Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez

Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, also known as Rafael Navarro-González and Rafael Navarro, (April 25, 1959 – January 28, 2021) was a Mexican NASA astrobiologist who worked with the Curiosity rover on the planet Mars, and who helped lead researchers in the identification of ancient organic compounds on the planet.

[1][2][3] He was an internationally recognized scientist who merged laboratory simulations, field studies and modeling based on biology, chemistry and physics.

Navarro-Gonzalez noted the significance of volcanic lightning in the origin of life on Earth.

[1] His professional work included the SAM component on the Mars Science Laboratory, and the HABIT instrument on the Exomars mission.

In April 2021, NASA named a mountain, "Rafael Navarro Mountain", on the planet Mars in his honor.