Purdue EAPS professor prominent in successful Mars landing

February 21, 2021

The successful landing of Mars rover Perseverance on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 18) captivated the nation’s science community and space enthusiasts, and even the casual observer. Purdue University’s own Briony Horgan was a big part of it. Horgan, an associate professor of planetary science, played a key role in selecting the landing site for Perseverance. She also helped design one of the cameras that will transmit images back to Earth. Horgan’s role in the mission has been well-documented in state and national media. Some of the post-landing coverage and pre-landing coverage over the hours and days leading up to the thrilling landing include: Post-landing coverage Pre-landing coverage