Kenneth C Hansen

Education:

Ph.D., Space and Planetary Physics, University of Michigan

M.S., B.S., Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University

Research:

Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of comets and the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

Doctoral Students:

Yanshi Huang

Specializations and Research Interests

• Continued study of the dynamics of the Jovian system
• Numerical modeling of the coupled Saturn-Titan system with application to mission planning for the Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn
• Continued study of comets, including the effects of strong neutral jets on the topology of cometary environments
• Development of improved numerical methods for calculating the distribution of multi-species cometary ions and solar wind high charge state ions and the x-ray production resulting from their charge exchange with cometary neutrals
• Participant in the development of a Space Weather Framework which will simulate the space environment starting at the solar surface and continuing to the Earth's upper atmosphere
• Continued collaboration on understanding the Earth's paleomagnetosphere

Honors, Awards and Accomplishments

• College of Engineering Outstanding Research Scientist Award, University of Michigan
• Ralph Baldwin Prize in Astrophysics and Space Sciences for excellence in research activities, PhD thesis and publications, University of Michigan
• Distinguished Achievement Award, Space and Planetary Physics, University of Michigan
• Participant, Magnetospheric and Plasma Science (MAPS) interdisciplinary science team, Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn
• Leading development of Key Parameter database of data to be collected by Cassini fields and particles instruments

Professional Service

• American Geophysical Union
• Division for Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society
• Reviewer, Journal of Geophysical Research, Advances in Space Research
• Reviewer, NASA Geospace Sciences Supporting Research and Technology Program (Geospace SR&T)
• Former Review Panel Member, NASA Geospace SR&T