Autonomous and Adaptive Instrument Control Software for laser spectrometers
Algorithm design for data processing and analysis, data mining
Systems Engineering
Selected Awards
2 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2002, 2014)
NASA Award for Technical Excellence (2001)
NASA Group Achievement Awards (19 from 1994 to present)
Selected Publications
Webster, Christopher R., Paul R. Mahaffy, Sushil K. Atreya, John E. Moores, Gregory J. Flesch, Charles Malespin, Christopher P. McKay et al. "Background levels of methane in Mars’ atmosphere show strong seasonal variations." Science 360, no. 6393 (2018): 1093-1096.
"A System-On-Chip platform for Earth and Planetary Laser Spectrometers", Flesch, Gregory, Didier Keymeulen, David Dolman, Chris Holyoake, and Derek McKee. In Aerospace Conference, 2017 IEEE, pp. 1-12. IEEE, 2017.
"Five Years of Analyses of Volatiles, Isotopes and Organics in Gale Crater Materials", (co-author) In AGU 2017 Fall Meeting. 2017.
"The imprint of atmospheric evolution in the D/H of Hesperian clay minerals on Mars", (co-author) Science 347, no. 6220 (2015): 412-414.
"Mars methane detection and variability at Gale crater", Webster, Christopher R., Paul R. Mahaffy, Sushil K. Atreya, Gregory J. Flesch, Michael A. Mischna, Pierre-Yves Meslin, Kenneth A. Farley et al. Science 347, no. 6220 (2015): 415-417.
"Non-detection of methane in the Mars atmosphere by the curiosity rover", Webster, Chris R., Paul R. Mahaffy, Sushil K. Atreya, Gregory J. Flesch, and Kenneth A. Farley. (2014).
"Isotope ratios of H, C, and O in CO2 and H2O of the martian atmosphere", Webster, C. R., Mahaffy, P. R., Flesch, G. J., Niles, P. B., Jones, J. H., Leshin, L. A., ... & Steele, A., Science, 341(6143), 260-263 (2013).
"Low Upper Limit to Methane Abundance on Mars", Webster, C. R., Mahaffy, P. R., Atreya, S. K., Flesch, G. J., & Farley, K. A. Science, 1242902 (2013).
"Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity rover." (co-author) Science, 341(6153), 1238937 (2013).
"The Sample Analysis at Mars Investigation and instrument suite" (co-author) Space Science Review (2012)
"Adaptive Tunable Laser Spectrometers" G. Flesch and D. Keymeulen, 2010 IEEEaerospace, Big Sky, MT, (March 2010).
"Tunable Laser Paleothermometer for Determining Climate Change" C.R. Webster, F. Carsey, M. Hecht, and G.J. Flesch, Applied Optics, (2003).
"Airborne Laser Isotope Spectrometer (ALIS) for Measuring Terrestrial 13C/12C and 18O/16O in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide", C.R. Webster, L. Christensen, and G.J. Flesch, Applied Optics, (2003).
"Mars Laser Hygrometer, C.R. Webster, G.J. Flesch, R. Haberle, and J. Bauman, Applied Optics, 43, 4436-4445, (2004).
"The Construction of a Unified, High-Resolution Nitrous Oxide Data Set for ER-2 Flights During SOLVE" (co-author) SOLVE/THESEO special issue J. Geophys. Res.(2001).
"Quantum cascade laser measurements of stratospheric methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)" (co-author) Applied Optics, 38, 4609-4622, (1998).
"Airborne Laser Infrared Absorption Spectrometer (ALIAS-II) for In situ Atmospheric Measurements of N2O, CH4, CO, HCl, and NO2 from Balloon or RPA Platforms" (co-author) Applied Optics, (December 1999).
"Evolution of HCl Concentrations in the Lower Stratosphere from 1991 to 1996 Following the Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo" (co-author) Geophysical Research Lett. 25, 995-998, (1998).