Olivier Barnouin

Dr. Olivier Barnouin is interested primarily in understanding surface processes of asteroids and planets, focusing on impact catering, geological hazards, eolian processes, and tectonics. He has developed analytical and numerical geophysical models of planetary processes to gain insights into the evolution of planetary and asteroidal surfaces and atmospheres and test them in the laboratory at planetary scales, through terrestrial fieldwork, and by using planetary remote sensing observations. Dr. Barnouin has investigated a wide range of asteroids (Bennu, Ryugu, Itokawa, and Eros) and solid planets (Mercury, Mars, Earth, and Venus) and has contributed to several NASA planetary missions and instruments, including NEAR-Shoemaker, MRO/CRISM, New Horizons, MESSENGER, LRO, Hayabusa, Hayabusa 2, OSIRIS-REx, and DART. He has experience using the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory wind tunnel facility and the gun ranges at NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, and the University of Tokyo. Dr. Barnouin is the director of APL’s Planetary Impact Laboratory (PIL), which includes a vertical gun range and an ejecta simulator, and is one of the creators of the JHU Small Body Mapping Tool. He has advised several undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have since extensively contributed to the planetary science community.