Timothy Glotch, a planetary scientist at Stony Brook University, is leading one of only two United States research teams granted access to lunar samples from China's Chang’e-5 mission. This collaboration marks an important moment in international space exploration efforts.
The Chang’e-5 mission is the first to return lunar samples to Earth in decades. The samples are from a younger and previously unsampled area of the Moon. This opportunity allows Glotch's team to further investigate lunar history and evolution.
Stony Brook University officials are highlighting Glotch's selection as a reflection of the institution’s strengths in geosciences. Vice President for Research and Innovation Kevin Gardner stated, “Professor Glotch’s expertise and groundbreaking access to these materials are powerful testaments to his work and the strength of Stony Brook’s research enterprise."
Glotch has a history of involvement in NASA missions and is focused on understanding the mineralogy and composition of planetary surfaces, including the Moon, Mars, and asteroids. He utilizes both remote sensing data and laboratory analyses to identify "infrared fingerprints" of various rocks and minerals.
Regarding his interest in planetary surfaces, Glotch commented, “I’m really interested in their surfaces, and what the mineralogy and composition of the surfaces of those planets are, or planetary bodies are primarily as a tool to understand how they formed and evolved over time.”
Glotch is a co-investigator on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and has participated in the OSIRIS-REx mission, which collected samples from the asteroid Bennu. On his mission involvement, Glotch said, “We have tons of mission work which is really exciting, because we get to look at some of that data before anybody else does. And we get to make exciting discoveries and be part of those science teams.”
In addition, he leads the RISE2 node of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, which fosters collaboration for lunar exploration research. The Stony Brook planetary science group is active in Mars exploration and involved in missions like Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
In 2023, Glotch collaborated with teams from the University of Hong Kong and San Francisco State University to submit a proposal to study the Chang’e-5 lunar samples. Their proposal was one of the few selected internationally.
Though issues with NASA funding led to challenges, Stony Brook University provided the financial support needed for Glotch’s research. He expressed his gratitude, stating, “I really appreciate the support of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and my department chair.”
The upcoming analysis of the Chang’e-5 samples will focus on collecting infrared spectra and making magnetic measurements. Glotch remarked on the significance of this work, saying, “The more we learn about other planets and how they form and how they evolve, the more we learn about the Earth.”
This exciting research further establishes Stony Brook University as a leader in planetary sciences, advancing knowledge about the Moon and inspiring future scientists.