Kerri Donaldson Hanna

Dr. Donaldson Hanna’s research focuses on understanding the formation and evolution of airless bodies like the Moon, Mercury, Mars’ moons, and asteroids. She pursues this research interest using several methods including: (1) obtaining telescopic observations of these objects, (2) analysing and interpreting telescopic observations and spacecraft observations of these objects, (3) making laboratory measurements of airless body analogues to compare with the remote sensing observations, and (4) developing space instrumentation for observing airless bodies. Dr. Donaldson Hanna is also interested in understanding the effects of particle size, porosity, albedo, and near surface conditions of airless bodies on their thermal infrared signature and how to best simulate these in the laboratory. She utilizes these areas of expertise to participate in NASA missions including as a Co-Investigator on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment and a Participating Scientist on OSIRIS-REx.