Dr. Sarah Valencia is a lunar petrologist with the University of Maryland College Park at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center in Maryland. Her work focuses on the evolution of igneous systems on the Moon. In particular, she is interested in Moon rocks with unusual compositions. To accomplish her research goals, Dr. Valencia studies rocks from the Moon – both from the Apollo sample collection and lunar meteorites. One area of her research is trying to understand how granite forms on the Moon. Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks the water and plate tectonics typically associated with granite formation. Yet, small fragments of granite occur within the Apollo sample collection, and granitic bodies have been detected from spacecraft orbiting the Moon. Dr. Valencia studies fragments of lunar granite and rocks associated with granite to understand the chemistry of these rocks, how they are related, and how they might have formed. Dr. Valencia also uses data gathered by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been in orbit around the Moon since 2009, to study the evolution of lunar rocks on the surface of the Moon. One region she is particularly interested in is the Apennine Bench Formation, near the Apollo 15 landing site in Mare Imbrium. This geologic formation may represent the only exposure of KREEP basalt on the lunar surface. KREEP basalts have been found in the Apollo sample collection but have not been unequivocally been identified on the lunar surface. Dr. Valencia uses the images taken by the cameras aboard LRO to study the surface properties of the Apennine Bench to understand it’s origin and evolution.
Sarah Nichole Valencia (she/her)
(POST-DOC SCIENTIST)
| Email: | sarah.n.valencia@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.614.6831 |
| Org Code: | 698 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 698 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT COLLEGE PARK |
Brief Bio
Current Projects
Unraveling the extent of basaltic volcanism in the South Pole – Aitken basin
Remote Sensing
This project seeks to understand the extent of volcanism in the South Pole - Aitken basin on the lunar farside by looking at the surface expression of cryptomare.
Cosmic-ray exposure ages of pristine sample horizons
Planetary Geology
This project, funded through the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program, aims to explore the chemistry and noble gas history of previously unopened Apollo 17 samples.
Lunar-VISE: An investigation of the Moon’s non-mare silicic volcanism
Planetary Geology
The Lunar-VISE instrument package will land on the Moon at the Gruithuisen Domes in 2026 through the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to explore silicic volcanic domes on the lunar surface.
Positions/Employment
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Maryland, College Park - College Park, Maryland
May 2018 - Present
CRESST II Program through NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
Education
Washington University – St. Louis, MO
August 2012 – May 2017
M.A. Earth & Planetary Sciences May 2014
Ph.D. Earth & Planetary Sciences May 2017
Advisors: Bradley L. Jolliff, Randy L. Korotev
Dissertation Title: The Evolution of Igneous Rocks on the Moon: Insights from Lunar Meteorites and Apollo 12
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
August 2007 – December 2010
B.S. Geological Sciences December 2010
Awards
Microanalysis Society Early Career Scholar – May 2016
Carl Tolman Prize for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant – October 2015
Professional Societies
Next Generation of Lunar Scientists and Engineers
Organizing Committee
2013 - Present
Lunar Exploration and Analysis Group (LEAG)
Early Career Representative
2020 - Present
Extraterrestrial Materials Assessment Group (ExMAG) Lunar Subcommittee
LEAG Ex Officio Member
2022 - Present
Professional Service
Editorial Duties
Editor - New Views of the Moon 2
Guest Associate Editor - Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, “50 Years of Apollo Science”
NASA ROSES Review Panels
Group chief, panelist, and executive secretary
Meeting Recorder
New Views of the Moon 2 Workshop, May 2016
Lunar Science for Landed Missions Workshop, January 2018
Lunar Surface Science Workshop, May 2020
Peer Reviewer
Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Nature Communications, Planetary Science Journal, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Conference Planning Committees
Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. August 2022
Lunar Petrology and Landed Instruments Interchange Workshop. August 2022
LEAG Town Hall on the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey. May 2022
Lunar Surface Science Workshop: Landing Sites and Capabilities for Future CLPS Deliveries. November 2021
Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. August/September 2021
Selected Publications
Refereed
2020. "Evidence for a Stratified Upper Mantle Preserved within the South Pole – Aitken Basin." Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets [10.1029/2020JE006589] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Illuminating the Lunar Mantle: A Brief Assessment of the State of Current Knowledge and Critical Exploration Targets for Advancing our Understanding." Nature Communications [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Petrography, relationships, and petrogenesis of the gabbroic lithologies in Northwest Africa 773 clan members Northwest Africa 773, 2727, 3160, 3170, 7007, and 10656." Meteoritics & Planetary Science 54 (9): 2083-2115 [10.1111/maps.13370] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "Lunar Science for Landed Missions Workshop Findings Report." Earth and Space Science 6 2-40 [10.1029/2018ea000490] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "OCEANUS: A high science return Uranus orbiter with a low-cost instrument suite." Acta Astronautica 148 1-11 [10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.04.019] [Journal Article/Letter]
Non-Refereed
2020. "End-member volcanism in the absence of plate tectonics: Silicic volcanism on the Moon." 2023–2032 NAS Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey [Report]
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
The Formation of Lunar Granite: Observations from Remote Sensing and Apollo Samples
September 2022
Lunar and Planetary Institute Colloquium
Quantitative Compositional Mapping of Particles from the Apollo 17 Core 73002
September 2021
Microscopy and Microanalysis 2021 Meeting
End-member volcanism in the absence of plate tectonics: Silicic volcanism on the Moon
2021
Presentation to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032: Panel on Mercury and the Moon
The Formation of Lunar Granite: Observations from Remote Sensing and Apollo Samples
2020
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Colloquium
Surface Composition and Mineralogy of the Apennine Bench Formation
2020
Code 600 Director’s Seminar
How the Apollo samples have shaped (and reshaped) our understanding of the Moon.
October 2019
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Colloquium
From µm to km: Exploring lunar geochemistry and both small and large scales.
August 2018
SSERVI Exploration Science Forum 2018
Other
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant: Earth Materials
Dr. Jill Pasteris; Fall semesters 2013, 2104, 2015
Teaching Assistant: Earth and the Environment
Dr. Michael Wysession; Fall semester 2012
Selected Public Outreach
Letters to a Pre-Scientist
2016 - 2017
Pen pal program where elementary to high school aged students are matched with scientist pen pals.
Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students
2016 - 2022
Scientist advisor and judge for students participating in ExMASS – a program managed by the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration, with the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute during which high school students undertake a research project and prepare a poster presentation.
Career paths in Science
2018 - 2018
Presentations to middle and high school students about career paths in science, a day in the life of a scientist, and opportunities for students.
Sci-Girls
2022 - Present