
Dante S Lauretta
- Professor, Planetary Sciences
- Regents Professor, Planetary Sciences
- Professor, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 621-9692
- Gerard P. Kuiper Space Sci., Rm. 536
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- lauretta@arizona.edu
Biography
Dante Lauretta is principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. His research interests focus on the chemistry and mineralogy of asteroids and comets, and he is an expert in the analysis of extraterrestrial materials, including lunar samples, meteorites and comet particles.
As the leader of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission, Dr. Lauretta heads a research team at the UA working on this mission, including over 30 undergraduate and graduate students. The mission was selected in 2011, launched in 2016, and returns samples back to Earth in 2023. Sample analysis continues until 2025. This project will help ensure that the University of Arizona remains at the forefront of planetary exploration for the next decade.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Earth and Planetary Science
- Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Fe-Ni-S, Be, and B Cosmochemistry
- B.A. Oriental Studies - Japanese
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- B.S. Mathematics and Physics
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Awards
- Space Foundation John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration
- Space Foundation, Spring 2022
- American Astronautical Society Space Technology Award
- American Astronautical Society, Spring 2021
- University of Arizona Regents Professor
- The Arizona Board of Regents, Spring 2021
- University of Arizona Galileo Circle Dean's Award
- University of Arizona - College of Science, Fall 2020
- MOCA Tucson Local Genius Award
- Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art, Spring 2020
- Guinness World Record - Asteroid (101955) Bennu - The Smallest Object to be Orbited by a Spacecraft
- Guinness World Records, Spring 2019
- Guinness World Record - OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft - The Closest Orbit of a Planetary Body
- Guinness World Records, Spring 2019
- Mensa Select Award - Constellations - Mensa Mind Games
- American Mensa, Spring 2018
- NASA Group Achievement Award - OSIRIS-REx Earth Gravity Assist Team
- NASA, Spring 2018
- Silver Prize - Constellations - International Serious Play Board Game Award
- International Serious Play Conference, Spring 2018
- University of Arizona - College of Humanities - Alumni of the Year
- University of Arizona Alumni Association, Fall 2017
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Spring 2017
- NASA Group Achievement Award – OSIRIS-REx Mission Team
- NASA, Spring 2017
- NASA Silver Achievement Medal – OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Astronomy Science Team
- NASA, Spring 2017
- University of Arizona Alumni Achievement Award
- University of Arizona Alumni Association, Spring 2017
- Arizonan of the Year (awarded to OSIRIS-REx)
- Arizona Republic, Fall 2016
- Best Family Board Game of 2016 (for Xtronaut)
- Good Housekeeping Magazine, Fall 2016
Interests
Research
AsteroidsCometsMeteoritesOrigins of planetary systemsSpacecraft missions
Teaching
CosmochemistryPlanetary ScienceSpacecraft Mission Design
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Spring 2025) -
Senior Capstone
GEOS 498 (Spring 2025) -
Chem of Solar System
PTYS 407 (Fall 2024) -
Directed Research
PTYS 392 (Fall 2024) -
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Fall 2024) -
Honors Thesis
GEOS 498H (Fall 2024) -
Independent Study
GEOS 499 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Spring 2024) -
Honors Independent Study
ECOL 299H (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Fall 2023) -
Life in the Cosmos
ASTR 214 (Fall 2023) -
Life in the Cosmos
GEOS 214 (Fall 2023) -
Life in the Cosmos
PTYS 214 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Chem of Solar System
PTYS 407 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Spring 2023) -
Astrobio:Planetary Perspective
ASTR 214 (Fall 2022) -
Astrobio:Planetary Perspective
GEOS 214 (Fall 2022) -
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Fall 2022) -
Life in the Cosmos
PTYS 214 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Spring 2022) -
Honors Thesis
ASTR 498H (Spring 2022) -
Research
PTYS 900 (Spring 2022) -
Astrobio:Planetary Perspective
ASTR 214 (Fall 2021) -
Astrobio:Planetary Perspective
GEOS 214 (Fall 2021) -
Astrobio:Planetary Perspective
PTYS 214 (Fall 2021) -
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Fall 2021) -
Honors Thesis
ASTR 498H (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Honors Thesis
EDL 498H (Spring 2021) -
Spec Tops in Planetary Science
PTYS 495B (Spring 2021) -
Spec Tops in Planetary Science
PTYS 595B (Spring 2021) -
Honors Thesis
EDL 498H (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Honors Independent Study
HNRS 499H (Spring 2020) -
Honors Preceptorship
HNRS 391H (Spring 2020) -
Honors Thesis
MCB 498H (Spring 2020) -
Internship
EDL 393 (Spring 2020) -
Topics in Leadership & Exp Lrn
EDL 396B (Spring 2020) -
Honors Independent Study
HNRS 499H (Fall 2019) -
Honors Preceptorship
HNRS 391H (Fall 2019) -
Honors Thesis
MCB 498H (Fall 2019) -
Topics in Leadership & Exp Lrn
EDL 396B (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Honors Independent Study
HNRS 499H (Spring 2019) -
Topics in Leadership & Exp Lrn
EDL 396B (Spring 2019) -
Honors Independent Study
HNRS 499H (Fall 2018) -
Research
PTYS 900 (Fall 2018) -
Topics in Leadership & Exp Lrn
EDL 396B (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Honors Independent Study
PTYS 499H (Fall 2017) -
Independent Study
PTYS 499 (Fall 2017) -
Independent Study
PTYS 599 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Spec Tops in Planetary Science
PTYS 495B (Spring 2017) -
Spec Tops in Planetary Science
PTYS 595B (Spring 2017)
2015-16 Courses
-
Dissertation
PTYS 920 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
No activities entered.