Founder, Crisium Group
Dr. Ruby V. Patterson serves as Founder of Crisium Group, where she leads groundbreaking initiatives in lunar helium-3 mining operations. Recently honored as the 2024 Emerging Space Leader by the International Astronautical Federation, Dr. Patterson brings a unique combination of academic excellence and practical expertise to the emerging field of space resource utilization.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2018 and Master of Science from the University of Arkansas in 2020, Dr. Patterson earned her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Houston in 2024. Her rapid ascent in the field of planetary geology began at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she served as a Mars Geochemist. In this role, she made significant contributions to ongoing Mars science operations as a collaborator with the Curiosity rover science team, while simultaneously advancing lunar exploration through the development and testing of lunar regolith simulants. Her work at NASA also included managing a mission-critical chemistry laboratory and innovating new designs for astronaut tools intended for lunar surface operations.
Dr. Patterson’s research has fundamentally shaped our approach to lunar exploration. Her publication “Lithologies and Chronologic Opportunities of Materials to Be Returned From the Artemis Exploration Zone” established the framework that currently guides the Artemis III geology team’s strategic planning for sample return from the South Pole Aitken Basin. She has further expanded our understanding of planetary geology through her leadership of an all-female research expedition to Iceland’s Western Volcanic Zone, where her team investigated silica generation and preservation in basaltic environments – research that has direct implications for interpreting robotic geological data from Mars.
In her role as a space industry consultant in the Greater Los Angeles area, Dr. Patterson advised numerous startup companies on lunar surface conditions and authored comprehensive industry reports for her clients. She later served as the United States Lead of Research and Development for the Iceland Space Agency, where she fostered international collaboration in space exploration. Her commitment to advancing space exploration extends to policy advocacy, where she has engaged with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to advocate for increased NASA funding, particularly for critical programs like the VIPER rover.
Currently, at The Extraterrestrial Mining Company, Dr. Patterson is spearheading the prospecting and resource assessment efforts of helium-3 from lunar regolith, work that promises to revolutionize energy production and the quantum computing industry on Earth. Her leadership extends beyond her technical roles: she is a founding member and board member of the International Lunar Resource Prospecting Consortium and serves as founder and chair of an all-female mastermind group dedicated to advancing women in the space industry.