{{short description|American planetary scientist}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Amanda R. Hendrix | image = AmandaHendrix CassiniPSG.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|05|21}} | citizenship = US | fields = planetary science, solar system astronomy | workplaces = Planetary Science Institute<br />Jet Propulsion Laboratory<br />Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado | patrons = | education = | alma_mater = California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo<br />University of Colorado, Boulder | doctoral_advisor = Charles A. Barth | known_for = ultraviolet spectroscopy | prizes = JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence, 2006 }}

'''Amanda R. Hendrix''' (May 21, 1968) is an American planetary scientist known for her pioneering studies of Solar System bodies at ultraviolet wavelengths.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Amanda Hendrix, Cassini/Huygens DPS|url = https://womeninplanetaryscience.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/amanda-hendrix-cassinihuygens-dps/|website = Women in Planetary Science: Female Scientists on Careers, Research, Space Science, and Work/Life Balance|access-date = 2016-01-26|first = Susan|last = Niebur| date=April 2011 |authorlink= Susan Niebur}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Google Scholar|url = https://scholar.google.com/scholar|website = scholar.google.com|access-date = 2016-01-26|archive-date = 2020-11-11|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201111174428/https://scholar.google.com/scholar|url-status = dead}}</ref> She is director and CEO of the Planetary Science Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=Amanda Hendrix takes PSI’s helm - Planetary Science Institute |url=https://www.psi.edu/blog/amanda-hendrix-takes-psis-helm/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> Her research interests include moon and asteroid surface composition, space weathering effects and radiation products.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Exploration Stories: Favorite Historical Moments|url = http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/history/stories.cfm|website = Solar System Exploration|access-date = 2016-01-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160225155118/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/history/stories.cfm|archive-date = 2016-02-25|url-status = dead}}</ref> She is a co-investigator on the ''Cassini'' UVIS instrument,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cassini Team Members|url = http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/team|website = Cassini Solstice Mission|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Signs of Europa Plumes Remain Elusive in Search of Cassini Data|url = http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4417|website = NASA/JPL|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = NASA - Cassini Prepares to Fly by Walnut-Shaped Moon|url = http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini20070905.html|website = www.nasa.gov|access-date = 2016-01-26|language = en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Spacecraft zips over Saturn's geyser-spurting moon|url = http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-32452320080312|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204045306/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-32452320080312|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 4, 2016|website = in.reuters.com|access-date = 2016-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Passing Saturn's geyser-spouting moon - Science - Specials - smh.com.au|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/saturns-geyserspouting-moon/2008/03/13/1205126080947.html|website = www.smh.com.au| date=13 March 2008 |access-date = 2016-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Cassini Gets a Cool Shower From an Ice-Spewing Moon|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/science/space/13plumew.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2008-03-13|access-date = 2016-01-26|issn = 0362-4331|first = Kenneth|last = Chang}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Cassini Nears Strange Saturn Moon|url = http://www.africaspeaks.com/reasoning/index.php?topic=2002.0;wap2|website = www.africaspeaks.com |access-date = 2016-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Jupiter Moon Europa's Giant Geysers Are Missing |url = http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jupiter-moon-europa-s-giant-geysers-are-missing/?amp|website = Scientific American |access-date = 2016-01-26}}</ref> was a co-investigator on the ''Galileo'' UVS instrument, is a Participating Scientist on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter LAMP instrument<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.boulder.swri.edu/lamp/ProjectTeam.html|title = LAMP Educational Site|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> and is a Principal Investigator<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://blogs.stsci.edu/newsletter/files/2015/02/NL-TAC-2014c.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906073708/https://blogs.stsci.edu/newsletter/files/2015/02/NL-TAC-2014c.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 6, 2015|title = Hubble Cycle 22 Proposal Selection|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> on Hubble Space Telescope observing programs. As of 2019, she is also the co-lead of the NASA Roadmaps to Oceans World Group.<ref>[https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1090306/nasa-ocean-worlds-space-mission-alien-life-europa-enceladus NASA Ocean Worlds mission: NASA's space program to search for alien life.] Tom Fish, ''UK Express''. 5 March 2019.</ref>

Before moving to PSI, Hendrix worked for 12 years at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Comets, Asteroids and Satellites Group. She was the Deputy Project Scientist<ref>{{Cite web|title = Saturn and its Largest Moon Reflect Their True Colors|url = http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=3495|website = NASA/JPL|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref> for the Cassini–Huygens mission (2010-2012).

