Howdy! My name is Keri Bean and I am a senior systems engineer at Sierra Space. I am currently a member of the Dream Chaser flight operations spacecraft systems team.

I used to be a systems engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I worked in operations for a variety of spacecraft.

I graduated from Texas A&M University in August 2013 with a master's in atmospheric sciences. My advisor was Dr. Mark Lemmon. I earned my B.S. in meteorology and double minors in mathematics and Earth sciences from Texas A&M University in spring 2010 with designation of Undergraduate Research Scholar.

I am also a huge Star Wars fan.

Activities

I engage in a lot of public outreach. I love talking to the public about space? Interested in having me speak to your organization? Email me!

I am a member of the R2-D2 Builders club. Yes, I built my own R2-D2.

I am a member of the Rebel Legion. I'm a part of Mountain Base.

Missions I've Worked On

Europa Clipper

NASA website

Mars Exploration Rovers

Phoenix Mars Lander

NEAScout

Mars Science Laboratory

Hubble Space Telescope

NASA website

Dawn

Mars Perseverance Rover

Psyche

Research posters/papers I’m an author on

Bean, K., M. Lemmon, 2008. A Quick Look at the Samples Obtained and Analyzed During the Phoenix Mission. SpaceVision.

Bean, K., N. Hall, M. Lemmon, 2008. A Quick Comparison of Dust Devils from MER and Phoenix. SpaceVision.

Ellehoj, M., P. Taylor, H. Gunnlaugsson, B. Gheynani, L. Drube, C. von Holstein-Rathlou, J. Whiteway, K. Bean, M. Lemmon, M. Madsen, D. Fisher, R. Volpe, and P. Smith , 2008. Phoenix Mars Lander: Vortices and Dust Devils at the Landing Site. AGU Fall 2008 Meeting.

Bean, K., G. Atkinson, 2009. Lunar-Gravity Testing of P-POD Based Constellation EVA Camera Mounting System. Microgravity University proposal.

Bean, K., M. Lemmon, et al., 2009. Surface Stereo Imager Observations of Dust Devils at the Phoenix Landing Site. 40 ^th LPSC.

Ellehoj, M., H. Gunnlaugsson, P. Taylor, B. Gheynani, J. Whiteway, M. Lemmon, K. Bean, L. Tamppari, L. Drube, C. von Holstein-Rathlou, M. Madsen, D. Fisher, and P. Smith, 2009. Dust Devils and Vortices at the Phoenix Landing Site on Mars. 40 ^th LPSC.

Ellehoj, M., H.P. Gunnlaugsson, K.M. Bean, B.A. Cantor, L. Drube, D. Fisher, B.T. Gheynani, A-M. Harri, C. von Holstein-Rathlou, H. Kahanpaa, M. T. Lemmon, M.B. Madsen, M.C. Malin, J. Polkko, P. Smith, L.K. Tamppari, P.A. Taylor, W. Weng, and J. Whiteway, 2009. Convective Vorticies and Dust Devils at the Phoenix Mars Mission landing site. Journal of Geophysical Research.

Holstein-Rathlou, C., H.P. Gunnlaugsson, J.P. Merrison, K.M. Bean, B.A. Cantor, J.A. Davis, R. Davy, M.D. Ellehoj, W. Goetz, S.F. Hviid, C.F. Lange, S.E. Larsen, M. Lemmon, M.B. Madsen, M. Malin, J. Moores, P. Nornberg, P. Smith, L. Tamppari, and P.A. Taylor, 2009. Winds at the Phoenix Landing Site. Journal of Geophysical Research.

Bean, K., G. Atkinson, T. Saultz, B. Stern, D. Delao, M. Requa, C. Mollere-Rodriguez, B. Young, M. Lemmon, and T. Pollock, 2009. Video Camera System for the Lunar Electric Rover to Document Lunar Extravehicular Activities. Moon Work proposal.

Bean, K., M. Lemmon, 2010. Measuring Nighttime Atmospheric Opacity Using Images from the Mars Exploration Rovers. Undergraduate Research Scholars proposal and thesis.

Bean, K., M. Lemmon, 2010. Nighttime Optical Depth Patterns from the Mars Exploration Rovers. 41 ^st LPSC.

Holstein-Rathlou, C., H.P. Gunnlaugsson, J.P. Merrison, P. Nornberg, M.D. Ellehoj, K.M. Bean, M.T. Lemmon, L. Tamppari, P. Smith, and the Phoenix Science Team, 2010. Time-Dependent Dust Accumulation on the Mars Phoenix Wind Indicator. 41 ^st LPSC.

Bean, K., A. Azocar, D. Charles, W. Davis, C. Mollere-Rodriguez, B. Moore, C. Pannier, A. Probe, C. Runco, M. Lemmon, 2011. A Heads-up Display for Extra-vehicular Activity Suits. Space Technology proposal.

