Kristen Bennett is a planetary scientist who studies the geology of the Moon and Mars using NASA spacecraft.
Kristen Bennett is a Research Space Scientist at the Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, AZ. Her research focuses on volcanism on the Moon and the sedimentary history of Mars. To conduct this work Kristen is part of NASA missions that obtain remote sensing data at the Moon and Mars and she conducts field work at terrestrial analogs on Earth. She primarily uses thermal, near-infrared, and visible remote sensing datasets to investigate planetary surfaces. Kristen is currently the Deputy PI of the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. She led the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover’s investigation in the clay-bearing Glen Torridon region, and she is a co-investigator on the Lunar-VISE payload suite that will land on the Moon to investigate a silicic volcanic feature in 2026. Previously Kristen has also worked on Mars Odyssey (THEMIS) and the Mars Exploration Rover (Opportunity). Kristen’s work on using terrestrial analogs to understand other planets includes field work in Iceland investigating glacial eskers to constrain the ancient Martian climate.
Professional Experience
2018 – present Research Space Scientist (USGS)
2016 – 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher (Northern Arizona University)
Education and Certifications
2016 Ph.D. Geological Science, Arizona State University
2011 B.S. Astrophysics, UCLA
Honors and Awards
2021 NASA Planetary Science Early Career Award
2021 Department of Interior Diversity Award
2020 USGS Diversity Award
Science and Products
Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars
The Curiosity Rover’s exploration of Glen Torridon, Gale crater, Mars: An overview of the campaign and scientific results
Temperatures of the Lacus Mortis region of the Moon
Brine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars
The Preventing Harassment in Science workshop: Summary and best practices for planetary science and astrobiology
Diagenesis revealed by fine-scale features at Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars
Diagenesis of Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars from Mastcam multispectral images
Extraformational sediment recycling on Mars
Evidence for a diagenetic origin of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars: Summary and synthesis of Curiosity's exploration campaign
A lacustrine paleoenvironment recorded at Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater: Overview of the sedimentology and stratigraphy observed by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover
Science and Products
- Multimedia
- Publications
Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars
The Glen Torridon (GT) region within Gale crater, Mars, occurs in contact with the southern side of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a well-defined geomorphic feature that is comparatively resistant to erosion. Prior to detailed ground-based investigation of GT, its geologic relationship with VRR was unknown. Distinct lithologic subunits within the Jura member (Murray formation), which forms the upper partThe Curiosity Rover’s exploration of Glen Torridon, Gale crater, Mars: An overview of the campaign and scientific results
The Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, explored the clay mineral-bearing Glen Torridon region for one martian year between January 2019 and January 2021, including a short campaign onto the Greenheugh pediment. The Glen Torridon campaign sought to characterize the geology of the area, seek evidence of habitable environments, and document the onset of a potentially global climatic transitionTemperatures of the Lacus Mortis region of the Moon
Over 11 years of data acquired by the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment instrument aboard Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have been compiled into a comprehensive data set of surface temperatures in the Lacus Mortis region which includes the landing ellipse of the Astrobotic Mission One lander mission. These data provide diurnal brightness temperatures at 128 pixels per degree (ppd) spatial resolutiBrine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars
Mars’ sedimentary rock record preserves information on geological (and potential astrobiological) processes that occurred on the planet billions of years ago. The Curiosity rover is exploring the lower reaches of Mount Sharp, in Gale crater on Mars. A traverse from Vera Rubin ridge to Glen Torridon has allowed Curiosity to examine a lateral transect of rock strata laid down in a martian lake ~3.5The Preventing Harassment in Science workshop: Summary and best practices for planetary science and astrobiology
The NASA-funded Preventing Harassment in Science workshop took place in June of 2020. Here we describe the workshop and summarize the best practices for reducing harassment that were discussed. We include a list of recommendations that can be used to take steps towards reducing harassment in the planetary science and astrobiology community.Diagenesis revealed by fine-scale features at Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars
Fine-scale (submillimeter to centimeter) depositional and diagenetic features encountered during the Curiosity rover's traverse in Gale crater provide a means to understand the geologic history of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR). VRR is a topographically high feature on the lower north slope of Aeolis Mons, a 5-km high stratified mound within Gale crater. We use high-spatial resolution images from the MarsDiagenesis of Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars from Mastcam multispectral images
Images from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission of lacustrine sedimentary rocks of Vera Rubin ridge on “Mt. Sharp” in Gale crater, Mars, have shown stark color variations from red to purple to gray. These color differences crosscut stratigraphy and are likely due to diagenetic alteration of the sediments after deposition. However, the chemistry and timing of these fluid interactions is uncleExtraformational sediment recycling on Mars
Extraformational sediment recycling (old sedimentary rock to new sedimentary rock) is a fundamental aspect of Earth’s geological record; tectonism exposes sedimentary rock, whereupon it is weathered and eroded to form new sediment that later becomes lithified. On Mars, tectonism has been minor, but two decades of orbiter instrument–based studies show that some sedimentary rocks previously buried tEvidence for a diagenetic origin of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars: Summary and synthesis of Curiosity's exploration campaign
This paper provides an overview of the Curiosity rover's exploration at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) and summarizes the science results. VRR is a distinct geomorphic feature on lower Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) that was identified in orbital data based on its distinct texture, topographic expression, and association with a hematite spectral signature. Curiosity conducted extensive remoA lacustrine paleoenvironment recorded at Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater: Overview of the sedimentology and stratigraphy observed by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover
For ~500 Martian solar days (sols), the Mars Science Laboratory team explored Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on the northwest slope of Aeolis Mons. Here we review the sedimentary facies and stratigraphy observed during sols 1,800–2,300, covering more than 100 m of stratigraphic thickness. Curiosity's traverse includes two transects across the ridge, which enables investigation of la