Adriana Ocampo

Dr Adriana C. Ocampo Uria (born January 5, 1955) is a Colombian -Argentinian planetary geologist and a former Science Program Manager at NASA Headquarters. In 1970, Ocampo emigrated to California and completed her Bachelor in Science at California State University, Los Angeles, Master in Sciences at California State University, Northridge and finished her PhD at the Vrije Universiteit in the Netherlands. During high school and graduate studies she worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she served as the science coordinator for many planetary missions (Viking, Mars Observer, Voyager, Galileo ''Galileo'' Mission, etc.).

She was the first to recognize, using satellite images, that a ring of cenotes or sinkholes, is the only surface impression of the buried Chicxulub crater. This research contributed significantly to the understanding of this impact crater. She later discover the most proximal ejecta blanket formation of the Chicxulub crater located in the border between Mexico and Belize. Ocampo has subsequently led at least seven research expeditions to the Chicxulub site. and to Belize K/Pg ejecta sites, which she discovered and were the subject of her MSc and PhD. She continues to search for new impact craters, and with her team, in 2017, reported on a possible crater near Cali, Colombia.

As a former lead Program Executive for NASA's New Frontiers Program she had the oversight responsibility for the program. The New Frontier Program is currently composed of the mission New Horizons, Juno, OSIRIS ReX, and Dragonfly. She was the Program Executive of the Discovery Program ''Lucy'' Mission the first mission to explore the Trojans asteroids. Ocampo was the Program Executive of the Juno mission to Jupiter ''Juno'' Mission. and New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.

Dr. Adriana Ocampo is a pioneering planetary geologist whose work at NASA has advanced space science and inspired global unity through education and outreach.

Dr. Adriana C. Ocampo, born in Colombia and raised in Argentina, has made profound contributions to planetary science through her leadership in missions such as Juno to Jupiter and New Horizons to Pluto. As a Science Program Manager at NASA, she has coordinated key investigations, helping decode the solar system’s history. Her commitment to Education and Public Outreach (EPO) reflects her belief that science belongs to everyone, and she has championed initiatives that bring space knowledge to underserved communities. Ocampo’s vision of science as a unifying force is evident in her efforts to engage youth, especially through her children’s book such as Copocuqu, written during her time at NASA. This free educational resource introduces young readers to space science in an accessible and imaginative way. You can download Copocuqu at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/resources/misc/ocampo-book.pdf. Through her work, Dr. Ocampo exemplifies how scientific exploration can transcend borders and empower future generations.

She received many award among them the Woman of the Year in Science award from the Comisión Femenil in 1992. In 2002, she was named one of the most important women in science by the ''Discover'' magazine. To commemorate her contributions to space exploration, an asteroid was named after her. The asteroid named in honor of Dr. Adriana Ocampo Uría is 177120 Ocampo Uría.

This celestial tribute recognizes her groundbreaking work in planetary geology, including her leadership in identifying the Chicxulub impact crater—linked to the extinction of the dinosaurs—and her contributions to NASA missions.

Dr. Adriana Ocampo Uría currently serves as a member of UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), where she recently co-edited the Commission’s landmark report on the ethics of space exploration and utilization. This role reflects her deep commitment to ensuring that space science is guided by ethical principles that promote sustainability, equity, and global cooperation. The COMEST report, presented in September 2025 to UNESCO member states, explores the moral dimensions of space governance and warns against extractive or proprietary approaches that could jeopardize planetary integrity. Dr. Ocampo’s contributions emphasize science as a unifying force and advocate for inclusive access to space knowledge, within the report she proposed a “Space Ethics Scale” as a tool for communication of this intricate subject. You can read the full COMEST space ethics report here https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395058, and learn more about the COMEST Commission on UNESCO’s official page https://www.unesco.org/en/ethics-science-technology/comest. Provided by Wikipedia