M. S. Robinson
Papers
11
Total Citations
768
H-Index
7
About
M. S. Robinson is a leading planetary scientist whose career has been defined by transformative contributions to lunar exploration and surface characterization. As the Principal Investigator of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), Robinson has been instrumental in reshaping our understanding of the Moon’s geology, from its polar regions to its volcanic terrains. His most cited work, the 2007 overview of the LRO instrument suite (401 citations), established the foundation for a decade of high-resolution imaging that has revolutionized lunar science. Robinson’s research spans crater size-frequency distributions, photometric analysis of landing sites like Chang’e-3, and the tectonic and seismic activity of the lunar south polar region—a 2024 study (28 citations) that has critical implications for future Artemis missions. He has also advanced the cartographic context of historic Soviet and American landing sites, enabling precise geological interpretation of returned samples. Beyond traditional orbital science, Robinson explores innovative robotic concepts, such as hopping pit-bots for cave and lava tube exploration (2017, 13 citations), and has contributed to optimizing landing site selection through multidimensional remote sensing. With over 700 citations across his top papers, Robinson’s work continues to guide both robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Overview: The Instrument Suite and Mission401 citations · 2007
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- 5Tectonics and Seismicity of the Lunar South Polar Region28 citations · 2024
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