Madhulika ( Lika ) Guhathakurta is an American Astrophysicist and scientist with NASA 's Heliophysics Science Division . She was the lead program scientist for NASA 's Living With a Star initiative and serves as program scientist on the Solar Dynamics Observatory ( SDO ) , Van Allen Probes , and Solar TErrestrial Relations Observatory ( STEREO ) missions . Lika was previously the program scientist on SPARTAN-201 ( Shuttle Point Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy-201 ) , a free-flying science instrument platform designed to study velocity and acceleration of the solar wind and observe the sun 's corona . These missions were conducted as part of the larger STS-56 , STS-69 , STS-77 , STS-87 , and STS-95 mission objectives . She has worked as an educator , scientist , mission designer , directed and managed science programs , and has built instruments for spacecraft . Dr. Guhathakurta is known for her work in heliophysics where she has authored over 70 publications on the subject . She is currently serving as the NASA Lead Scientist for the North American Solar eclipse of August 21 , 2017
Solar eclipse of August 21 , 2017
Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017
Madhulika Guhathakurta