Bruce Murray was an American planetary scientist known for his work in the field of planetary geology. He served as a professor at California Institute of Technology and was a key figure in the exploration of Mars. His research contributed significantly to our understanding of the Martian surface and atmosphere. Murray was also the director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1976 to 1982, where he played a crucial role in the development of various space missions. His leadership helped advance the exploration of the solar system, particularly through missions like Viking and Mars Pathfinder.