Mars' "Wharton Ridge" Named in Honor of Astrobiologist Bob Wharton

National Science Foundation
Office of Polar Programs
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230

Posted October 11, 2016

NASA's robotic rover Opportunity captures this image of Wharton Ridge, which is part of planet Mars', "Marathon Valley".

Robert A. Wharton (1951-2012) once served as an executive officer for the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. He participated in 11 different Antarctic expeditions, is a recipient of the United States Antarctic Service Medal and has served on the National Research Council's Polar Research Board. He was also a NASA Headquarters visiting senior scientist.

In addition to federal service, Wharton's career expanded to academia and work in the private sector. Wharton served as the president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for 4 years. Preceding his presidency at School of Mines, Wharton served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Idaho State University (ISU). Wharton was also an executive vice president for the Institute of Management Studies in Reno, Nevada, vice president for research and research professor at the Desert Research Institute, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Geographical Society, the Explorers Club and a member of Sigma Xi.

For full NASA image and credits: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=pia20849