John C. Brasunas

John Brasunas is an emeritus scientist in the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA GSFC. Since 1984, he has concentrated on the development and operation of Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS) for the study of planetary atmospheres via passive, infrared remote-sensing for understanding temperatures, winds, and the types of gasses present (including isotopes); ensuring the characterization of global climate systems. He has served on many instrument teams including balloon-borne/ground-based spectroscopic observations of Earth atmosphere with the SIRIS FTS, spectroscopic studies of the Jovian and Saturnian systems with the Cassini CIRS FTS aboard the Cassini orbiter, development of high temperature superconductor (HTS) bolometers needing only moderate cooling and the development of a smaller, lighter FTS known as CIRS-lite.