Lucy-Ann McFadden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucy McFadden
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| Alma mater | Hampshire College (BA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS) University of Hawaiʻi (PhD) |
Lucy-Ann Adams McFadden (born in 1953) is an American astronomer and planetary scientist. She works for NASA, which stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She also started a science program for kids called the Explore-It-All Science Center.
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About Lucy McFadden's Life and Work
Lucy McFadden was born in New York City in 1952. She loved learning about space and planets. She earned several degrees from different universities. These included Hampshire College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Hawaiʻi.
Exploring Space with NASA
Lucy McFadden has worked on many exciting space missions for NASA. She was an important part of the Deep Impact mission. This mission sent a spacecraft to hit a comet on purpose! This helped scientists learn what comets are made of.
She also worked on the Dawn mission. This mission explored two large objects in space: 4 Vesta and Ceres. Vesta is a large asteroid, and Ceres is a dwarf planet. The Dawn spacecraft orbited both of them, sending back amazing pictures and data.
Studying Asteroids and Meteorites
Lucy McFadden has spent a lot of time studying asteroids. These are rocky objects that orbit the Sun. She also helped with expeditions to find meteorites. Meteorites are pieces of space rock that have fallen to Earth.
In 1987, a special honor was given to her. An asteroid was named after her! It is called 3066 McFadden. This shows how important her work has been in the field of space science.
Teaching and Inspiring Others
Besides her research, Lucy McFadden has also taught at universities. She has worked at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of California, San Diego. She also led programs that help students learn about space.
She is passionate about sharing science with everyone. This is why she created the Explore-It-All Science Center. It's a special program designed to help children discover the wonders of science.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Lucy McFadden has received many awards for her important work. These awards recognize her contributions to space science and her efforts to teach others.
- 2015 – AAAS Fellow in Astronomy
- 2012 – NASA Group Achievement Award for the Dawn Vesta Operations Team
- 2011 – NASA Group Achievement Award for the EPOXI Science Team
- 2009 – National Science Foundation Antarctica Science Service Medal
- 2009 – NASA Group Achievement Award for the EPOXI Project Team
- 2009 – NASA Group Achievement Award for the Dawn Science Operations Team
- 2005 – Space Frontier Foundation Vision to Reality Award for the Deep Impact Team
- 2005 – Geological Society of Washington, Best Presentation Award
- 1987 – Asteroid 3066 McFadden named in her honor
