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About
Dr. Rachel Klima is a planetary geologist whose research centers on the composition, evolution, and chronology of the Moon and Mercury. She is best known for her work using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to map the mineralogy of these airless bodies, revealing the distribution of volcanic materials and impact melt deposits. Klima’s major contributions include leading the ISOCHRON (Inner SOlar System CHRONology) concept, a proposed lunar sample return mission designed to retrieve young mare basalts for precise radiometric dating—a critical step in calibrating the crater-counting chronology that underpins our understanding of solar system history. Her research has been cited over 1,000 times, reflecting its influence on planetary science. Notably, she has served as a Participating Scientist on NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury, where her analyses of spectral data helped identify diverse surface compositions, including evidence of ancient volcanic activity. Dr. Klima’s work bridges remote sensing and sample science, offering students a model of how to integrate orbital data with future exploration goals.
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