Prateek Tripathi

Dr. Prateek Tripathi serves as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida, specializing in planetary surface characterization through advanced spectroscopic techniques and lunar mission data analysis.

His academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Communication) from ITM Gwalior, India (2016)
• Master of Technology (Remote Sensing and GIS) from Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, India (2018)
• Ph.D. in Geomatics Engineering (Civil Engineering) from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (2023)

Tripathi's research centers on planetary science and remote sensing, employing near-infrared, thermal, Raman spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging to analyze lunar surface composition. His work integrates data from Chandrayaan-1/2, LRO, PRISMA, DESIS, and Hyperion missions to map minerals and characterize physical properties of planetary surfaces. He conducts critical experiments on lunar samples at DLR's Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory and field studies at terrestrial impact craters in India, establishing vital terrestrial analogs for lunar exploration.

His publication portfolio reveals strong focus on lunar volcanism (particularly Gruithuisen domes), Artemis mission support through astronaut traverse planning, and spectral library development for Lunar-VISE. The research spans planetary geology, spectroscopy, and mission-critical exploration planning, with increasing emphasis on in-situ analysis techniques for future lunar missions.

As an active contributor to the Lunar-VISE team at UCF, Tripathi collaborates with Dr. Donaldson Hanna and Dr. Dove laboratories, utilizing FTIR and ASD spectrometers to build spectral libraries for lunar materials. His work bridges laboratory analysis, field studies, and mission operations to advance understanding of lunar silicic volcanism and support NASA's Artemis program objectives.