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About

E. Pilles is a planetary scientist whose work centers on the design and execution of analogue missions and the development of advanced imaging instruments for extraterrestrial exploration. Their key research areas include Mars sample return operations, lunar surface geology, and the application of multispectral microscopy to planetary science. Pilles made a major contribution as a key participant in the CanMars Mars Sample Return analogue mission, a high-fidelity simulation that tested sample acquisition, caching, and strategic decision-making protocols. This work, published in 2018, has garnered 33 citations, reflecting its importance in shaping future robotic exploration strategies. Pilles also contributed to the development of TEMMI, a Three-dimensional Exploration Multispectral Microscope Imager, designed to provide high-resolution textural and compositional data on planetary surfaces. In lunar science, Pilles led detailed morphologic mapping and traverse planning for a rover-based sample return mission to Schrödinger Basin, a 312 km impact structure near the lunar south pole identified by NASA as a high-priority landing site. This work demonstrates Pilles’s ability to integrate remote sensing data with operational planning for future missions. Their research bridges the gap between laboratory instrumentation and field-based analogue studies, making them a valuable contributor to the next generation of planetary exploration.