Zach Morse is a posdoctoral research scientist with Howard University working at NASA Goddard through the CRESST2 collaborative agreement. Zach primarily works with the NASA Solar System Exploration Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Remote In-situ and Synchrotron Studies for Science and Exploration 2 (RISE2) Team. The goal of Zach's research is to help prepare for future eploration of the lunar surface by testing handheld instrumentation and operational procedures here on Earth. The RISE2 team will conduct a series of field deployements to terrestrial locations which host geology that is analogous to the lunar surface. By conducting these high-fidelity practice field exercises, the RISE2 team plans to develop the most efficient methods for future astronauts to employ when collecting data and samples on the surface of the Moon.
Zachary Robert Morse
(POSTDOC RESEARCH SCIENTIS)
| Email: | zachary.r.morse@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.614.6922 |
| Org Code: | 698 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 698 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | HOWARD UNIV |
Brief Bio
Current Projects
The Augmented Reality Data Visualization Analog Research Campaign (ARDVARC)
Planetary Geology
Zach is the PI of this three-year NASA PSTAR project. ARDVARC will seek to better understand a multi-phased approach to exploring a remote field site in preparation for near-future Artemis lunar missions. ARDVARC field tests will take place at a lunar analog field site in the San Francisco volcanic field near Flagstaff AZ. ARDVARC will involve both rover and astronaut analog operations conducted at night with an artificial lighting system to best approximate the illumination conditions of potential Artemis landings sites near the lunar south pole. ARDVARC will assess the best concept of operations for combining pre-cursor rover data collection with post-cursor astronaut deployments to the same field location. Augmented Reality (AR) data visualization will be tested as a method of viewing rover generated data in-situ to assist astronauts with navigation and target identification tasks.
RISE2 Theme 2 Analog Field Work
Zach is helping to develop a series of ongoing analog astronaut EVA deployments in at the Kilbourne Hole maar crater in the Potrillo Volcanic Field in New Mexico. He develops EVA traverse plans and timelines that involve analog astronauts using handheld and portable geologic field instruments in-situ to learn more about the geologic setting and make real-time decisions about data collection, geologic interpretation, and sample selection. Morse facilitates and studies these EVA scenarios in order to better understand the use cases for specific instruments on future lunar missions. Information about the operations, instruments, and datasets will feed-forward to benefit the upcoming Artemis crewed lunar surface missions.
JETT5 Analog Deployment
Zach was recently selected to participate in the upcoming JETT5 analog deployment. JETT5 will continue a series of high-fidelity analog simulations that involve a mission control / science support team facilitating a real-time analog field deployment. The JETT5 scenario will be based on plans for the upcoming Artemis 3 crewed lunar surface mission. Results from the JETT5 test will directly influence the deployment strategy for the Artemis science support teams.
Positions/Employment
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Howard University | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland
2020 - Present
Postdoctoral Associate
Department of Earth Sciences - Western University - London, Ontario, Canada
2019 - 2020
Academic Program Designer
Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) - Western University - London, Ontario, Canada
2015 - 2017
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Earth Sciences - Western University - London, Ontario, Canada
2014 - 2018
Teaching Assistant
Department of Earth Sciences – Western University - London, Ontario, Canada
2013 - 2018
Education
2018 - Ph.D. Geology & Planetary Science, Centre for Planetary and Space Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario
Thesis Title: Morphologic Mapping of Lunar Impact Basins
2013 - B.Sc. Geology Minor: GIS & Remote Sensing, Eberly College of Arts and Science, West Virginia University
Awards
2018 - Fallona Family Interdisciplinary Research Showcase Presentation Award - Third Place
2017 - NASA SSERVI Exploration Science Forum Student Poster Award - Second Place
2017 - Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration Outstanding Outreach Volunteer Award
2015 - Canadian Space Agency Recognition for Contributions to the 2015 CanMars Mars Sample Return Analogue Rover Mission
Special Experience
Mission and Analog Mission Experience
2023 - Member of the JETT5 Artemis III-Focused Analog Deployment
2022 to Present - PI for the Augmented Reality Data Visualization Analog Research Campaign (ARDVARC)
2021 to Present - EVA Coordinator for NASA SSERVI RISE2 Analog Astronaut ConOps Research Project
2019 - Science Lead for the 2019 Canadian Space Agency CanMoon Analogue Lunar Rover Mission
2017 - Assistant CIPP for NASA HiRISE Cycle 273
