinary field of research and draws on environmental chemistry, physics, meteorology, computer modeling, oceanography, geology and...

, the potential for life on Mars

Life on Mars

Scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars owing to the planet's proximity and similarity to Earth. Fictional Martians have been a recurring feature of popular entertainment of the 20th and 21st centuries, but it remains an open question whether life currently exists on...

 and elsewhere, and the philosophical and societal issues in astrobiology.

In September 2008, the MAVEN project, a Mars orbiter, was chosen as an upcoming NASA exploration mission. The probe is due to launch in 2013. Jakosky is serving as the MAVEN's principal investigator. The $485 million program represents the largest research contract ever awarded to the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Books

• Jakosky, B.M. (1998). The search for life on other planets, Cambridge University Press.
• Jakosky, B.M. (2006). Science, Society, and the Search for Life in the Universe, Univ. Arizona Press.

Articles and essays

• Henderson, B.G., B.M. Jakosky and C.E. Randall , A Monte Carlo Model of Polarized Thermal Emission from Particulate Planetary Surfaces, Icarus, 99, 51, 1992
• Jakosky, B.M. , Out on a limb: Martian atmospheric dust opacity during the past hundred years, Icarus, 117, 352-357, 1995
• Mellon, M.T., and B.M. Jakosky , The distribution and behavior of martian ground ice during past and present epochs, J. Geophys. Res.
  Journal of Geophysical Research
  The Journal of Geophysical Research is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Geophysical Union 80 times per year. It contains original research on the physical, chemical, and biological processes that contribute to the understanding of the Earth, Sun, and solar system...
  
