The LROC Team

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Team standing inside the LROC Science Operations Center, August 2024.
The Lunar Reconnnaissance Orbiter Camera Team inside the LROC Science Operations Center at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. August 2024.

The LROC team has been conducting high-resolution mapping of the Moon for over 15 years as part of LRO's primary and extended missions. The team captures, stores, processes, and analyzes lunar surface imagery and adds new data products to NASA's Planetary Data System monthly.

This ongoing work supports future missions by identifying safe landing sites and advances our understanding of lunar geology and resources.

Team Expertise

Our team consists of scientists, engineers, staff, and student researchers from various disciplines:

Planetary Geology
Geography & Cartography
Engineering
Information Technology
Aerospace Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Business Operations

Scientists

Name Affiliation Title
Hannes Bernhardt University of Maryland Co-Investigator
Jaclyn Clark University of Maryland Co-Investigator
Brett Denevi Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Co-Investigator
Bruce Hapke University of Pittsburgh Co-Investigator
B. Ray Hawke University of Hawaii at Manoa, Institute of Geophysics and Planetology Co-Investigator
Harald Hiesinger Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut for Planetologie Co-Investigator
Dave Humm SpicaCon Co-Investigator
Brad Jolliff Washington University Co-Investigator
Samuel Lawrence NASA Johnson Space Center Co-Investigator
Prasun Mahanti Intuitive Machines Co-Investigator
Michael Malin Malin Space Science Systems Co-Investigator
Alfred S. McEwen University of Arizona Co-Investigator
Heather Meyer Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Co-Investigator
Jeff Plescia Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Co-Investigator
Mark Robinson Intuitive Machines Principal Investigator
Hiroyuki Sato Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Co-Investigator
Emerson Speyerer Intuitive Machines Co-Investigator
Julie Stopar Lunar and Planetary Institute Deputy Principal Investigator
Peter Thomas Cornell University Co-Investigator
Elizabeth Turtle Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Co-Investigator
Carolyn van der Bogert Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut for Planetologie Co-Investigator
Tom Watters National Air and Space Museum, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies Co-Investigator

Science Operations Center Staff

Name Affiliation Title
Joe Barnett Intuitive Machines Database Analyst (IT)
Ken Bowley Intuitive Machines Systems Analyst Senior
Aaron Boyd Intuitive Machines Research Analyst
Holly Brown Intuitive Machines Research Analyst
Natalie Carr Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Winston Carter Arizona State University Research Analyst
Victoria DeFazio Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Shawn Dunegan Intuitive Machines Program Manager
Nick Estes Intuitive Machines Science Operations Center Manager
Seth Grieser Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Merlyn Heck Intuitive Machines Satellite Operations Lead
Megan Henriksen Intuitive Machines RDR Manager
Richard Hoppe Intuitive Machines Web Designer/Developer
Shawn Hutchison Intuitive Machines Web Designer/Developer
Christopher Luna Intuitive Machines Research Analyst
Madeleine Manheim Intuitive Machines Research Analyst
Cordell Michaud Intuitive Machines Software Application Assoc
Christopher Miconi Intuitive Machines Systems Analyst
Steven Nystrom Intuitive Machines Research Technician
John Pierangelo Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Torie Roseborough Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Mateja Rothlisberger Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Victor Silva Intuitive Machines Research Software Engineer
Gavin Sondrup Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Alexander Sonke Arizona State University Graduate Student
Kathryn Szymborski Intuitive Machines Research Analyst Assistant
Terry Trafton Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Thomas Tyburczy Intuitive Machines Research Technician
Jessica White Intuitive Machines Business Manager

Instrument Development Team

Name Affiliation Title
Scott Brylow Malin Space Science Systems Deputy Project Manager
Michael Caplinger Malin Space Science Systems Senior Systems Engineer
Tony Ghaemi Malin Space Science Systems Senior Optical Engineer
Jeff Lewis Malin Space Science Systems Senior Development Engineer
Diana Michna Malin Space Science Systems Business Manager
Paul Otjens Malin Space Science Systems Senior Electronics Engineer
Ann Pasquini Malin Space Science Systems Assistant Business Manager
Michael Ravine Malin Space Science Systems Advanced Projects Manager
Jacob Schaffner Malin Space Science Systems Electronics Engineer
Karl Schaffner Malin Space Science Systems Mechanical Engineer
Jason Yelvington Malin Space Science Systems Special Projects Engineering Intern

Interns

Name Affiliation Title
Ezra Cisneros Intuitive Machines Intern
William Collins Intuitive Machines Intern
Sadie Cullings Intuitive Machines Intern
Jason Lee Intuitive Machines Intern

Alumni Impact

LROC team members have made significant contributions to lunar science during our over 15 years mission, and have gone on to distinguished positions across the space and technology sectors. Here are a few examples of where our alumni have landed:

Space Industry
  • Systems Engineer Orbital ATK
  • Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer Orbital ATK
  • Systems Engineer Boeing
  • Avionics Engineer Masten Space Systems
  • Mission Operations Engineer Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Administrative Liaison Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Technology Sector
  • Software Engineer Microsoft
  • Software Engineer Apple
  • Software Engineer Shutterstock
  • Software Developer Zscaler Inc.
  • Software Developer IntraEdge
  • Intrusion Analyst Google
Government & Research
  • Range Operations Vandenburg AFB Air Force
  • Cyberspace Operations Officer US Air Force
  • IT Phoenix City Government
  • GIS Mapper/Drafter Southwest Gas Corporation
  • Research Technician LROC SOC
  • Research Analyst LROC SOC