Amanda Hendrix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda R. Hendrix
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| Born | May 21, 1968 |
| Citizenship | US |
| Alma mater | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo University of Colorado, Boulder |
| Known for | ultraviolet spectroscopy |
| Awards | JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence, 2006 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | planetary science, solar system astronomy |
| Institutions | Planetary Science Institute Jet Propulsion Laboratory Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado |
| Doctoral advisor | Charles A. Barth |
Amanda R. Hendrix (born May 21, 1968) is an American planetary scientist. She studies planets and other objects in our Solar System. Dr. Hendrix is famous for using special light, called ultraviolet light, to study space. She is a top scientist at the Planetary Science Institute.
Her work involves looking at what moons and asteroids are made of. She also studies how space weather affects these objects. Dr. Hendrix has worked on many important space missions. These include the Cassini mission to Saturn and the Galileo mission to Jupiter. She also helps with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission that studies our Moon. Plus, she leads projects using the Hubble Space Telescope. Since 2019, she has helped lead the NASA Roadmaps to Oceans World Group. This group looks for places in space that might have oceans.
Before joining the Planetary Science Institute, Dr. Hendrix worked for 12 years. She was at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). There, she was part of the team that studied comets, asteroids, and moons. From 2010 to 2012, she was the Deputy Project Scientist for the Cassini–Huygens mission. This meant she helped guide the science goals for the mission.
In 2000, Dr. Hendrix was chosen as a finalist to become a NASA astronaut.
She earned her first degree in Aeronautical Engineering. This was from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Later, she received her master's and Ph.D. degrees. These were in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Since 2024, she has been the main editor for a science journal. It is called the Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Dr. Hendrix has received several important awards. In 2006, she won the Lew Allen Award for Excellence. This award recognizes great scientific achievements.
An asteroid was named in her honor. It is called 6813 Amandahendrix. The official naming was announced in 2018.
In 2024, she became a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. This honor was given for her wide-ranging studies. She learned how heat and radiation affect small objects in the Solar System. She was also recognized for managing complex science systems. And for her dedication to the planetary science community.
Sharing Science with Everyone
While at JPL, Dr. Hendrix wrote many blog posts. These posts shared exciting discoveries from the Cassini mission. She also took part in "Cassini Scientist for a Day" events. Here, students could act like scientists.
Dr. Hendrix has given many public talks. In 2008, she gave a lecture about Enceladus. This is one of Saturn's moons. In 2013, she spoke about exploring the Moon. She has also appeared on TV shows. These include the History Channel's The Universe and the Discovery Channel's How the Universe Works. She has written articles for The Planetary Report magazine.
She has also taught science to college students. She taught at Cal Poly, Pomona. She also taught at Mt. San Antonio College and the University of Colorado Boulder.
See also
In Spanish: Amanda Hendrix para niños