  , 100, E6, 11,781-11,799, 1995
• Henderson, B.G., P.G. Lucey, and B.M. Jakosky , New laboratory measurements of Mid-IR emission spectra of simulated planetary surfaces, J. Geophys. Res., 101, No. E, 14,969-14,975, 1996
• Hutchins, K.S., and B.M. Jakosky , Evolution of Martian atmospheric argon: Implications for sources of volatiles, J. Geophys. Res., 101, No. E, 14,933-14,949, 1996
• Hutchins, K.S., and B.M. Jakosky , Impact of a paleo-magnetic field on sputtering loss of martian atmospheric argon and neon, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 1996
• Hutchins, K.S., and B.M. Jakosky , Sources of martian atmospheric volatiles, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1996
• Hutchins, K.S., and B.M. Jakosky , Carbonates in martian meteorite ALH84001: A planetary perspective on formation temperature, Geophys. Res. Lett., In Press, 1996
• Jakosky, B.M. , Warm havens for life on Mars, New Scientist, 150, 38-42, 1996
• Jakosky, B.M. , Martian stable isotopes: Volatile evolution, climate change, and exobiological implications, Orig. Life Evol. Biosphere, Submitted, 1996
• Jakosky, B.M., R.C. Reedy, and J. Masarik , Carbon 14 measurements of the martian atmosphere as an indicator of atmosphere-regolith exchange of CO2, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 2247–2252, 1996
• Mellon, M.T., B.M. Jakosky, and S.E. Postawko , The persistence of equatorial ground ice on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1996
• Urquhart, M.L., and B.M. Jakosky , Constraints on the solid-state greenhouse effect on the icy Galileo satellites, J. Geophys. Res., 101, No. E, 21,169-21,176, 1996
• Urquhart, M.L., and B.M. Jakosky , Lunar thermal emission and remote determination of surface properties, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 1996
• Brain, D.A., and B.M. Jakosky , Atmospheric loss since the onset of the martian geologic record: The combined role of impact erosion and sputtering, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1997
• Henderson, B.G., and B.M. Jakosky , Near-surface thermal gradients and mid-IR emission spectra: A new model including scattering and application to real data, J. Geophys. Res., 102, No. E, 6567-6580, 1997
• Hutchins, K.S.y, B.M. Jakosky, and J.G. Luhmann , Impact of a paleomagnetic field on sputtering loss of Martian atmospheric argon and neon, J. Geophys. Res., 102, No. E, 9183-9189, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M. , Mars mission satisfies age-old need to explore, Op-Ed piece, Daily Camera, 1-20, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M. , Martian exobiology, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 23,673-23,674, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M. , Mars life? One year later, The Planetary Report, 17, 10-13, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M. , Laying out the evidence: The case for life on Mars, Planetary Report, 17, 12-17, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M., A.P. Zent and R.W. Zurek , The Mars water cycle: Determining the role of exchange with the regolith, Icarus, 130, 87-95, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M., and E.L. Shock , The biological potential of Mars, the early Earth, and Europa, J. Geophys. Res, Submitted, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M., and J.H. Jones , The history of martian volatiles, Rev. Geophys., 135, 1-16, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M., and J.H. Jones , The History of Martian Volatiles, Rev. of Geophys., 35, No. 1, 1-16, 1997
• Jakosky, B.M., and others , Preliminary results of the Clementine Long-Wave Infrared Camera, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1997
• Urquhart, M.L., and B.M. Jakosky , Lunar thermal emission and remote determination of surface properties, J. Geophys. Res., 102, No. E, 10,959-10,969, 1997
• Brain, D.A., and B.M. Jakosky , Atmospheric loss since the onset of the martian geologic record: Combined role of impact erosion and sputtering, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 22,689-22,694, 1998
• Colaprete, A., and B.M. Jakosky , Ice flow and rock glaciers on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 5897-5909, 1998
• Jakosky, B.M. , Opinion: Searching for life in the universe, The Planetary Report, July/, 1998
