Sept. 27, 2023, Tucson, Ariz. – Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Thomas
Prettyman has been named the 2023 recipient of the Fred Whipple Award, the highest
honor given by the Planetary Sciences section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
The Fred Whipple Award and Lecture are presented annually and recognize significant
contributions to the field of planetary science from a mid-career or senior scientist.
Established in 1989, this award, and accompanying lecture, are named in honor of Fred
Whipple, an AGU Fellow and astronomer whose most notable work focused on comets.
AGU’s citation said Prettyman was honored for major contributions to our understanding
of planetary surface composition using the tools of neutron and gamma-ray spectroscopy
on spacecraft.
Prettyman’s research focuses on chemical remote sensing of planetary bodies using nuclear
spectroscopy. Gamma rays are made by the decay of natural radioelements found in rocks.
Neutrons and gamma rays are made by cosmic ray interactions with the outermost surface
layers. Particles escaping into space provide a fingerprint of surface elemental composition
that can be detected from orbit. Elemental mapping data are used to study geologic and
atmospheric processes. Prettyman has had the good fortune to work on several planetary
missions, including Lunar Prospector, 2001 Mars Odyssey, and Dawn. His contributions
include studies of lunar geochemistry and Mars’ surface and atmosphere. For Dawn, he led
the Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) investigation, which mapped the elemental
composition of the two largest bodies in the main asteroid belt, the dwarf planet Ceres and
asteroid Vesta. He also participated in terrestrial analog studies with gamma ray
spectroscopy. He is currently working on new missions, including Psyche, LunaH-Map,
Lunar-VISE, and KPLO.
“I was thrilled to hear that I was this year’s recipient of the Whipple award,” Prettyman
said. “It is a distinct honor. My contributions to planetary nuclear spectroscopy were part
of a broad team effort spanning multiple missions. I’m very grateful to have had the
opportunity to work with amazing scientists, engineers, and support staff who continue to
make planetary exploration a reality. I’m looking forward to presenting at AGU.”
PSI Senior Scientist Faith Vilas received the Fred Whipple Award in 2019.
The Whipple Award will be presented at the Planetary Sciences section reception during
the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco Dec. 11-15, 2023 where Prettyman will also present
the Whipple Lecture.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Fischer
Public Information Officer
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[email protected]
SCIENCE CONTACT:
Thomas Prettyman
Senior Scientist
[email protected]
PSI INFORMATION
Mark V. Sykes
Director
520-622-6300
[email protected]
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The Planetary Science Institute is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to
Solar System exploration. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, where it was founded in
1972.
PSI scientists are involved in numerous NASA and international missions, the study of Mars
and other planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, impact physics, the
origin of the Solar System, extra-solar planet formation, dynamics, the rise of life, and other
areas of research. They conduct fieldwork on all continents around the world. They also are
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