Experience and interest in the use of spaceborne active microwave instruments and remote sensing of planetary surfaces spheres and subsurfaces. Analysis and interpretation of radar imagery of planetary surfaces (including Earth).
During his 16-year tenure as JPL Director; JPL launched 24 mission: 2001-Genesis; 2001-Jason 1; 2001-Mars Odyssey; 2002-GRACE; 2003-GALEX; 2003-Opportunity; 2003-Spirit; 2003-Spitzer Space Telescope; 2005- Deep Impact; 2005-Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter; 2006-Cloudsat; 2007-Dawn; 2007-Phoenix; 2008-Jason 2; 2009-Kepler; 2009-NEOWISE; 2011-Aquarius; 2011-Curiosity; 2011-GRAIL; 2011-Juno; 2012-NuStar; 2014-OCO-2; 2015-SMAP; 2016-Jason 3.
Principal Investigator on a number of NASA research studies and development including: Analysis of the Apollo 17 radar imagery and profiles of lunar surface (1973-1976); Imaging Radar Oceanography (1975- 1977); Polar Ice Mapping and Dynamics (1977-1979); Shuttle Polar Ice Sheets Sounder (1978-1979); Comparative Imaging Radar Planetology (1977-1981); Earth Imaging Radar Geology (1977-1983); Electromagnetic sounding of a comet nucleus (1977-1980); Study of Venus clouds properties (1977-1980); Multispectral Titan Radar Imager/Sounder 1984-1987); Mars Altimetry (1984-1986). He has also participated in a number of mission development studies including Magellan, Seasat-A, LPO, Comet mission, Cassini and Mars Orbiter. He is responsible for a number of mission/sensors studies including: Shuttle Imaging Radar Series, Shuttle Scanning Altimeter, Shuttle Polar Ice Sheets Sounder and Titan Radar Mapper.
He is the author of 230 publications (including reports and conferences) and holder of four patents in the fields of space and planetary exploration, Earth observation from space, interpretation of active microwave remote sensing data, wave propagation and scattering, electromagnetic theory, lasers and integrated optics. He is the author-editor of the Chapter on "Microwave and Infrared Satellite Remote Sensors" which is in the new edition of the Manual of Remote Sensing (1983) and author of three textbooks on the "Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing,” "Spaceborne Radar Sensors,” and “Radar Polarimetry”.
Roger Walker has 15 years of experience at ESA in the CubeSat domain with 14 missions flown, from the beginnings of the CubeSat sector in Europe when they were mainly used as tools for hands-on education, to the present day working closely with a maturing European industry developing complex demonstrator and follow-on operational missions in Low Earth Orbit and beyond. For the last decade, he has been responsible for planning, preparing and implementing CubeSat missions for technology in-orbit demonstration with a growing team of system engineers. His long-term objectives have been to rapidly advance the state-of-the-art and diversify the applications of CubeSats according to a roadmap through the systematic use of ESA studies, R&D activities and IOD missions funded by ESA programmes. Strategic pillars have focussed on fostering the utility of CubeSats for LEO constellations, close proximity operations, and lunar/interplanetary missions. Roger is the chair of the Inter-Directorate CubeSat Working Group to coordinate CubeSat-related matters within the Agency, as well as the point of contact with European CubeSat industry & research institutions. He acts as Technical Chair of the CubeSat Workshop at the Small Satellite Systems & Services (4S) Symposium, and convener of the ESA CubeSat Industry Days.
