Daniel Castro
PTYS/LPL Graduate Students
Daniel Castro
Graduate PTYS Minor
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PTYS/LPL Graduate Students
Graduate PTYS Minor
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PTYS/LPL Graduate Students
Undergraduate Astrobiology Minor
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PTYS/LPL Graduate Students
Undergraduate Astrobiology Minor
Last updated:
PTYS/LPL Graduate Students
Undergraduate Astrobiology Minor
Last updated:
PTYS/LPL Research Scientists
Researcher/Scientist
Ph.D., 2021, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Years with LPL: 2023 to present
Astrobiology, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces, Planetary Geology
As a planetary geologist, I use remote sensing data and mathematical models to understand planetary bodies, their composition, geology and geochemistry, formation histories, and potential to host life. My research is focused on planetary surface geology and processes and applications of AI/ML to planetary and astrobiological exploration. The data I use in my research are hyper- and multispectral reflectance and thermal emission spectra, topographic data, and various other satellite- and small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS)-based products. To augment my remote sensing approach, I conduct field work, employ numerical, analytical, and machine learning models, and perform laboratory and field spectroscopy.
In addition to my role as a research scientist, I manage the Space Imagery Center at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The Space Imagery Center is a research collection of NASA planetary photography, cartographic products, and technical documentation. Established in 1977, the Center spent much of its life as one of 17 NASA Regional Planetary Image Facilities located around the world. The Space Imagery Center continues to be a cornerstone for outreach and public science education at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and is home to 5 high-performance computers specialized for production of high-quality Digital Elevation Models.
Mars Data Analysis Program, "Constraining the composition of uplifted massifs surrounding Argyre, Hellas, and Isidis basins, Mars"
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 2021 - 2023
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Download Preparing to receive the asteroid sample from OSIRIS-REx (MP3, 12.01MB)
The University of Arizona-backed OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will return its long-awaited sample of rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu next month.
UA planetary scientist Dante Lauretta explains the logistics involved in recovering the sample and how soon researchers will be able to examine the material OSIRIS-REx collected three years ago. Dante Lauretta spoke with Tim Swindle, professor emeritus in Astronomy at the University of Arizona.