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Matthew Golombek

Photo of Matthew Golombek

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 183-501

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.393.7948

Fax:

818.393.5059

Website:

Click here

Member of:

Planetary Geosciences

Education

  • A.B. in Geology, Rutgers College (honors and highest distinction) (1976)
  • M.S. in Geology/Geophysics, University of Massachusetts (1978)
  • Ph.D. in Geology/Geophysics, University of Massachusetts (1981)

Professional Experience

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
    • Mars Sample Return Council of Terrains Science Chair (2021-present)
    • Senior Research Scientist (2006-present)
    • Mars Exploration Program Landing Site Scientist, JPL (2000-present)
    • Co-Investigator, InSight, Discovery Program mission, Geology and Landing Site Lead (2012-present)
    • Mars Ingenuity Helicopter (on the Mars 2020 Rover) operations lead for selecting airfields to land helicopter (2014 to present)
    • MER Project Scientist (2012-2019)
    • Mars Exploration Rover Participating Scientist: Science Operations Working Group Chair, Long Term Planning Science Theme Group Lead, & Geology Science Theme Group Czar (2002-2019)
    • Mars Pathfinder Project Scientist: JPL, (1993-1998)
    • Mars Observer and Global Surveyor Participating Scientist: MOLA Science Team Member (1997-2007)
  • Visiting Associate and Lecturer in Planetary Science: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology (April 2012-present)
  • Visiting Full Professor: Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (March 2001 - June 2001)
  • Visiting Scientist: Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics, Univ. Colorado (October 2000 - November 2000)
  • Visiting Scientist & Post-Doctoral Fellow: Lunar & Planetary Institute, Houston (1981-1983)

Research Interests

  • Assessment and Selection of Mars Landing Sites (Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Science Laboratory, InSight, Mars 2020 Rover)
  • Predicting Surface Characteristics at a Lander Scale on Mars from Remote Sensing Signatures
  • Development of Rock Size-Frequency Distributions and Geomorphology of Mars Landing Sites
  • Erosion Rates and Recent Climate from Geomorphic Development of Landed Surfaces on Mars
  • Tectonics and Structural Geology of Mars
  • Geology and Tectonics of Mars (Postdoc Opportunity)

Selected Awards

  • G. K Gilbert Award, Planetary Geology Division, Geological Society of America, (2015)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, October 4, 2014.
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Science Laboratory Landing (2013)
  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2012)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award MRO HiRISE Science Team (2011)
  • Award for Excellence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Exceptional Technical Excellence (1998)
  • Distinguished Alumni Awards, Univ. Massachusetts & Rutgers Univ. Alumni Associations (1998)
  • NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (1998)
  • Fellow of the Geological Society of America