J. E. Moores, R. Haberle, M. Lemmon, K. Bean, M. Mischna, M. de la Torre Juarez, C. Newman, F. Calef, B. Cantor, A. Vasavada, J. Maki, J. Martin-Torres, M.-P. Zorzano, R. Francis, E. McCullough, the MSL Science Team and the Engineering Camera Team, 2013. Constraints on Atmospheric Water Vapor and Circulation at Gale Crater from the MSL Atmospheric Monitoring Campaign. 44 ^th LPSC.

K. S. Edgett, R. A. Yingst, M. E. Minitti, M. L. Robinson, M. R. Kennedy, L. J. Lipkaman, E. H. Jensen, R. C. Anderson, K. M. Bean, L. W. Beegle, J. L. Carsten, C. L. Collins, B. Cooper, R. G. Deen, J. L. Eigenbrode, W. Goetz, J. P. Grotzinger, S. Gupta, V. E. Hamilton, C. J. Hardgrove, D. E. Harker, K. E. Herkenhoff, P. N. Herrera, L. Jandura, L. C. Kah, G. M. Krezoski, P. C. Leger, M. T. Lemmon, K. W. Lewis, M. B. Madsen, J. N. Maki, M. C. Malin, B. E. Nixon, T. S. Olson, O. Pariser, L. V. Posiolova, M. A. Ravine, C. Roumelioitis, S. K. Rowland, N. A. Ruoff, C. C. Seybold, J. Schieber, M. E. Schmidt, A. J. Sengstacken, J. J. Simmonds, K. M. Stack, R. J. Sullivan, V. V. Tompkins, T. L. Van Beek, and the MSL Science Team, 2013. Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI): Initial Observations and Activities. 44 ^th LPSC.

M. T. Lemmon, J. F. Bell III, M. C. Malin, K. M. Bean, M. J. Wolff, A. Vasavada, F. J. Martin-Torres, M.-P. Zorzano-Mier, and the MSL Science Team. Astrometric Observations of Phobos and Deimos During Solar Transits Images by the Curiosity Mastcam. 44 ^th LPSC.

M. Lemmon, J. Bell III, M. Malin, K. Bean, M. Wolff, A. Vasavada, F. J. Martin-Torres, M. P. Zorzano-Mier, and the MSL Science Team. Astrometric observations of Phobos and Deimos during solar transits imaged by the Curiosity Mastcam. EGU General Assembly 2013.

Bean, K. & M. Lemmon, 2013. Determining Nighttime Atmospheric Optical Depth Using Mars Exploration Rover Images. Master’s thesis.

Bean, K.M. & M. T. Lemmon, 2014. Determining Nighttime Atmospheric Optical Depth Using Mars Exploration Rover Images. 8 ^th Mars.

J. E. Moores, M. T. Lemmon, S. C. R. Rafkin, R. Francis, J. Pla-Garcia, M. de la Torre Juarez, K. Bean, D. Kass, R. Haberle, C. Newman, M. Mischna, A. Vasavada, N. Renno, J. Bell, F. Calef, B. Cantor, T. Mcconnochie, A.-M. Harri, M. Genzer, M. Wong, M. D. Smith, F. J. Martin-Torres, M.-P. Zorzano, O. Kemppinen, E. McCullough. Atmospheric movies acquired at the Mars Science Laboratory landing site: Cloud Morphology, Frequency, and Significance to the Gale Crater Water Cycle and Phoenix Mission Results. Advances in Space Research, 2015.

J. E. Moores, M. T. Lemmon, H. Kahanpaa, S. C. R. Rafkin, R. Francis, J. Pla-Garcia, K. Bean, R. Haberle, C. Newman, M. Mischna, A. Vasavada, M. de la Torre Juarez, N. Renno, J. Bell, F. Calef, B. Cantor, T. Mcconnochie, A-M Harri, M. Genzer, M. H. Wong, M. D. Smith, F. J. Martin-Torres, M-P Zorzano, O. Kemppinen, E. McCullough. Observational evidence of a suppressed planetary boundary layer in northern Gale Crater, Mars as seen by the Navcam instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Icarus, 2015.

Keri Bean; Kathryn Tzekov; Nagin Cox; Jocelyn Gajeway. Practical Operational Readiness Gambits: Operations Training Simulations for the Curiosity Rover. 2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference.

Farah Alibay, Justin Koch, Vandi Verma, Keri Bean, Olivier Toupet, Daniel Petrizzo, Brendan Chamberlain-Simon, Robert Lange, Robert Hogg. On the Operational Challenges of Coordinating a Helicopter and a Rover Mission on Mars. 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference. Won best conference paper.

