Steve Squyres

Steve Squyres‏‎ is an American astronomer and planetary scientist, best known for his work on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. He was the principal investigator of the science payload on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers.

Early life and education

Squyres was born in Lebanon, New Jersey, and grew up with a keen interest in space exploration. He attended Cornell University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Geology and his Ph.D. in Planetary Science.

Career

After completing his education, Squyres joined the faculty of Cornell University in 1986. He has been a part of many NASA missions, including the Voyager missions to the outer planets and the Magellan mission to Venus. However, his most significant contribution has been to the Mars Exploration Rover mission.

As the principal investigator of the science payload on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Squyres led a team of scientists in the exploration of Mars. The rovers, which landed on Mars in 2004, have made significant discoveries about the planet's geology and past potential for life.

Squyres has also served as an associate of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, where he continues to conduct research on planetary science and exploration.

Awards and honors

Squyres has received numerous awards for his contributions to planetary science, including the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Carl Sagan Memorial Award. He was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2004.

Personal life

Squyres is married and has two children. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys rock climbing, scuba diving, and mountain biking.

See also

• Mars Exploration Rover
• Planetary Science
• NASA

External links

• Official website of Cornell University
• Official website of NASA