Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Joseph B. Nicholas

(RSCH AST, SOLID EARTH GEOPHYSICAL STD)

 joseph.nicholas@nasa.gov

 301.614.6510

Org Code: 61A

NASA/GSFC
Mail Code: 61A
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Employer: NASA

Positions/Employment


Research Geophysicist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

2023 - Present


Scientist

Emergent Space Technologies - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2011 - 2023

Publications


Refereed

Luthcke, S. B., T. C. Thomas, T. A. Pennington, et al. T. W. Rebold, J. B. Nicholas, D. D. Rowlands, A. S. Gardner, and S. Bae. 2021. ICESat‐2 Pointing Calibration and Geolocation Performance Earth and Space Science 8 (3): [10.1029/2020ea001494]

Thomas, T. C., S. B. Luthcke, T. A. Pennington, J. B. Nicholas, and D. D. Rowlands. 2021. ICESat‐2 Precision Orbit Determination Earth and Space Science 8 (4): [10.1029/2020ea001496]

Goossens, S. J., T. J. Sabaka, M. A. Wieczorek, et al. G. A. Neumann, E. Mazarico, F. G. Lemoine, J. B. Nicholas, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2020. High-resolution gravity field models from GRAIL data and implications for models of the density structure of the Moon’s crust Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 125 (2): [10.1029/2019JE006086]

Mazarico, E., M. K. Barker, and J. B. Nicholas. 2018. Advanced Illumination Modeling for Data Analysis and Calibration. Application to the Moon Advances in Space Research 62 (11): 3214-3228 [10.1016/j.asr.2018.08.022]

Mazarico, E., D. D. Rowlands, T. J. Sabaka, et al. K. M. Getzandanner, D. P. Rubincam, J. B. Nicholas, and M. C. Moreau. 2017. Recovery of Bennu's Orientation for the OSIRIS-REx Mission: Implications for the Spin State Accuracy and Geolocation Errors Journal of Geodesy 91 (10): 1141-1161 [10.1007/s00190-017-1058-2]

Goossens, S. J., T. J. Sabaka, A. Genova, et al. E. Mazarico, J. B. Nicholas, and G. A. Neumann. 2017. Evidence for a Low Bulk Crustal Density for Mars from Gravity and Topography Geophysical Research Letters 44 (15): 7686–7694 [10.1002/2017GL074172]

Goossens, S. J., T. J. Sabaka, J. B. Nicholas, et al. F. G. Lemoine, D. D. Rowlands, E. Mazarico, G. A. Neumann, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2014. High-resolution local gravity model of the south pole of the Moon from GRAIL extended mission data Geophys. Res. Lett. 41 (10): 3367-3374 [10.1002/2014GL060178]

Lemoine, F. G., S. J. Goossens, T. J. Sabaka, et al. J. B. Nicholas, E. Mazarico, D. D. Rowlands, B. D. Loomis, D. S. Chinn, G. A. Neumann, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2014. GRGM900C: A degree-900 lunar gravity model from GRAIL primary and extended mission data Geophys. Res. Lett. 41 (10): 3382-3389 [10.1002/2014GL060027]

Melachroinos, S., F. G. Lemoine, D. S. Chinn, et al. N. P. Zelensky, J. B. Nicholas, and B. D. Beckley. 2013. The effect of seasonal and long-period geopotential variations on the GPS orbits GPS Solutions [10.1007/s10291-013-0346-4]

Lemoine, F. G., S. J. Goossens, T. J. Sabaka, et al. J. B. Nicholas, E. M. Mazarico, D. D. Rowlands, B. D. Loomis, D. S. Chinn, D. S. Caprette, G. A. Neumann, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2013. High-degree gravity models from GRAIL primary mission data J. Geophys. Res.-Planets 118 1676-1698 [10.1002/jgre.20118]

Purucker, M. E., and J. B. Nicholas. 2010. Global spherical harmonic models of the internal magnetic field of the Moon based on sequential and coestimation approaches Journal of Geophysical Research 115 E12007 [10.1029/2010JE003650]

Nicholas, J. B., M. E. Purucker, and T. J. Sabaka. 2007. Age spot or youthful marking: Origin of Reiner Gamma Geophysical Research Letters 34 (2): L02205 [10.1029/2006gl027794]

Non-Refereed

Mazarico, E., D. D. Rowlands, T. J. Sabaka, et al. K. M. Getzandanner, D. P. Rubincam, J. B. Nicholas, M. C. Moreau, M. Daly, O. S. Barnouin, and D. S. Lauretta. 2017. Recovery of Bennu's Orientation for the OSIRIS-REx Mission Proceedings of the 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 20-24, 2017, The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.A. Paper # 1989

Goossens, S. J., F. G. Lemoine, T. J. Sabaka, et al. J. B. Nicholas, E. Mazarico, D. D. Rowlands, B. D. Loomis, D. S. Chinn, G. A. Neumann, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2016. A global degree and order 1200 model of the lunar gravity field using GRAIL mission data Proceedings of the 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 21-25, 2016, The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.A. Paper # 1484

Mazarico, E. M., F. G. Lemoine, S. J. Goossens, et al. T. J. Sabaka, J. B. Nicholas, D. D. Rowlands, G. A. Neumann, M. H. Torrence, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2013. Improved precision orbit determination of lunar orbiters from GRAIL-derived lunar gravity models Spaceflight Mechanics 2013 (AAS/AIAA Spaceflight Mechanics Meeting, Feb. 10-14, 2013, Kauai, Hawaii), Advances in the Astronautical Sciences 148, Part II 1125-1141

Lemoine, F. G., S. J. Goossens, T. J. Sabaka, et al. J. B. Nicholas, E. M. Mazarico, D. D. Rowlands, B. D. Loomis, D. S. Chinn, D. Caprette, G. A. Neumann, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber. 2013. Modeling and precise orbit determination in suport of gravity model development for the GRAIL mission Spaceflight Mechanics 2013 (AAS/AIAA Spaceflight Mechanics Meeting, Feb. 10-14, 2013, Kauai, Hawaii), Advances in the Astronautical Sciences 148, Part II 1111-1123

Nicholas, J. B., M. E. Purucker, and T. J. Sabaka. 2007. The Reiner Gamma Albedo Marking on Earth's Moon: Old or Young 38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 12-16 March 2007, Houston, Texas Abstract # 1027