David Grinspoon, PhD

Curator of Astrobiology
PhD, 1989, University of Arizona
303.370.6469
david.grinspoon@dmns.org

Dr. Grinspoon studies surface and atmospheric evolution of Earthlike planets elsewhere in the universe, with a focus on possible environments for extraterrestrial life. He is a frequent advisor to NASA on space exploration strategy.

Dr. Grinspoon is on the science team for NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, which will launch in 2011, and is interdisciplinary scientist for the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission. He has published three books, and numerous popular and scientific articles. He is a contributing editor to Sky & Telescope Magazine, where he authors the monthly Cosmic Relief column. He was awarded the 2006 Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society.

• Venus Express spacecraft currently at Venus
• Co-Investigator for the NASA Astrobiology Institute’s Titan Chemistry Team.
• Member of the Inner Planets Panel for the National Research Council’s Decadal Survey on Planetary Exploration.
• Methods of Increasing Awareness of Comparative Planetology and Climate Science with Science On a Sphere in Museum Settings

Grinspoon, D.H. (2004) Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life. Ecco/HarperCollins.

Grinspoon, D.H. (2006) In the Dark of Space, Enlightenment Waits. Op Ed in the Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2006.

Schulze-Makuch and D.H. Grinspoon (2005) Biologically enhanced energy and carbon cycling on Titan? Astrobiology,5, 560-567.

D. H. Grinspoon and M.A. Bullock (2007) Astrobiology and Venus Exploration, in Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet, Larry W. Esposito, Ellen R. Stofan, Thomas E. Cravens, Editors.

Chapman, C.R., B.A. Cohen and D.H. Grinspoon (2007) What are the real contraints on the existence and magnitude of the late heavy bombardment?   Icarus, 189, 226-238.

Taylor, F., and D. H. Grinspoon (2009), Climate evolution of Venus, Journal of Geophysical Research. 114,