We are delighted to announce the successful defense of the doctoral thesis by Dr. Christian Gscheidle, marking an important academic milestone and a proud moment for the entire team.

In his dissertation titled “In Situ Detection and Characterization of Volatiles in Regolith at the Lunar Poles”, Dr. Gscheidle explored novel ways for exploring the Moon using permittivity sensors and implementing small rover missions. The work offers new insights into lunar exploration, providing both theoretical contributions and practical implications for future research.

The oral defense took place on December 5, 2025 before an examination committee consisting of:

1. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Ulrich Walter (TUM)
2. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Reiss (TUM)
3. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Hein (University of Luxembourg)

and was chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gisela Detrell Domingo from TUM.

After a detailed presentation and a lively discussion with the committee, the thesis was accepted summa cum laude, with high praise for its methodological rigor, clarity, and innovative contribution. With the successful completion of the doctoral degree, Dr. Gscheidle plans to continue his research as a postdoctoral researcher and implement the concepts into flight developments.

The entire chair extends its warmest congratulations and looks forward to seeing the impact of this work within the scientific community.