ABSTRACT

Compared to Earth and Mars, we know very little about the early history and evolution of Venus. Despite the likelihood that Venus was very similar to Earth after formation, the two planets followed vastly different evolutionary pathways. Venus is a planet of extremes – it now hosts a runaway greenhouse atmosphere composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide, sulfuric acid clouds, and surface temperatures that could melt lead. When, how, and why Venus’ evolution diverged from Earth is unknown, yet better understanding of why Venus is the way it is today is critical to interpreting new observations of exoplanets that have been found around other stars in our galaxy. This talk will take attendees on a tour of what we know about Venus, what mysteries we need to solve, and what future spacecraft and instrument technologies could help us answer our questions.

About the Speaker:

Lori Glaze received her BA and MS in Physics from the University of Texas, Arlington, and her PhD in Environmental Science from Lancaster University. She has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and for the private science firm Proxemy Research. She joined Goddard Space Flight Center in 2007 and currently serves as Chief for the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory. She is an active member of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), and served as the VEXAG Chair for four years. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Glaze has been involved in development of multiple Venus mission concepts, including leading the DAVINCI and VICI mission proposals as Principal Investigator.