• Jakosky, B.M. , Searching for life in our solar system, Sci. American Presents... (Magnificent Cosmos), 9(1), 16-21, 1998
• Jakosky, B.M., and E.L. Shock , The biological potential of Mars, the early Earth, and Europa, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 19,359-19,364, 1998
• Jakosky, B.M., et al. , Long-wave infrared observations of the Moon from the Clementine spacecraft: Preliminary results, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1998
• Jakosky, B.M. , Martian stable isotopes: Volatile evolution, climate change, and exobiological implications, Origins Life Evolution Biospheres, 29, 47-57, 1999
• Jakosky, B.M. , The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets, in The New Solar System, 4th ed., edited by J.K. Beatty, C.C. Peterson, and A. Chaikin, Sky Publishing Corp., 175-192, 1999
• Jakosky, B.M. , Water, climate and life, Science, 283, 648-649, 1999
• Jakosky, B.M., M.T. Mellon, H.H. Kieffer, P.R. Christensen, E.S. Varnes, S.W. Lee , The thermal inertia of Mars from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 1999
• Jakosky, B.M., and M.P. Golombek , Planetary science, astrobiology, and the role of science and exploration in society, EOS (Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union) Forum, In Press, 1999
• Lawson, S.L., B.M. Jakosky, H.-S. Park, and M.T. Mellon , The Clementine Long-wave infrared global data set: Brightness temperatures of the lunar surface, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 1999
• Urquhart, M.L., and B.M. Jakosky , Impact of near-surface thermal gradients on lunar thermal emission and subsurface temperatures, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 1999
• Varnes, E.S., and B.M. Jakosky , Stability and lifetime of organic molecules at the surface of Europs, Icarus, Submitted, 1999
• B.M. Jakosky , Philosophical aspects of astrobiology, in "Bioastronomy '99: A New Era in Bioastronomy", edited by G.A. Lemarchand and K.J. Meech, Astron. Soc. Pac., 661-666, In Press, 2000
• Jakosky, B.M. and M.P. Golombeck , Planetary science, astrobiology, and the role of science and exploration in society, EOS (Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union) Forum, 81, No.6, 58, In Press, 2000
• Jakosky, B.M. and M.T. Mellon , Thermal inertia of Mars: Sites of exobiological interest, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 2000
• Jakosky, B.M., M.T. Mellon, H.H. Kieffer, P.R. Christensen, E.S. Varnes and S.W. Lee , The thermal inertia of Mars from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 9643-9652, In Press, 2000
• Lawson, S.L., B.M. Jakosky, H.-S. Park and M.T. Mellon , Brightness temperatures of the lunar surface: Calibration and global analysis of the Clementine long-wave infrared camera d, J. Geophys. Res., 105, No.E2, 4273-4290, In Press, 2000
• Mellon, M.T., B.M. Jakosky, H.H. Kieffer and P.R. Christensen , High-resolution thermal-inertia mapping from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer, Icarus, 148, 437-455, In Press, 2000
• Ruff, S.W., P.R. Christensen, R.N. Clark, H.H. Kieffer, M.C. Malin, J.L. Bandfield, B.M. Jakosky, M.D. Lane, M.T. Mellon and M.A. Presley , Mars' "White Rock" feature lacks evidence of an aqueous origin: Results from Mars Global Surveyor, J. Geophys. Res., In Press, 2000
• Pelkey, S.M., B.M. Jakosky and M.T. Mellon , Thermal in inertia of crater-related wind streaks on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., Submitted, 2001
• Christensen, P.R., J.L. Bandfield, V.E. Hamilton, S.W. Ruff, H.H. Kieffer, T. Titus, M.C. Malin, R.V. Morris, M.D. Lane, R.L. Clark, B.M. Jakosky, M.T. Mellon, J.C. Pearl, B.J. Conrath, M.D. Smith, R.T. Clancy, R.O. Kuzmin, T. Roush, G.L. Mehall, N. Gorel, Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer experiment: Investigation description and surface science results, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23,823-23,871, 2001
• Colwell, J.E. and B.M. Jakosky , Effects of topography on thermal infrared spectra of planetary surfaces, J. Geophys. Res., 107, No. E, 16-1 to 16-6, 10.1029/2001JE001829, 2001
• Jakosky, B.M. and M.T. Mellon , High-resolution thermal-inertia mapping of Mars: Sites of exobiological relevance, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23,887-23,907, 2001
• Jakosky, B.M. and R.J. Phillips , Mars' volatile and climate history, Nature, 412, 237-244, 2001
