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Nancy Chabot

Planetary Chief Scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, and Coordination Lead for DART

I am a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). I received an undergraduate degree in physics from Rice University and a Ph.D. in planetary science from the University of Arizona. My research interests involve understanding the evolution of rocky planetary bodies in the Solar System. At APL, I oversee an experimental geochemistry laboratory that is used to conduct experiments at elevated temperatures and pressures to investigate the differentiation and evolution of planetary bodies. I am currently the Deputy PI for the MEGANE instrument on the MMX mission and Project Scientist for the DART mission. Prior to joining APL, I worked at NASA Johnson Space Center and Case Western Reserve University. I have also been a member of five field teams with the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) program, the Instrument Scientist for the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) on the MESSENGER mission, an Associate Editor for the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science, chair of NASA’s Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG), and a member of NASA’s Planetary Science Subcommittee. Asteroid 6899 Nancychabot is named after me.

Latest Planetary Radio Appearances

Live from Washington, D.C.: The future of space politics

Join Sarah Al-Ahmed and Casey Dreier for a special live recording of Planetary Radio at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., immediately following The Planetary Society’s Day of Action.

Adventures at the 2023 Planetary Defense Conference

Planetary Radio creator Mat Kaplan shares a look behind the scenes at the 2023 Planetary Defense Conference in Vienna, Austria.

DART Impact and Judy Schmidt Interview

Listen as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test spacecraft closes in on asteroid Dimorphos, followed by a triumphant conversation with DART Coordination Lead Nancy Chabot, and a visit with space image processor Judy Schmidt.