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BD-1996-04-236JSC

Biographical Data



April 1996

NAME: David S. McKay (Ph.D.)

TITLE: Assistant for Exploration and Technology, Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division, Space and Life Sciences Directorate

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Titusville, Pennsylvania; September 25, 1936.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of science degree in geology, Rice University, 1958; master of science degree in geochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 1960; and a doctor of philosophy degree in geology, Rice University, 1964.

RESIDENCE: Friendswood, Texas.

MARITAL STATUS: Married.

SPECIAL HONORS AND AWARDS: NSF Fellowship at Rice University; NSF Postdoctoral Award at Berkeley; and Outstanding Graduate Student in Geology Award, Rice University, 1964. Certificate of Special Commendation, Geological Society of America 1973; NASA Superior Achievement Award 1973; NASA Special Recognition Award, Lunar Program Principal Investigator, Apollo Achievement Award, Lunar Surface Experiments Team Award, Planetary Materials Curation Team Award, Field Geology Training Team Award, Lunar Landing Team Award, Lunar Science Team Award, Orbital Debris Team Award.

PROFESSIONAL AND HONORARY SOCIETIES: Geochemical Society, Meteoritical Society, Geological Society of America.

TECHNICAL PAPERS: More than 300 technical publications available from individual upon request, technical topics including lunar regolith studies, lunar resources topics, meteorites, micrometeorites, and electron microscope studies.

EXPERIENCE:

1965-1969 NASA Johnson Space Center (formerly Manned Spacecraft Center), Houston, Texas. Geology Branch. Conducted Astronaut training in geology. Conducted research in geochemistry and geologic interpretation of Lunar Ranger, Orbiter, and Surveyor photographs.

1969-1976 Geologist, Geology and Geophysics Branch, Planetary and Earth Sciences Division. Principal Investigator in Lunar Sample Program.

1976-1988 Geologist, Geology Branch, Lunar and Planetary Sciences Division, Space and Life Sciences Directorate. Principal Investigator in NASA's Planetary Material Program.

1988-1990 Manager, Space Resources Utilization Office, Solar System Exploration Division, Space and Life Sciences Directorate.

1990-1992 Manager, Mission Science and Technology Office, Solar System Exploration Division.

1992-1994 Assistant for Exploration and Technology, Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division. Principal Investigator in NASA's Planetary Geoscience Program.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:

As Assistant for Exploration and Technology, Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division, Space and Life Sciences Directorate, Dr. McKay manages programs aimed at planning science activities and developing and utilizing resources on the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies in support of space activities and bases. These programs include lunar and Mars resource studies, and systems studies for robotic and human missions to the Moon and Mars, and technology development for Insitu Resource Utilization (ISRU). Dr. McKay also serves as a principal investigator for planetary materials studies, specializing in lunar soil, micrometeorites, Mars meteorites, and space weathering. He has been active in past lunar resource studies and directed a NASA workshop on space resources in 1984, in La Jolla, California. Dr. McKay is manager of the electron microscope laboratory in the Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division. This laboratory includes both scanning and transmission electron microscopes along with associated instruments for chemical microanalysis of very small samples.

-end-

APRIL 1996




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