Credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute

Dr. David Kring, a senior staff scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, is the recipient of the 2018 Michael J. Wargo Exploration Science Award presented by the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) in recognition of his outstanding achievement in exploration science.

The Michael J. Wargo Exploration Science Award is an annual award given to a scientist or engineer who has significantly contributed to the integration of exploration and planetary science throughout their career. Dr. Michael Wargo (1951-2013) was Chief Exploration Scientist for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and was a strong advocate for the integration of science, engineering, and technology.

Dr. Kring’s research explores the origin of the solar nebula and its evolution into a geologically active planetary system; the geologic history of the Earth, Moon, Mars, and several smaller planetary bodies; impact cratering on the Earth, its effect on Earth’s environment, and its possible role in the biological evolution of our planet; and the chemical and physical properties of meteorites. He is currently integrating his field experience in impact-cratered terrains with his analytical experience of Apollo, Luna, and lunar meteorite sample collections from the Moon to lead the development of spacecraft missions in response to the President’s lunar exploration initiative.

The award will be presented along with an invited lecture at the 2018 Exploration Science Forum (ESF) taking place June 26-28, 2018, at the NASA Research Park at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

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SSERVI Announces 2018 Award Winners