Dr. Grinspoon studies surface and atmospheric evolution of Earthlike planets elsewhere in the universe, with a focus on possible environments for extraterrestrial life. He is a frequent advisor to NASA on space exploration strategy.
Dr. Grinspoon is on the science team for NASA's next Mars rover, and is interdisciplinary scientist for the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission. He has published three books, and numerous popular and scientific articles. He has been awarded the 2006 Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society.
Current Projects
- Venus Express
- The Longevity of Oceans (grant from NASA Exobiology program)
- Climate and Geological Evolution on Venus (grant from NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics program)
Recent Publications
Grinspoon, D.H. (2006) In the Dark of Space, Enlightenment Waits. Op Ed in the Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2006.
Schulze-Makuch and D.H. Grinspoon (2005) Biologically enhanced energy and carbon cycling on Titan? Astrobiology,5, 560-567.
Schulze-Makuch, D.H. Grinspoon., O. Abbas, L.N. Irwin and M. Bullock. (2004) A Sulfur-Basted Survival Strategy for Putative Phototrophic Life in the Venusian Atmosphere. Astrobiology, 4, 11-18.
Grinspoon, D.H. (2003) Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life. Ecco/HarperCollins.