• Jakosky, B.M., and M.T. Mellon , High-resolution thermal-inertia mapping of mars: Sites of exobiological relevance, J. Geophys. Res., 106, E10, 23,165-23,907, 2001
• Jakosky, B.M., and R.J. Phillips , Mars volatile and climate evolution: Water the major constraints?, Nature (Insight), 412, 6843, 237-244, 2001
• Lawson, S.L. and B.M. Jakosky , Lunar surface thermophysical properties derived from Clementine LWIR and UVVIS images, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 27911-27932, 2001
• Pelkey, S.M., B.M. Jakosky and M.T. Mellon , Thermal inertia of crater-related wind streaks on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 106, E10, 23,909-23,920, 2001
• Phillips, R.J., M.T. Zuber, S.C. Solomon, M.P. Golombek, B.M. Jakosky, W.B. Banerdt, D. E. Smith, R.M.E. Williams, B.M. Hynek, O. Aharonson, and S.A. Hauck II , Ancient geodynamics and global-scale hydrology on Mars, Science, 291, 2587–2591, 2001
• Ruff, S.W., P.R. Christensen, R.N. Clark, H.H. Kieffer, M.C. Malin, J.L. Bandfield, B.M. Jakosky, M.D. Lane, M.T. Mellon, and M.A. Presley , Mars' White Rock feature lacks evidence of an aqueous origin: Results from Mars Global Surveyor, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23,921-23,927, 2001
• Pelkey, S.M. and B.M. Jakosky , Surficial geologic surveys of Gale Crater and Melas Crater, Mars, Icarus, 160, 228-257, 2002
• Drake, M.J. and B.M. Jakosky , Narrow horizons in astrobiology, Nature, 415, 733-734, 2004
• Pelkey, S.M., B.M. Jakosky, and P.R. Christensen (2004). Surficial properties in Gale Crater, Mars, from Mars Odyssey THEMIS data, Icarus, 167, 244-270.
• Jakosky, B.M. and M.T. Mellon (2004). Water on Mars, Phys. Today, 57, 71-76.
• Jakosky, B.M., F. Westall, and A. Brack (2004). Mars, in Astrobiology (J. Baross and W. Sullivan, eds.), in press.
• Christensen, P.R., S.W. Ruff, R. Fergason, N. Gorelick, B.M. Jakosky, M.D. Lane, A.S. McEwen, H.Y. McSween, G.L. Mehall, K. Milam, J.E. Moersch, S.M. Pelkey, A.D. Rogers, and M.B. Wyatt (2005). Mars Exploration Rover candidate landing sites as viewed by THEMIS, Icarus, 176, 12-43.
• Solomon, S.C., O. Aharonson, J.M. Aurnou, W.B. Banerdt, M.H. Carr, A.J. Dombard, H.V. Frey, M.P. Golombek, S.A. Hauck II, J.W. Head III. B.M. Jakosky, C.L. Johnson, P.J. McGovern, G.A. Neumann, R.J. Phillips, D.E. Smith, and M.T. Zuber (2005). New perspectives on ancient Mars, Science, 307, 1214-1220.
• Jakosky, B.M., M.T. Mellon, E.S. Varnes, W.C. Feldman, W.V. Boynton, and R.M. Haberle (2005). Mars low-latitude neutron distribution: Possible remnant near-surface water ice and a mechanism for its recent emplacement, Icarus, 175, 58-67.
• Martinez-Alonso, S., B.M. Jakosky, M.T. Mellon, and N.E. Putzig (2005). A volcanic interpretation of Gusev Crater surface materials from thermophysical, spectral, and morphological evidence, J. Geophys. Res., 110, E01003, doi:10.1029/2004JE002327.
• Christensen, P.R., H.Y. McSween, Jr., J. L. Bandfield, S.W. Ruff, A.D. Rogers, V.E. Hamilton, N. Gorelick, M. B. Wyatt, B.M. Jakosky, H. H. Kieffer, M.C. Malin, and J. E. Moersch (2005) , Evidence for magmatic evolution and diversity on Mars from infrared observations, Nature, doi: 10.1038/nature03639.
• Link, L.S., B.M. Jakosky, and G.D. Thyne (2005). Biological potential of low-temperature aqueous environments on Mars, Int. J. Astrobiology, 4, 155-164.
• Martinez-Alonso, S., M.T. Mellon, B.C. Kindel, and B.M. Jakosky (2006). Mapping compositional diversity on the surface of Mars: The spectral variance index, J. Geophys. Res., 111, 10.1029/2005JE002492.
• Chojnacki, M., B.M. Jakosky, and B.M. Hynek (2006). Surficial properties of landslides and surrounding units in Ophir Chasma, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E04005, doi:10.1029/2005JE002601
• Jakosky, B. M., B. M. Hynek, S. M. Pelkey, M. T. Mellon, S. Martínez-Alonso, N. E. Putzig, N. Murphy, and P. R. Christensen (2006). Thermophysical properties of the MER and Beagle II landing site regions on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E08008, doi:10.1029/2004JE002320.
• Des Marais, D.J., B.M. Jakosky, and B.M. Hynek (2006). Astrobiological implications of Mars surface composition and properties, in Mars Surface Composition, Mineralogy, and Physical Properties, J.F. Bell III, ed., Cambridge Univ. Press, in press.

External links

• Maven Mission Website
• CU Boulder Maven special report