Natalie Curran is a Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She has an undergraduate degree in Geology with Planetary Science and a PhD in Lunar Geology. Her focus is the regolith history and impact flux on the Moon through time.
Natalie Mary Curran
(POST DOC SCHOLAR)
| Email: | natalie.m.curran@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.614.6731 |
| Org Code: | 691 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 691 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | CATHOLIC UNIV OF AMERICA |
Brief Bio
Research Interests
Regolith History of the Moon
Solar System: Planetary surfacesCurrently, Natalie's research interests focus on the geology of the Moon. She investigates the history of lunar samples to understand the impact flux at the Moon and in the Solar System through time, and to understand the processes that modify and evolve a planetary crust. She use noble gases to determine the cosmic ray exposure age (He, Ne, Arm Kr, Xe) and formation age (using the Ar-Ar dating technique) of lunar samples. The main analytical instruments she use are noble gas mass spectrometers (HELIX-MC), Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Electron Microprobes Analyser (EPMA).
Current Projects
Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis
Cosmic Rays
Natalie is Science-PI for one of the nine teams selected to studied pristine lunar samples that have been carefully stored and untouched in nearly 50 years. Her team are studying a vacuum-sealed sample to investigate the geologic history of the Apollo 17 site, looking at the abundance of noble gases in the sample and their mineralogic, petrologic and chemical composition.
Impact history at the Apollo 16 landing site
Planetary surfaces
Investigating impact-melt populations in an Apollo 16 double-drive-tube. Natalie will analyse the argon content of the samples to determine thier Ar-Ar age to further understand the impact flux at the Apollo 16 landing site.
Positions/Employment
Research Scientist
Catholic University of America - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
February 2020 - Present
Natalie is the Science-PI of the Mid-Atlantic Noble Gas Research Laboratory (MNGRL, 'MoonGirl') focused on the analysis of planetary sample using noble gas techniques.
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow
NASA Postdoctoral Program/USRA - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
February 2017 - February 2020
Understanding the Apollo 17 landing site by investigating the cosmic ray exposure age of pristine lunar samples (part of the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program).
Age determination of Apollo 16 drill core (using the Ar-Ar dating technique) and in situ K-Ar dating techniques for planetary missions.
Visiting Scientist
University of Manchester - Manchester, UK
December 2016 - February 2017
Lunar Regolith Report and database: Extracting and analysing all the available noble gas data, for lunar samples, in preparation for upcoming Luna-27 missions to the Moon.
Meteor Crater Field Camp
Universities Space Research Association and Royal Astronomical Society (UK) - Meteor Crater, Arizona (USA)
October 2014 - October 2014
Selected participant in a field trip to Barringer ‘Meteor’ Crater. This included a geological mapping project within the ejecta blanket. This fieldtrip was partially funded by the USRA (US) and the RAS (UK).
Lunar Exploration Summer Intern
Universities Space Research Association - Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), Houston, Texas
May 2013 - August 2013
A selected team member designing a sample return mission to the lunar farside using a planetary rover. Final results were presented to a panel of NASA scientist and engineers. Funded by USRA and supervised by Dr David Kring.
Teaching Experience
Sample Analysis and Dating Specialist for Artemis astronauts (2023-2024).
Guest Lecturer in Ar-Ar dating at the University of Arizona (Nov 2021).
Field teaching assistant on a 4th year undergraduate planetary science field trip to The Ries Impact Crater, Germany.
Teaching assistant for three undergraduate courses at the University of Manchester (‘Geophysical Techniques’, Earth Materials and ‘Interpretation of Geological Maps’).
Planned and participated in several school visits, giving talks on the Moon and teaching secondary school students (11-15 years) about planetary science.
Co-Supervisor of 4th-year undergraduate student (University of Manchester).
