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A profile photo of Dr. Robert T. Pappalardo

Dr. Robert T. Pappalardo

Europa Mission Project Scientist

Robert.Pappalardo@jpl.nasa.gov

About

Topic Area(s)

  • Planetary Science  | Planetary Geology, Including Surface Chemistry, Regolith Properties, And Space Weathering
  • Planetary Science  | Habitability

Search Keyword(s)

  • Europa  
  • Europa Clipper  
  • Ganymede  
  • icy satellites  

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

  • JPL Fellowship | For outstanding project science leadership encompassing advocacy, formulation, implementation, operations, and closeout phases of missions; and for outstanding research and renowned expertise on the interiors of planetary satellites, including ocean worlds. (2022)
  • Senior Research Scientist | Planetary Geophysics (2007)
  • JPL Principal Designation | 3204 - Europa Science Office (2006)

Publications

Parekh, R., et al. Mass-wasting features on Galilean icy moons: Morphological analysis and implications. PSJ 7(2) (2026).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Ganymede’s geology. In Ganymede, Cambridge University Press, 87–103 (2025).

Roth, L., et al. Plume activity on Europa: Current knowledge and search strategy for Europa Clipper. PSJ 6, 182 (2025).

Becker, T. M., et al. Exploring the composition of Europa with the upcoming Europa Clipper mission. Space Science Rev. 220, 49 (2024).

Daubar, I. J., et al. Planned geological investigations of the Europa Clipper mission. Space Sci. Rev. 220, 18 (2024).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Science overview of the Europa Clipper mission. Space Sci. Rev. 220, 40 (2024).

Roberts, J. H., et al. Exploring the interior of Europa with Europa Clipper. Space Sci. Rev. 219, 46 (2023).

Leonard, E. J., et al. Finding order in chaos: Quantitative predictors of chaos terrain morphology on Europa. GRL 49 (2022).

Howell, S. M., and R. T. Pappalardo. NASA’s Europa Clipper—A mission to a potentially habitable ocean world. Nature Comm. 11, 1311 (2020).

Leonard, E. J., A. Yin, and R. T. Pappalardo. Ridged plains on Europa reveal a compressive past. Icarus 343, 113709 (2020).

Cameron, M., et al. Tidal stress modeling of Ganymede: Strike-slip tectonism and Coulomb failure. Icarus 319, 99–120 (2019).

Howell, S. M., and R. T. Pappalardo. Can Earth-like plate tectonics occur in ocean world ice shells? Icarus 322, 69–79 (2019).

Howell, S. M., and R. T. Pappalardo. Band formation and ocean-surface interaction on Europa and Ganymede. GRL 45, 4701–4709 (2018).

Nimmo, F., and R. T. Pappalardo. Ocean worlds in the outer solar system. JGR Planets 121 (2016).

Vance, S. D., K. P. Hand, and R. T. Pappalardo. Geophysical controls of chemical disequilibria in Europa. GRL 43, 4871–4879 (2016).

Yin, A., and R. T. Pappalardo. Gravitational spreading, bookshelf faulting, and tectonic evolution of the South Polar Terrain of Enceladus. Icarus 260, 409–439 (2015).

Collins, G. C., et al. Global geologic map of Ganymede. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3237 (2014).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Science potential from a Europa lander. Astrobiology 13, 740–773 (2013).

Gleeson, D. F., et al. Biosignature detection at an Arctic analog to Europa. Astrobiology 12, 1–16 (2012).

Moore, J. M., and R. T. Pappalardo. Titan: An exogenic world? Icarus 212, 790–806 (2011).

Pappalardo, R. T., W. B. McKinnon, and K. K. Khurana, eds. Europa. University of Arizona Press, 727 pp. (2009).

Smith-Konter, B., and R. T. Pappalardo. Tidally driven stress accumulation and shear failure of Enceladus’s tiger stripes. Icarus 198, 435–451 (2008).

Nimmo, F., et al. A shear-heating mechanism for the generation of vapor plumes and high heat fluxes on Enceladus. Nature 447, 289–291 (2007).

Nimmo, F., and R. T. Pappalardo. Diapir-induced reorientation of Enceladus. Nature 441, 614–616 (2006).

Barr, A. C., and R. T. Pappalardo. Onset of convection in ice I: Application to the icy Galilean satellites. JGR 110, E12005 (2005).

Prockter, L. M., et al. Morphology of Europan bands at high resolution: A mid-ocean ridge-type rift mechanism. JGR 107(E5), 5028 (2002).

Prockter, L. M., and R. T. Pappalardo. Folds on Europa: Implications for crustal cycling and accommodation of extension. Science 289, 941–943 (2000).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Does Europa have a subsurface ocean? Evaluation of the geological evidence. JGR 104, 24,015–24,055 (1999).

Carr, M. H., et al. Evidence for a subsurface ocean on Europa. Nature 391, 363–365 (1998).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Geological evidence for solid-state convection in Europa’s ice shell. Nature 391, 365–368 (1998).

Pappalardo, R. T., et al. Grooved terrain on Ganymede: First results from Galileo high-resolution imaging. Icarus 135, 276–302 (1998).

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