Dante Lauretta, CCS External Adviser, UArizona, Regents Professor, Planetary Science & Cosmochemistry, University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. Dante Lauretta is principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission and a Regents professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.
His research interests focus on the chemistry and mineralogy of asteroids and comets, and he is an expert in the analysis of extraterrestrial materials, including asteroid samples, mete-orites and comet particles. Dr. Lauretta fosters the advancement of the next generation of scientists, engineers, and other space leaders through mentorship and taught coursework which apply his expertise in planetary science and spacecraft mission design & implementation.
Dr. Lauretta heads the OSIRIS-REx research team at UArizona working on this mission, which has included more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students. This project will help ensure that the University of Arizona remains at the forefront of planetary exploration for the next decade. The Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum is now one of only three places in the world where the public can see a piece of the asteroid Bennu, collected during NASA's University of Arizona-led OSIRIS-REx mission (see: A pebble scooped from an asteroid is now on display at UArizona museum)