Education
PhD Researcher (University of Manchester, UK)
Ph.D. in Lunar Science (2012 - 2016):
Investigating isotopes that are formed by the interaction of cosmic rays (cosmogenic isotopes) with surface-exposed regolith material, to further understand the history of the lunar regolith and the impact flux on the Moon over the last ~4 Gy
Undergraduate student (University of Manchester, UK)
MEarthSci (Hons) Geology with Planetary Science 2.1 (2007-2011)
Publications
Refereed
2024. "Analyzing the Mineralogy and Space Weathering Characteristics of the Finest Fraction in Apollo Core Sample 73002." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 129 e2024JE008528 [Full Text] [10.1029/2024JE008528] [Journal Article/Letter]
2024. "Analyzing the Mineralogy and Space Weathering Characteristics of the Finest Fraction in Apollo Core Sample 73002." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 129 e2024JE008528 [Full Text] [10.1029/2024JE008528] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "Lunar Meteorites." Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 89 (1): 509-562 [10.2138/rmg.2023.89.12] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "Impact History of the Moon." Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 89 (1): 373-400 [10.2138/rmg.2023.89.09] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "In Situ Optimized Substrate Witness Plates: Ground Truth for Key Processes on the Moon and Other Planets." Earth and Space Science 10 (9): [10.1029/2023ea003004] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "Incorporating Potential Habitable Niches for Microbial Life on the Lunar South Pole into Artemis Planning." LPI Contributions 2989 2020 [Proceedings]
2023. "Exposure History of Apollo 17 Double-Drive Tube 73001/73002." 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, held 13-17 March, 2023 at The Woodlands, Texas and virtually. LPI Contribution No. 2806, id.2206 54 [Proceedings]
2022. "Lunar PAGES: Lunar Probes of the Ancient Galaxy, Earth and Sun." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2022 U25B-0499 [Proceedings]
2022. "Testing Rover Science Protocols to Identify Possible Biosignatures on Mars: Achieving Sampling Goals Under a Highly Constrained Time Line." Astrobiology 22 (11): 1310-1329 [10.1089/ast.2021.0177] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "In Situ Geochronology for the Next Decade: Mission Designs for the Moon, Mars, and Vesta." The Planetary Science Journal 2 (4): 145 [10.3847/psj/abedbf] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Geochronology as a Framework for Inner Solar System History and Evolution." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 53 (4): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.1b2670e3] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "A database of noble gases in lunar samples in preparation for mass spectrometry on the Moon." Planetary and Space Science 182 104823 [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Was the Sun a Slow Rotator? Sodium and Potassium Constraints from the Lunar Regolith." The Astrophysical Journal 876 (1): L16 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab18fb] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "The early geological history of the Moon inferred from ancient lunar meteorite Miller Range 13317." Meteoritics & Planetary Science 54 1401-1430 [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "Age Distribution of Lunar Impact-Melt Rocks in Apollo Drive-Tube 68001/2." Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 49 2732 [Proceedings]
2018. "Ancient volcanism on the Moon: Insights from Pb isotopes in the MIL 13317 and Kalahari 009 lunar meteorites." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 502 84--95 [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "Unravelling the History of the Lunar Regolith." PhD Thesis [Other]
2017. "Geochemistry and petrology of howardite Miller Range 11100: A lithologically diverse piece of the Vestan regolith." Meteoritics & Planetary Science 52 (2): 206--224 [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "Halogen variations through the quenched margin of a M ORB lava: Evidence for direct assimilation of seawater during eruption." Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 18 (7): 2413--2428 [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "A New Basaltic-Bearing Lunar Meteorite Miller Range 13317." Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 47 1516 [Proceedings]
2016. "The Moon: an archive of small body migration in the solar system." Earth, Moon, and Planets 118 (2-3): 133--158 [Journal Article/Letter]
2015. "Robotic traverse and sample return strategies for a lunar farside mission to the Schr"odinger basin." Advances in Space Research 55 (4): 1241--1254 [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "Determining the Regolith Histories of Lunar Meteorites." Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 45 1467 [Proceedings]
2014. "A Robotic Sample Return Mission to the Northern Portion of the Schr"odinger Basin Peak Ring." Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 45 1475 [Proceedings]
Non-Refereed
2022. "Lunar Samples are Time Capsules of the Sun." Heliophysics Decadal Survey White Paper [https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2208.13307] [Other]
2019. "The Sun was likely a Slow Rotator: Lunar Geochemical Constraints." LPI (50.3050s): [Proceedings]
2019. "The Sun was likely a Slow Rotator: Lunar Geochemical Constraints." Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 50 [Proceedings]
2017. "Near-Surface Age Distribution of Lunar Impact-Melt Rocks." 2017 Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group 2041 [Proceedings]
2017. "Determining the Mineralogy of Lunar Samples Using Micro Raman Spectroscopy: Comparisons Between Polished and Unpolished Samples." 2017 Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group 2041 [Proceedings]
2015. "Exploring the Moon on Earth." Astronomy & Geophysics 56 (6): 6--31 [Journal Article/Letter]
Selected Public Outreach
International Observe the Moon Night
2017 - Present
Natalie participates in the International Observe the Moon Night annually. She host a table where everyone can hold and learn all about the Moon.
WHSV-TV article
December 2019 - December 2019
Professional Societies
NASA Goddard Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (NGAPS)
Co-chair since 2018
2017 - 2021
American Geophysical Union
2019 - Present
UK Planetary Forum
Co-chair from 2014 to 2016
2012 - Present
Professional Service
Co-chair of the NASA Goddard Association of Postdoctoral Scholars
Scientific Organizing Committee for this the NASA Exploration Science Forum 2019
Review panalist: NASA PICASSO, NASA Solar System Workings, and external reviews
Co-chair of the UK planetary Forum (2014-2016)
Organised the UK Planetary Forum Early Careers Conference in 2015 and 2016
Member of the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration Team 2013
Reviewer for multiple journals: GCA, JGR, MaPS, and PSS