Hendrix was a NASA astronaut candidate finalist in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title = NASA - Third Interview Group Begins Astronaut Selection Process|url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1999_2001/j99-47.html|website = www.nasa.gov|access-date = 2016-01-31|language = en}}</ref>

She received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Since 2024 she has been the editor-in-chief of the ''Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendrix |first1=Amanda |title=Introducing the New Editor-in-Chief of JGR: Planets |url=https://eos.org/editors-vox/introducing-the-new-editor-in-chief-of-jgr-planets-2 |work=Eos |publisher=American Geophysical Union |date=8 May 2024}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==

Hendrix was awarded the Lew Allen Award for Excellence in 2006.<ref name="Allen-Award" /> Asteroid 6813 Amandahendrix was named in her honor.<ref name="MPC-object" /> The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 ({{small|M.P.C. 111797}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" />

She was named a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2024, "for wide-ranging studies illuminating thermal, irradiative, and exogenic processing of various species on small body surfaces in the Solar System; management of complex autonomous science systems; and devoted service to the planetary and space science communities".<ref name=AAS-Fellow />

== Media and outreach ==

While at JPL, Hendrix wrote several blog posts on ''Cassini'' results<ref>{{Cite web|title = JPL Blogs|url = http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/blog/author/amanda-hendrix/|website = www.jpl.nasa.gov|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref> and participated in Cassini Scientist for a Day on several occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cassini Scientist for a Day 2014|url = http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday13thedition/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140317020348/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday13thedition/|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2014-03-17|website = Cassini Solstice Mission|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Scientist for a Day - 11th Edition|url = http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday11thedition/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120826195237/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday11thedition/|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2012-08-26|website = Cassini Solstice Mission|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Scientist for a Day - 10th Edition|url = http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday10thedition/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110705023157/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientistforaday10thedition/|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2011-07-05|website = Cassini Solstice Mission|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title = Cassini Scientist for a Day 2010|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIrG9j7-35w|date = 2014-02-08|accessdate = 2016-01-21|last = Universe Odyssey}}</ref> Hendrix gave a [http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.php Von Karman lecture] (Enceladus: The newest wrinkle from Saturn's tiger-striped moon)<ref>{{Citation|title = Enceladus: The Newest Wrinkle from Saturn's Tiger-Striped Moon|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA502WNm6xI|date = 2014-01-01|accessdate = 2016-01-21|last = Universe Odyssey}}</ref> in Pasadena in 2008 and the Kepler lecture (Lunar Exploration: From the Apollo Era to the Future) at Mt. San Antonio College in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mt. San Antonio College {{!}} 2013 Kepler Lecture & Scholarship Awards Ceremony|url = http://www.mtsac.edu/foundation/kepler.html|website = www.mtsac.edu|access-date = 2016-01-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102543/http://www.mtsac.edu/foundation/kepler.html|archive-date = 2016-03-04|url-status = dead}}</ref> She has appeared on several episodes of the History Channel's The Universe<ref>{{Cite web|title = Amanda Hendrix|url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3603574/|website = IMDb|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref> and the Discovery Channel's How the Universe Works. She spoke at the Griffith Observatory's Cassini Program in 2009<ref>{{Citation|title = Cassini's Roadmap to Saturn: An Evening with the Scientists (Lecture)|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPKy_hRE5rA|date = 2010-01-06|accessdate = 2016-01-21|last = NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory}}</ref> and has written for the Planetary Report<ref>{{Cite web|title = Amanda Hendrix|url = http://www.planetary.org/connect/our-experts/profiles/amanda-hendrix.html|website = www.planetary.org|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref>

Hendrix has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at Cal Poly, Pomona, Mt. San Antonio College and University of Colorado Boulder.

== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=AAS-Fellow>{{cite web|url=https://aas.org/press/aas-names-21-new-fellows-2024|title=AAS Names 21 New Fellows for 2024|publisher=American Astronomical Society|date=February 1, 2024|access-date=2024-02-02}}</ref>

<ref name="Allen-Award">{{Cite web |title=Science and Technology: The Lew Allen Award for Excellence Recipients |url=http://scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov/community/awardsachievements/laAward/pastrecepients/ |website=scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov |access-date=2016-01-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092128/http://scienceandtechnology.jpl.nasa.gov/community/awardsachievements/laAward/pastrecepients/ |archive-date=2015-05-18 }}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web |title = 6813 Amandahendrix (1978 VV9) |work = Minor Planet Center |url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=6813 |accessdate = 17 October 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web |title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive |work = Minor Planet Center |url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html |accessdate = 17 October 2018}}</ref>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hendrix, Amanda}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American aerospace engineers Category:California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, alumni Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni Category:American planetary scientists Category:American women planetary scientists Category:21st-century American women Category:Fellows of the American Astronomical Society