Mark K. Reagan

About

Mark K. Reagan is a geologist whose research bridges planetary exploration and terrestrial volcanology, with a focus on robotic missions and field-based analog studies. He is best known for his leadership in Mars rover simulation experiments, particularly the 1999 Marsokhod rover mission at Silver Lake, California, where his team replicated the payload, data volumes, and communication delays of the planned Mars Surveyor mission. This work, cited 33 times, provided critical insights into how science teams can effectively operate robotic explorers on other planets. His follow-up study (14 citations) analyzed the behavior and decision-making of geologists during the simulation, offering practical recommendations for optimizing automated planetary surface exploration. Reagan’s contributions have directly informed the operational strategies for subsequent Mars rovers, including Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. Beyond planetary science, his research extends to the geochemistry of volcanic arcs and the evolution of Earth’s crust. Reagan’s work exemplifies how terrestrial field experiments can advance our understanding of both Earth and other worlds, making him a key figure in the development of planetary surface exploration methodologies.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   The 1999 Marsokhod rover mission simulation at Silver Lake, California: Mission overview, data sets, and summary of results

   33 citations · 2001
2. 2
   Analysis of science team activities during the 1999 Marsokhod Rover Field Experiment: Implications for automated planetary surface exploration

   14 citations · 2001

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links