2016 - GIS & Mapping Lead for the 2016 Canadian Space Agency / CREATE CanMars Mars Sample Return Analogue Mission
2015 - GIS & Mapping Lead for the 2015 Canadian Space Agency / CREATE CanMars Mars Sample Return Analogue Mission
Professional Training
2023 - NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certification
2021 - LPI & JSC Space Flight Resource Management (SFRM) Training
Selected Publications
Refereed
2021. "Detailed Morphologic Mapping and Traverse Planning for a Rover-based Lunar Sample Return Mission to Schrödinger Basin." The Planetary Science Journal 2 (4): 167 [10.3847/psj/ac0728] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Morphologic mapping and interpretation of ejecta deposits from Tsiolkovskiy crater." Meteoritics & Planetary Science 56 (4): 767-793 [10.1111/maps.13650] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "The use of GIS, mapping, and immersive technologies in the CanMars Mars Sample Return analogue mission; advantages for science interpretation and operational decision-making." Planetary and Space Science 168 15-26 [10.1016/j.pss.2019.01.001] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "New morphological mapping and interpretation of ejecta deposits from Orientale Basin on the Moon." Icarus 299 253-271 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.08.010] [Journal Article/Letter]
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
Developing an Augmented Reality Application for Enhanced Geologic Outcrop Analysis (15-minute)
4, 2020
Dr. Morse was invited to give a 15-minute version of this presentation at the 2020 CRESST 2 Annual Retreat
Other
Operational Testing and Analysis of Field Portable Instrument Datasets During the 2022 RISE2 Analog Lunar EVAs
April 14, 2023
Data in the Dark: In-Situ Augmented Reality Data Visualization of Ultraviolet-Induced Fluorescence at Mauna Loa Lava Tube Analog Field Site
April 14, 2023
LiDAR-Based Augmented Reality Data Visualization for Analog Field Studies. NASA Exploration Science Forum (NESF)
August 2022
Augmented Reality Visualization Of Geologic Data Collected With Portable Field Instruments. Joint SSERVI Exploration Science Forum
August 2021
Developing an Augmented Reality Application for Enhanced Geologic Outcrop Analysis (3-minute e-Lightning Talk)
15, 2020
A 3-minute e-Lightening talk given in the Planetary Analogs session at the 2020 American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting.
Developing an Augmented Reality Application for Enhanced Geologic Outcrop Analysis (10 minute)
December 10, 2020
A 10-minute presentation at the 2020 Goddard Early Career Scientist Forum
CanMoon Analogue Mission Pre-Mission Remote Sensing and Traverse Planning [#1254]
2020
2020 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) - Abstract #1254
CanMoon Analogue Mission Tactical Science Team: Scientific Instrumentation and Decision Making During a High Fidelity Realtime Lunar Analogue Mission [#1253]
2020
2020 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) - Abstract #1253
Traverse Planning withing Schrodinger Basin in Support of a Canadian Contribution to the Proposed HERACLES Mission [#2886]
2019
2019 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference - Abstract #: 2886
Overview of the 2019 CSA-LEAD CanMoon Lunar Sample Return Analogue Mission (NESF2019-071)
2019
2019 NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Exploration Science Forum - NESF2019-071
2019 CanMoon Tactical Science Team: Real-Time Instrument Use and Coordination During a Lunar Sample Return Analogue Mission
2019
2019 Lunar Exploration and Analysis Group (LEAG) Annual Meeting - Abstract / Poster #5047
Mapping and Analysis of Tsiolkovsky Crater Ejecta [#2196]
2018
2018 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) - Abstract / Poster # 2196
A Canadian Science Maturation Study for a Lunar Precursor Rover to Schrodinger Basin (NESF2018-091)
2018
2018 NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Exploration Science Forum Poster / Abstract NESF2018-091
New Morphologic Map and Analysis of Orientale Basin Ejecta
2017
2017 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Talk # 2299
Use of Digital Terrain Models and Immersive Technology in the 2016 CanMars Analogue Mission
2017
2017 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Poster # 2318
Mapping and Analysis of Ejecta Deposits from Orientale Basin on the Moon
2017
2017 NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Exploration Science Forum 2017 Abstract / Poster
Use of Immersive Technologies in the 2015 CANMARS Analogue Mission
2016
2016 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Poster # 2306
2015 CANMARS MSR Analogue Mission: GIS and Mapping Results
2016
2016 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Poster # 2287
New Map of Orientale Basin Ejecta and Comparison Ejected Lowland and Highland Material
2015
2015 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Talk # 2608.
Analysis of Orientale Distal Ejecta for Evidence of Multistage Emplacement
2014
2014 NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Exploration Science Forum Abstract / Poster
Analysis of Orientale Basin Ejecta and Evidence for Multistage Emplacement
2014
2014 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) Abstract / Poster # 2360