Selected Public Outreach

Panelist on a Women's History Month panel discussion via NASA's Digital Learning Network, March 2014

Science Hack Day Ambassador, San Francisco, October 2014

Talk about Dawn to Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, February and September 2015

Gave a joint talk with Mike Seibert about MER and Dawn at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, April 2015

Gave multiple talks about the Dawn mission at the California Academy of Science, September 2015

Panelist about Star Wars science and joint speaker about Dawn at Gallifrey One, February 2016

Panelist for the Women in STEM summit at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, CA, March 2016

Guest lecture on exploring the solar system at Joshua Tree National Park as part of their Night Sky festival, 2016-2019

Guest lectures about the Dawn mission at Universitat Politechnica de Catalunya and University of Barcelona, February 2017

Talk about Dawn at Nerd Nite LA, May 2017

Teen'Scape discussion about my career, Los Angeles Public Library, January 2018

Science Guest of Honor, MidSouthCon, Memphis, TN March 2018

Star Wars droids rights mock trial, WonderCon, Anaheim, March 2018

Panelist at Mars Closest Approach event at Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, July 2018.

Panelist at SpaceVision, San Diego, November 2018

Technical judge for FIRST robotics, March 2019

National Weather Association conference keynote speaker, August 2021.

Von Karman Lecture, Curiosity - A Decade on Mars, July 2022.

Awards

MSL Arm 4/5 Anomaly Investigation Team Award, 2022

MSL Cybersecurity Patching Team Award, 2022

Mars 2020 Award for Training Program for Helicopter Integration Engineers, 2022

Collier trophy as part of the Ingenuity helicopter team, 2021

Mars 2020 Helicopter Interface Team Award, 2021

MSL Practical Operational Readiness Gambit Development Team Award, 2021

MSL Award for RP Mobility Training Curriculum Improvement, 2020

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the Dawn Ceres Flight Team, 2016 and 2019

Opportunity Recovery Team Award, 2019

Opportunity Training Lead Award, 2018

Opportunity Turns Without Steering Team Award, 2018

Opporunity Award for Procedure Updates, 2017

Dawn Instrument Operations Award, 2017

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the Dawn Ceres Science Operations Team, 2016

Collier Trophy as part of the NASA-JPL Dawn Mission Team, 2015

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the Dawn Ceres Rendezvous Recovery Team, 2015

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the Near Earth Asteroid Scout Project Team, 2015

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the MSL Prime Mission Science and Operations Team, 2012

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the MSL Mastcam, MAHLI, and MARDI Instruments Team, 2012

NASA Group Achievement Award as part of the Phoenix Development and Mission Team, 2008

Projects

Mars Perseverance: I was the training lead for the project. I was responsible for designing, executing, and implementing how to train all ops roles. I was also a Helicopter Integration Engineer for the rover and helicopter. I was part of a team to help integrate the helicopter activities into the rover planning. I also briefly helped set up training for future Rover Planners.

Bighorn Arch Seismic Experiment: I helped deploy seismometers in Wyoming around the Bighorn Mountains. I also went on geologic field trips to places like Devil's Tower National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, and more.

Mars Exploration Rovers: I completed an undergraduate and master's thesis on measuring the nighttime atmospheric optical depth and looking for any significant changes, either caused by dust settling or cloud formation. I also was a part of Opportunity's integrated sequencing team.

Phoenix Mars Lander: I worked on analyzing cloud observations, dust devils observations, lightning detection, and image calibration.

Hubble Space Telescope: I did photometry in the B, V, and I filters of M81 (Bode’s Galaxy) to determine any new Cepheid Variables as part of the Hubble Key Project to refine Hubble’s constant. I did this under the direction of Dr. Lucas Macri.

Mars Science Laboratory: I was a member of the Malin Space Science Systems science team and the MSL environment theme group. I helped coordinate meteorological observations, participated in operations, and conducted research. I participated as a Mastcam payload uplink lead, environment theme group lead, and environment theme group mini keeper of the plan. I was also the former deputy lead of the Rover Planners, operating the robotic arm and driving around on Mars!

Dawn: I was a science planning and sequencing engineer for the Dawn mission. As a member of the Science Operations Support Team, I was responsible for sequencing the Ceres mission activities.

NEAScout: I worked on NEAScout a bit in development. I helped with developing camera requirements and reviewing ROIs for potential cameras.

Mars Perseverance: I was the training lead for the project. I was responsible for designing, executing, and implementing how to train all ops roles. I was also a Helicopter Integration Engineer for the rover and helicopter. I was part of a team to help integrate the helicopter activities into the rover planning. Now I am training to be a Rover Planner, while also setting up the training pipeline for future Rover Planner trainees!

Psyche: I helped out the Mission Operations System Engineers (MOSEs). I worked on SISs, OIAs, and the Flight Operations Plan preparations.

Europa Clipper: I was supporting the Mission Operations System development.