Silas Ralston
Mars Research Scientist | Jacobs
Silas Ralston
Mars Research Scientist
Jacobs
Phone
281.244.0540
Phone
281.244.0540
Biography
Silas (SJ) Ralston is a Mars Research Scientist on the Jacobs- JETS II contract, currently working within the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division at NASA Johnson Space Center. Their main research focus is on understanding the aqueous conditions of ancient Mars through laboratory experiments on Mars analog materials. They are currently the contract manager for the Soil Chemistry & Mineralogy Laboratory.
Education
M.Sc.
Geoscience
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2018
B.S.
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology
2014
Education
M.Sc., Geoscience, 2018
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S., Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, 2014
Georgia Institute of Technology
Laboratories
Select Publications
Ralston SJ, Peretyazhko TS, Sutter B, Ming DW, Morris RV, Garcia A, Ostwald AM. 2023. Phyllosilicate formation on early Mars via open-system acid alteration of basaltic glass. Earth Planet Sc Lett 603(11):117987.
Ralston SJ, Hausrath EM, Tschauner O, Rampe EB, Peretyazhko TS, Christoffersen R, DeFelice C, Lee H. 2021. Dissolution rates of allophane with variable Fe contents: Implications for aqueous alteration and the preservation of X-ray amorphous materials on Mars. Clays Clay Miner. 69(2):263-288.
Clark JV, Sutter B, Archer PD, Ming DW, Rampe EB, McAdam A, Navarro-Gonzalez R, Eigenbrode J, Glavin D, Zorzano M-P, et al. 2021. A Review of Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analysis Laboratory Analog Work Supporting the Presence of Perchlorates and Chlorates in Gale Crater, Mars. Minerals 11(5):475.
Peretyazhko TS, Ralston SJ, Sutter B, Ming DW. 2020. Evidence for Adsorption of Chlorine Species on Iron (III) (Hydr)oxides in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars. J Geophys Res-Planet 125(5):e2019JE006220.
Hausrath EM, Feldman A, Luu N, Peretyazhko TS, Provow A, Ralston SJ, Rampe EB, Sanchez A. 2020. Examining Formation and Dissolution of Fe-Rich Incipient Weathering Products Using Field, Laboratory, and Reactive Transport Modeling Approaches. Goldschmidt 2020; Honolulu, HI.
Beaty DW, Hipkin VJ, Caudill C, Hansen RF, Hausrath EM, Maggiori C, McCoubrey R, Parrish JC, Ralston SJ. 2019. Geological evaluation of the MSRAD field site by a human field party: Implications for rover-based exploration operations and for the future human exploration of Mars. Planet Space Sci 171(2):34-49.