Science - Asteroids, Comets & Satellites: People: Linda Spilker

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Asteroids, Comets & Satellites: People

Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 230-205
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:
818.354.1647

Fax:
818.393.4495

Email:
Linda.J.Spilker@jpl.nasa.gov

Linda Spilker

Education

B.A. in Physics, California State University, Fullerton (1977)
M.S. in Physics, California State University, Los Angeles (1983)
Ph.D. in (summa cum laude), Geophysics and Space Physics UCLA (1992)

Research Interests

Thermal infrared studies of Saturn's rings to address questions of ring evolution
Numerical modeling of gravitational waves and wakes in Saturn's rings to estimate local surface mass density and ring mass
Collection and interpretation of Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) data to determine ring thermal behavior as a function of solar and ring geometry

Professional Experience

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1977 to present)
- Cassini Deputy Project Scientist (1997 to present)
- Cassini Mission Scientist (1990 to 1997)
- Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) Co-Investigator (1990 to present)
- Cassini CIRS Investigation Scientist (1990 to 1992)
- Cassini Assistant Study Scientist (1988 to 1990)
- Hermes Discovery Mission Proposal Deputy Principal Investigator (1993 to 1998)
- Voyager Infrared Radiometer & Spectrometer (IRIS) Science Associate (1988 to 1990)
- Voyager Photopolarimeter (PPS) Science Associate (1984 to 1990)
- Voyager IRIS Experiment Representative (1979 to 1990)
- Voyager IRIS Assistant Experiment Representative (1977 to 1979)
Visiting Scientist at University of Paris 7 (2001)
Research Assistant, Geology Department, California Institute of Technology (1975 to 1977)

Selected Awards

Distinguished Alumna award: California State University, Fullerton (2005)
NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Voyager IRIS Neptune Encounter (1990)
NASA Scientific Achievement Award (1982)
NASA Group Achievement Award for Cassini Jupiter Flyby (2000)
Hall of Fame Award, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (1999)
NASA Group Achievement Awards Cassini CIRS (1998)
NASA Group Achievement Awards Cassini Public Outreach (1998)
ESA Award for contribution to Huygens Probe (1997)
Distinguished Alumna Award for Natural & Social Sciences: Cal State University at Los Angeles (1996)
NASA Group Achievement Awards (total of seven awards) for Voyager Mission (1982-1989)
California State University Fullerton Dept. of Physics Faculty Prize for Scholarship (1977)

Selected Publications

Spilker, L. J., S. H. Pilorz, B. D. Wallis, J.C. Pearl, J.N. Cuzzi, S.M Brooks, N. Altobelli, S.G Edgington, M.R. Showalter, F.M Flasar, C. Ferrari, C. Leyrat, 2006, Cassini Thermal Observations of Saturn's Rings: Implications for Particle Rotation and Vertical Mixing. Planetary and Space Science (accepted)
Spilker, L.J., S. H. Pilorz, S.G. Edgington, B.D. Wallis, S.M. Brooks, J.C. Pearl and F.M. Flasar. 2005. Cassini CIRS observations of a roll-off in Saturn ring spectra at submillimeter wavelengths. Earth, Moon and Planets Volume 96, Issue 3-4, 149-163.
Flasar, F.M. S, L.J. Spilker... and Cassini CIRS team. 2005. Temperatures, wind and composition in the Saturnian System. Science, Vol. 307, No. 5713, 1247-1251.
Spilker, L.J., S. Pilorz, A.L. Lane, R.M. Nelson B. Pollard, and C. T. Russell. 2004. Saturn A ring surface mass densities from spiral density wave dispersion behavior. Icarus, 171, 372 - 390.
Spilker, L.J., C. Ferrari, S. Pilorz, B.D. Wallis, J.C. Pearl and T.R. Spilker, 2004. Thermal Emission in Saturn's C Ring. Submitted to Icarus.
Flasar, F.M. and L.J. Spilker... 2004. An intense stratospheric jet on Jupiter. Letters to Nature, Vol. 427, 132-135.
Flasar, F.M., and L.J. Spilker... 2004. Jupiter's atmospheric composition from the Cassini thermal infrared spectroscopy instrument. Science, in press.
Flasar, F.M., and L.J. Spilker, and Cassini CIRS team. 2004. Exploring the Saturn System with Infrared Eyes: The Composite Infrared Spectrometer. Accepted in Space Science Reviews.
Spilker, L.J., C. Ferrari, J. Cuzzi, M. Showalter, J. Pearl and B. Wallis. 2003. Saturn's Rings in the Thermal Infrared. Planetary and Space Science (Special Issue: Surfaces and Atmospheres of the Outer Planets, their Satellites and Ring Systems), Vol. 51, Issues 14-15, 929-935.
Matson, D.L., L.J. Spilker and J-P. Lebreton. 2003. The Cassini/Huygens Mission to the Saturnian System. Saturn's Rings: Pre-Cassini Status and Mission Goals. The Cassini-Huygens Mission, Vol. 1, Space Sci. Rev., Vol. 104, Nos. 1-4, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1-58.
Cuzzi, J. N., J. E. Colwell, L. W. Esposito, C. C. Porco, C. D. Murray, P. D. Nicholson, L. Spilker, E. A. Marouf, R. C. French, N. Rappaport, and D. Muhleman 2003. Saturn's Rings: Pre-Cassini Status and Mission Goals. The Cassini-Huygens Mission, Vol. 1, Space Sci. Rev., Vol. 104, Nos. 1-4, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 191-208.
Nelson, R.M., B.W. Hapke, W.D. Smythe, and L.J. Horn. 1998. Phase curves of selected particulate materials: The contribution of coherent backscattering to the opposition surge. Icarus 131, 223-230.
Spilker, L.J., Ed. 1997. Cassini/Huygens: A Mission to the Saturnian System. SPIE Vol. 2803.
Horn, L.J., 1997, Planetary rings, in Encyclopedia of Planetary Sciences, ed. J.H. Shirley and R.W. Fairbridge, Chapman and Hall, 602-607.
Horn, L.J. and J.N. Cuzzi. 1996. Characteristic wavelengths of irregular structure in Saturn's B ring. Icarus, 119, 285-310.
Horn, L.J., M.R. Showalter, and C.T. Russell. 1996. Detection and behavior of Pan wakes. Icarus, 124, 663-676.

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