Elected: 2023
Discipline: Physics and Astronomy
Dr Moriba Jah
Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Moriba Jah is the Chief Scientist of Privateer, which he co-founded with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Privateer is a data and intelligence platform empowering the future of space sustainability. As a renowned space environmentalist and astrodynamicist, Moriba brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in space object detection, tracking, identification, and characterization, as well as spacecraft navigation to the Privateer team, where he is developing the first highly accurate space traffic map that aggregates multi-source data on Earth orbiting space objects, as a means to power the new space economy and make space exploration safe and sustainable.
Jah previously worked as a spacecraft navigator at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was a navigator for the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars Exploration Rover, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
He is a recipient of the 2022 MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.
Moriba is also an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin where he is the holder of the Mrs. Pearlie Dashiell Henderson Centennial Fellowship in Engineering. He serves on many professional bodies and is a Fellow of multiple organizations.
Jah previously worked as a spacecraft navigator at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was a navigator for the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars Exploration Rover, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
He is a recipient of the 2022 MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.
Moriba is also an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin where he is the holder of the Mrs. Pearlie Dashiell Henderson Centennial Fellowship in Engineering. He serves on many professional bodies and is a Fellow of multiple organizations.