Session 5
February 17, 2026
Dr. Julie Kleinhenz
Dr. Kleinhenz began her career at NASA GRC in 1996 as an undergraduate researcher in microgravity combustion. She began working ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) as a post doctorate researcher in 2006. She has led the development and analysis of soil processing
reactors and has developed, and led test campaigns in, one of the largest ‘dirty’ thermal vacuum chambers. She developed the initial methods for preparing icy regolith simulants for large scale test operations. She has led numerous studies regarding lunar and Mars ISRU architectures and ISRU measurement needs for moon and Mars campaigns.
Dr. Kleinhenz was the lead system integration engineer on the PRIME-1 lunar payload (IM-2 CLPS mission), which landed on the lunar surface March 6, 2025. She was a science Co-I on the NASA VIPER mission (prior to cancellation), as well as serving in a mission operations role for the drive team.
Dr. Kleinhenz is currently NASA’s ISRU Principal Technologist providing agency level guidance and subject matter expertise for ISRU strategy and funding.
Session Recording
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