Selected Publications

  1. Banerdt, W. B., Golombek, M. P., and Tanaka, K. L., 1992, Stress and Tectonics on Mars, Chapter 8, p. 249-297, in MARS, Kieffer, H. H., Jakosky, B. M., Snyder, C. W., and Matthews, M. S., eds., University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1498 pp.
  2. Golombek, M. P., Banerdt, W. B., Tanaka, K. L., and Tralli, D. M., 1992, A prediction of Mars seismicity from surface faulting: Science, v. 258, p. 979-981.
  3. Golombek, M. P., Tanaka, K. L., and Franklin, B. J., 1996, Extension across Tempe Terra, Mars from measurements of fault-scarp widths and deformed craters: J. Geophys. Res., v. 101, p. 26,119-26,130.
  4. Golombek, M. P., 1997, The Mars Pathfinder mission: J. Geophys. Res., 102, p. 3953-3965.
  5. Golombek, M. P., Cook, R. A., Moore, H. J., and Parker, T. J., 1997, Selection of the Mars Pathfinder landing site: J. Geophys. Res., v. 102, p. 3967-3988.
  6. Golombek, M., and Rapp, D., 1997, Size-frequency distributions of rocks on Mars and Earth analog sites: Implications for future landed missions: J. Geophys. Res., v. 102, p. 4117-4129.
  7. Golombek, M. P., et al., 1997, Overview of the Mars Pathfinder mission and assessment of landing site predictions: Science, v. 278, p. 1743-1748.
  8. Golombek, M. P., The Mars Pathfinder mission: Scientific American, v. 279, p. 40-49, July 1998.
  9. Golombek, M. P., 1999, A message from warmer times; Perspectives on Martian Climate: Science, v. 283, p. 1470-1471.
  10. Golombek, M. P., and the Mars Pathfinder science team, 1999, Overview of the Mars Pathfinder mission: Launch through landing, surface operations, data sets, and science results: J. Geophys. Res., v. 104, p. 8523-8553.
  11. Golombek, M. P., et al., 1999, Assessment of Mars Pathfinder landing site predictions: J. Geophys. Res., v. 104, p. 8585-8594.
  12. Golombek, M. P., and Bridges, N. T., 2000, Erosion rates on Mars and implications for climate change: Constraints from the Pathfinder landing site: J. Geophys. Res., v. 105, p. 1841-1853.
  13. Golombek, M. P., Anderson, F. S., and Zuber, M. T., 2001, Martian wrinkle ridge topography: Evidence for subsurface faults from MOLA: J. Geophys. Res., v. 106, p. 23,811-23,821.
  14. Golombek, M. P., 2003, The surface of Mars: Not just dust and rocks, Science, v. 300, p. 2043-2044.
  15. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2003, Rock size-frequency distributions on Mars and implications for MER landing safety and operations: J. Geophys. Res., v. 108(E12), 8086, doi:10.1029/2002JE002035, 23pp.
  16. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2003, Selection of the Mars Exploration Rover landing sites: J. Geophys. Res., v. 108(E12), 8072, doi:10.1029/2003JE002074, 48pp.
  17. Golombek, M., et al., 2005, Assessment of Mars Exploration Rover landing site predictions: Nature, v. 436, p. 44-48 (7 July 2005), doi: 10.1038/nature03600.
  18. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2006, Geology of the Gusev cratered plains from the Spirit rover traverse: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 110, E02S07, doi:10.1029/2005JE002503.
  19. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2006, Erosion rates at the Mars Exploration Rover landing sites and long-term climate change on Mars: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 111, E12S10, doi:10.1029/2006JE002754.
  20. Golombek, M. P., and McSween Jr., H. Y., 2007, Mars: Landing site geology, mineralogy and geochemistry: Chapter 17, p. 331-348, in Encyclopedia of the Solar System, Second Edition, L. A. McFadden, P. R. Weissman and T. V. Johnson, eds., Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, 966 pp.
  21. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2008, Martian surface properties from joint analysis of orbital, Earth-based, and surface observations: Chapter 21 in, The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy and Physical Properties, J. Bell editor, Cambridge Press, p. 468-497.
  22. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2008, Size-frequency distributions of rocks on the northern plains of Mars with special reference to Phoenix landing surfaces: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 113, E00A09, doi:10.1029/2007JE003065.
  23. Golombek, M. P., and Phillips, R. J., 2010, Mars Tectonics: Review Chapter in Planetary Tectonics, T. Watters and R. Schultz, eds., Cambridge University Press, pp. 183-232..
  24. Golombek, M., et al., 2010, Constraints on ripple migration at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity and HiRISE observations of fresh craters: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 115, E00F08, doi:10.1029/2010JE003628.
  25. Golombek, M., et al., 2012, Selection of the Mars Science Laboratory landing site: Space Science Reviews, v. 170, p. 641-737, DOI: 10.1007/s11214-012-9916-y.
  26. Golombek, M., et al., 2012, Detection and characterization of rocks and rock size-frequency distributions at the final four Mars Science Laboratory landing sites: Mars, 7, 1-22, doi:10.1555/mars.2012.0001.
  27. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2014, Small crater modification on Meridiani Planum and implications for erosion rates and climate change on Mars: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 119, DOI: 10.1002/2014JE004658, 10 Dec. 2014.
  28. Golombek, M., et al., 2017, Selection of the InSight landing site: Space Science Reviews, v. 211, p. 5-95, DOI 10.1007/s11214-016-0321-9
  29. Golombek, M., et al., 2018, Geology and Physical Properties Investigations by the InSight Lander: Space Science Reviews, v. 214: 84, doi.org/10.1007/s11214-018-0512-7.
  30. Golombek, M., et al., 2020, Geology of the InSight landing site on Mars: Nature Communications, v. 11, art. # 1014, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14679-1.
  31. Golombek, M., et al., 2020, Assessment of InSight landing site predictions: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, v. 125, e2020JE006502. https://dx.doi.org/ 10.1029/2020JE006502.
  32. Golombek, M., et al., 2020, Location and setting of the Mars InSight lander, instruments and landing site: Earth and Space Science, v. 7, e2020EA001248. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EA001248
  33. Golombek, M. P., et al., 2021, Rock size-frequency distributions at the InSight landing site, Mars: Earth and Space Science, v. 8, Issue 12, e2021EA001959, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EA001959.
  34. Golombek, M., et al., 2023, Results from InSight robotic arm activities: Space Science Reviews, v. 219: 20, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-023-00964-0.

Projects

InSight