Kamal Oudrhiri is a distinguished Moroccan scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, having played key roles in multiple Mars missions including Curiosity, InSight, and Perseverance.
Kamal Oudrhiri is one of the most prominent Moroccan figures in contemporary space exploration. Serving as the Cold Atom Lab Project Manager and a radio science team member at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), he has contributed to some of humanity's most significant missions to Mars.
Oudrhiri's expertise lies in planetary radio science, using radio waves to study the atmospheres and gravity fields of planets. He has played a critical role in the "entry, descent, and landing" phases of the Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance. His work helped ensure the safe arrival of these robotic explorers on the Red Planet.
In addition to his Mars work, Oudrhiri leads the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) aboard the International Space Station, a facility that creates the coldest temperatures in the universe to study quantum mechanics. He has received numerous NASA achievement awards, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.