Veronica Ann (GeoBum) Zabala-Aliberto

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Short Biography

Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto has been involved in martian and planetary studies since 2000. Current research is focused on understanding planetary aeolian dynamics, geological histories and human space exploration. The approach involves a combination of spacecraft remote sensing, laboratory experiments, and geological field studies on Earth of features analogous to those observed on the planets. Full Biography

Current Research Topics

Space Flight Projects: NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, and Mars Express (European Space Agency). Data Analysis: Mars landing sites for astrobiology, aeolian processes, Field Studies: Aeolian Terrains, Volcanic Terrains. Laboratory Studies: Mars sand and dust. Full Listing

Selected Recent Publications

Books

Papers

Honorable Mention in Scientific Papers:

Doggett, T.C., R. Greeley, V. Baker, S. Chien, A.G. Davies, J.M. Dohm, T.P.A. Ferre, A. Hinnel, D. Rucker, and K. Williams, Airborne Radar Study of Soil Moisture at a Mars Analog Site: Tohachi Wash / Little Colorado River, Proceedings of the 35^th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, #1326 (CD-ROM), 2004.

Greeley, R., R.O. Kuzmin, S.C.R. Rafkin, T.I. Michaels, R. Haberle (2003b), Wind-related Features in Gusev Crater, Mars, in press, Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets.

2001, The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System, Cambridge University Press, 408 p., Greeley, R. and R. Batson.

2002, 21st Century Astronomy, Norton Press (in press), Hester, H., D. Burstein, G. Blumenthal, R. Greeley, B. Smith, H. Voss, and G. Wegner.

Martian Expedition Planning, Volume 107 Science and Technology Series, Ed. Charles S. Cockell , 2004, 518p

Interviews

Meet the Scientist: Dr. Jack Farmer – The Martian Chronicles -Spring 2001

http://chapters.marssociety.org/youth/mc/issue9/

The Mars Desert Research Station Press

Kit http://www.marssociety.org/MDRS/mdrs05.asp

Visions of Space

http://www.durangoherald.com/archives/tech0138.htm

Awards

Motorola Award (1999) – Estrella Mountain Community College , Avondale , Arizona

Counselor’s Award (2000) – Advanced Adult Space Academy , Huntsville , Alabama

NASA Space Grant (1999-Present) – Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona

Mission Experience

European Space Agency: Mars Express / Beagle Lander Mission : Beagle 2 will land in a region of Mars named Isidis Planitia. This is a 1500 km wide embayment into the highlands that occupy much of the martian equatorial region and southern hemisphere, whose northeast side opens onto the low-lying plains that cover most of the planet's northern hemisphere. We cannot tell exactly where Beagle 2 will come to rest, but there is a 99% probability of it lying within an ellipse measuring 174 km by 106 km centered at 11.6o N, 269.5o W. My responsibilities lie in processing all available MOC images, TES images/data, etc., to identify geologically interesting features such as: dunes, bright and dark streaks, possible astrobiological features, the frequencies of these features, change diction, etc.

NASA: 2003 ATHENA Lander Mission : Obtain and process MOC imagery. Provide assistance to determine geological and astrobiological high priority landing sites for the mission. Currently working with the Planetary Geology Group, in the Department of Geological Sciences at Arizona State University , as well as for the NASA Space Grant Consortium.

NASA: 2005: Collecting of MOC imagery and have created an initial library of images for observation to determine geological and astrobiological sites of interest. Working in the Planetary Geology Group, in the Department of Geological Sciences at Arizona State University , as well as for the NASA Space Grant Consortium.

ASU mARZ SAT Team (MIMIC): The mARZ project within the Engineering Department at Arizona State University is a student satellite to Mars project in collaboration with UA/NAU/Embry Riddle, NASA and JPL. Working with student engineers to provide support in areas related to planetary geology.

NASA Means Business, Arizona State University Team: The Arizona State University Team was nominated as one of the Final Four teams to compete for the NASA Means Business competition. Teams with members representing both the traditional "space disciplines" PLUS some not normally associated with space exploration. compete against four other Finalist Teams to develop a Promotion Plan and two (2) television Public Service Announcements (PSA) about the International Space Station. The main objective of the Space Station Promotion Plan and PSA's is to effectively articulate to the general public the value and anticipated contributions of the Space Station to space exploration as well as to life on Earth. Then, in May 2004, representatives of the Finalist Teams will attend the Sixth Annual NASA Customer Engagement Conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston .

Mars Plane Project: Collecting and analyzing MOC datasets for sites of interest. These sites are mainly gullies on Mars, which could give us clues for the evidence of water on Mars. Magnetic signatures are associated with certain regions (gullies) on Mars, which have given us insight to where we should focus our attention to for the Mars Plane Project. Working under the NASA Space Grant Consortium.

Coursework Completed in Geology Major

Introduction to Geology & Lab: Steve Kadel

Historical Geology & Lab: Dr. Don Burt

Planetary Geology & Lab: Dr. Ronald Greeley

Geological Sciences Colloquium: Dr. Stan Williams

Structural Geology: Dr. Steve Reynolds

Geology of Mars: Dr. Phil Christensen

Field Geology I: Dr. Steve Reynolds

Paleontology: Dr. Jack Farmer

Volcanology: Dr. Stan Williams

Fundamentals of Planetary Geology: Dr. Ronald Greeley

Conferences

Outreach

Image Gallery

GeoBum's Calendar

April 14-15: Phoenix science team meeting, at JPL

April 25-30: EGU 1st General Assembly, Nice , France , www.copernicus.org/egu2004 (abs. deadline: 11 January 2004 ; deadline for pre-registration: 8 April 2004 )

Apr. 26: End of Primary Mission (Sol 90) for MER-Opportunity (MER-B)

Apr 26: MRO ATLO Start

May 17–21: Joint Assembly: AGU-CGU-SEG, Palais de Congres, Montreal , Quebec (abs. deadline = 02-19-04 ), http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm04/

May 24-28: HEND Workshop 2004, at the Space Research Institute ( Moscow , Russia ). Contact = Mitrofanov and Litvak.

May 30-Jun 3: American Astronomical Society meeting, Denver , CO

June 5-11: 14th V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Univ. of Copenhagen , Denmark . http://www.goldschmidt2004.dk/ (abs. deadline = Feb. 2, early reg. = Apr. 2)

Jun 15, 2004 (proposed): Deadline for responses to MSL Announcement of Opportunity

Late June or early July (tentative): MEPAG meeting, location = TBD. Will be scheduled after MSL AO deadline.

Websites of Interest Pertaining to GeoBum