Charles Cockell

Recognized under Tier 2 — In-Situ Resource Utilization, Charles Cockell conducts pioneering research in astrobiology and the potential role of microorganisms in supporting space resource utilization. Cockell's work at the University of Edinburgh's UK Centre for Astrobiology — including the BioRock and BioAsteroid experiments on the ISS examining microbial interactions with rock minerals in microgravity — has opened a new dimension to ISRU: the possibility of using biological organisms to help extract and process resources from extraterrestrial materials. On Mars, where carrying all needed materials from Earth is impractical, recruiting microbial chemistry in service of resource extraction and soil improvement could be genuinely transformative.