Astrophiz 236: Dr Gabriela Ligeza – Driving the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover & Mapping the Moon

Welcome to Astrophiz! In this episode, host Brendan O'Brien sits down with the brilliant Dr. Gabriela Ligeza, an Internal Research Fellow at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands. Dr. Ligeza works at the absolute cutting edge of planetary exploration, bridging the gap between orbital maps and physical alien terrain. As a key scientist for ESA’s ExoMars mission, she is developing the science sampling strategies that will guide the Rosalind Franklin rover in its high-stakes hunt for ancient morphological biosignatures (fossilized signs of microbial life) in the 4-billion-year-old clays of Oxia Planum. We also dive deep into her incredible work for NASA’s Artemis program at the Johnson Space Center, where she mapped the lunar South Pole to establish the landing and geological sampling sites for the next human footprints on the Moon. In this episode, we explore: • The childhood spark: How a postcard from a NASA astronaut geologist changed her life. • Martian lighting secrets: How light and shadow in the Mars Lab reveal (or hide) the true history of alien rocks through the CLUPI (Close-Up Imager) instrument. • Four-legged space dogs: Why autonomous legged robots can conquer steep crater rims and lava tubes where traditional wheeled rovers fail. • Training Astronauts: What it takes to teach pilots and engineers to think like field geologists on the lunar surface. • The mystery of Noachian iron/magnesium phyllosilicates—the ancient Martian mud that could hold the key to answering: Are we alone? Whether you are an aspiring researcher or a casual stargazer, Dr. Ligeza’s journey from a small village in Poland to the forefront of solar system exploration is profoundly inspiring. Subscribe to Astrophiz for more interviews with the world's leading space scientists. Join us as we fight for a greener future and explore how our universe works. #Astrophiz #SpacePodcast #ESA #ExoMars #Artemis #MarsRover #PlanetaryGeology #Astrobiology