NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA/JPL-Caltech
A dynamic young engineer at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kobie Boykins is on the front line of Mars exploration. Boykins designed the solar arrays that power the Mars exploration rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Landing on Mars on January 25, 2004, Opportunity was designed to survive a mission lasting approximately 90 days. Remarkably, the rover continues to traverse the surface of Mars to this day, sending back valuable scientific data.
Most recently, Boykins was responsible for the design of actuators on Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory, which safely landed on Mars on August 6, 2012.
Boykins’ other projects have included work on the Mars Pathfinder mission and the Ocean Surface Topography Mission, making measurements by satellite of the Earth’s oceans.
In 2002, Boykins joined a team of young scientists for a public education tour—dubbed “Marsapalooza”—to raise awareness of the Mars Exploration Project. Four years later he was featured in the JASON Project Expedition “Mysteries of Earth and Mars,” bringing his passion for space exploration to students and teachers worldwide. An engaging public speaker who puts a fresh face on America’s space program, Boykins recounts the challenges and triumphs of the Mars exploration rover missions, sharing remarkable images and discoveries that continue to come to us from the Red Planet.
Popular Presentation
Exploring Mars: Rovers of the Red Planet
Boykins shares his passion for space exploration by recounting the design and construction of the rovers and the story of their successful missions.
Learn More About Kobie:
Listen to Radio Interview With Kobie Boykins
Boyd Matson Interviews Kobie Boykins for NG Weekend Radio Show
With its rover named Curiosity, Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA‘s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.
The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA‘s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.
Kobie Boykins shares a bit about his role in the development of the Mars Exploration Rovers.
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