Jasper Halekas’s research seeks to broaden our understanding of the impact of the Sun and the solar wind on our solar system and its evolution. To accomplish this, he designs and builds instruments to measure charged particles around moons and planets and in the interplanetary medium.

Jasper's research spans planetary science and space physics, with a unifying theme the use of charged particle measurements to remotely infer plasma processes. He is the instrument lead or instrument scientist for particle sensors on the MAVEN, Parker Solar Probe, and TRACERS spacecraft, and the deputy PI for the THEMIS-ARTEMIS and Lunar Vertex missions. 

Research interests

• Experimental space physics

Research

• Space plasma physics around moons and planets and in the interplanetary medium
• Development of spaceflight instrumentation to make high-resolution measurements of charged particles
• On-campus facilities include a laboratory for spaceflight hardware assembly and calibration
• Students participate in the development of spaceflight instruments, in collaboration with engineers, scientists, and technicians at Iowa and partner institutions
• Students  also analyze spacecraft data from the Earth, the Moon, Mars, the Sun and solar wind, and outer planets
• Students gain skills in spaceflight hardware development, programming, and data analysis