Michael H. Carr

Michael H. Carr was an English planetary geologist who worked at Menlo Park, the US Geological Survey’s field center in California. He was deeply involved in Mars exploration throughout his career. Born in Leeds, England, Carr earned his Ph.D. in geology from Yale University in 1960 and joined the USGS in 1962. Nicknamed “Mars Mike,” Carr’s expertise spanned lunar and planetary studies. In the 1970s, he contributed significantly to the Mariner 9 mission and later led the Viking orbiter imaging team, overseeing the acquisition and interpretation of 55,000 images of Mars.

Carr also played a pivotal role in selecting the landing site for the Pathfinder mission in 1997. Carr has authored numerous publications (e.g. The Surface of Mars and Water on Mars) and received prestigious awards for his contributions to planetary science, including the National Air and Space Museum’s Lifetime Achievement Award.