Christine M. Hartzell
Minta Martin Professor
Affiliate, Department of Astronomy
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2012
- B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008
BACKGROUND
Christine Hartzell is a Minta Martin Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland and the director of ASTRA-UMD, UMD’s newly started center for space exploration research. Her research seeks to elucidate the fundamental physics of granular systems that will enable key space exploration technologies. She is particularly interested in the evolution of the surfaces of airless planetary bodies (like asteroids and the Moon), the behavior of granular materials, and the detection of sub-cm orbital debris. She is a Participating Scientist on the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, and was involved with the OSIRIS-REx mission and the Janus mission. Asteroid 9319 was named “Hartzell” in recognition of her contributions to the field of asteroid science. Prior joining the faculty at UMD, Dr. Hartzell was a Keck Institute for Space Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at Caltech. She completed her PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder and received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech.
HONORS AND AWARDS
- NASA Planetary Science Division Early Career Award
- Asteroid 9319 named "Hartzell" in recognition of contributions to asteroid science
- Keck Institute for Space Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship
- NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship
- Amelia Earhart Fellowship
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- American Astronautical Society (AAS) Division for Planetary Science (DPS)
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Planetary science
- Orbital mechanics
- Plasma physics
- Granular mechanics
- Spacecraft design
- ENAE 404: Space Flight Dynamics
- ENAE 601: Astrodynamics
SELECT REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
- Ian Desjardin, Christine Hartzell, Jonathan Wrieden. “Multifluid Simulation of Ion Acoustic Solitons Arising from a Charged Source and Comparison to the Forced Korteweg - de Vries Model” Physical Review E, 2025, 111, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.111.025204.
- Eric Frizzell and Christine Hartzell. “Wave transmission through the megaregolith as a mechanism for lunar cold spot formation” Icarus, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116461
- Cecily Sunday, Charles Pett, Adam Ben Youssef, Daisy Achiriloaie, Connor Churko, Dan Lathrop, Christine Hartzell. “Avalanching behavior of magnetic granular mixtures”, Physical Reviews E, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.044901.
- A. Truitt and C. Hartzell, “3D Kadomtsev-Petviashvili Damped Forced Ion Acoustic Solitary Waves from Orbital Debris”, J. of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2020, https://doi.org/10.2514/1.A34805.
- D.S. Lauretta, C.W. Hergenrother, C.M. Hartzell (author #27 of 58) et al. “Episodes of Particle Ejection from the Surface of the Active Asteroid (101955) Bennu”, Science. 2019. Vol 366, eaay3544. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay3544
- D. Carter and C. Hartzell “Effect of Mixture Properties on Size-Dependent Charging of Same-Material Dielectric Grains”, J. Electrostatics. 2020. Vol 107, 103475, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elstat.2020.103475.
- C.M. Hartzell, “Dynamics of 2D Electrostatic Dust Levitation at Asteroids”, Icarus. 2019. Vol 333, pp. 234-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2019.05.013
- Hartzell, X. Wang, D. Scheeres, M. Horanyi. “Experimental Demonstration of the Role of Cohesion in Electrostatic Dust Lofting” Geophysical Research Letters. 2013. Vol 40, doi: 10.1002/grl.50230.
- Hartzell, D. Scheeres. “Dynamics of Levitating Dust Particles Near Asteroids and the Moon” Journal of Geophysical Research. 2013. Vol 118, pp 116-125.
UMD’s Space-Focused Graduate Courses Now Online: Advance Your Career from Earth to Orbit
In partnership with the Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering program, UMD expands graduate study opportunities for working aerospace professionals.
Joint UMD/APL Summer Internship in Spacecraft Engineering
Now accepting applications. Deadline for submissions: March 7.
UMD’s New ASTRA Center Announces Seed Grants
Awards support projects on new technologies and scientific instruments for spacecraft.
New Space Research Center Launched at UMD
ASTRA, led by Associate Professor Christine Hartzell, will bring together researchers from across the university to tackle a wide range of projects related to space.
A “Lint Roller” for Moon Dust
UMD researchers are creating a portable device that astronauts can use to get rid of clingy moon dust.
Hartzell Selected for MMX Science Team
UMD professor will analyze data obtained from the first-ever rover to be deployed on a Martian moon.
UMD Researchers Help Measure DART’s Success
Findings suggest asteroids can be deflected successfully through kinetic impact.
UMD Researchers: DART Probe an Initial Step in Planetary Defense
Mission tests feasibility of asteroid redirection, provides first up-close glimpse of binary system.
UMD Researcher Helps Unlock Secrets of Bennu
Yun Zhang’s study sheds new light on the asteroid's interior and its structural evolution.
South Pole Defense
Engineering student Thomas Leps completes Ph.D. while working as satcom engineer at South Pole.
Hartzell Mission Scientist for NASA SIMPLEx Janus Mission
Mission will send twin small satellites on deep space journey to study two binary asteroids.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Asteroids
Assistant Professor Christine Hartzell is a member of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Team exploring Asteroid Bennu.
Dust in Space
Microgravity mysteries prompt creative thinking for spacecraft design.
UMD Engineer Selected for Next Phase of Small Spacecraft Mission
Christine Hartzell is the mission scientist on one of three finalist missions selected by NASA for future small satellites.
Four Aerospace Students Receive Society of Satellite Professionals International Scholarships
Frizzell, Kaptui Sipowa, McCullum and Shannon receive awards to support research efforts.
Assistant Professor Christine Hartzell’s Research Will Help Develop Better Vehicles for Space Exploration
Understanding how the surface materials of asteroids behave is critical to the future development of spacecraft and spacesuits.
Two UMD Faculty Receive NASA Early Stage Innovations Awards
Aerospace Engineering professors Hartzell and Sedwick receive NASA awards to foster high priority space technology.
Hartzell Receives Astronomical Honor
Main belt asteroid named after Aerospace Engineering's Assistant Professor Christine Hartzell.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
› Associate Fellow