🪐 JEDI SPACE: JUST, EQUITABLE, DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE SPACE EXPLORATION FOR ALL HUMANITY

This morning at SpaceCom in Orlando, I had the pleasure of listening to and meeting Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor, the first African-American woman to pilot a spacecraft (on Inspiration4 with Jared Issacman as Commander). Her story is truly an inspiration to all.

🇬🇺 Born in Guam, post Apollo 11, while her father worked at a NASA tracking station, she was inspired to become a fighter pilot and astronaut. Although, she could not proceed in the military due to a medical concern, she focused on earning her PhD in GeoScience, became a professor at a community college, and still obtained her pilot’s license.

🧑‍🚀 In 2009, she applied to become a NASA astronaut, reaching the final rounds of the selection process (last 1% of applicants). Ultimately, she was not selected. But she chose to turn her disappointment into a positive thing: “I was nearly an astronaut!”.

🎨 She channeled her space dreams and passion into supporting human space exploration, including participating in analog astronaut missions and simulations. And in COVID, she turned to art and poetry.

Ultimately, she was awarded the “Prosperity Seat” and Mission Pilot on Inspiration4, alongside Jared Isacman (Commander, and funder of the mission), Hayley Arceneaux (Medical Officer, childhood cancer survivor who was treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and now nurse, and awarded the “Hope” seat), and Chris Sembroski (Mission Specialist who won the “Generosity Seat” by donating to St. Jude’s.)

👏 In 2021, Dr. Proctor became the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft, exactly 100 years after Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn a pilot license in 1921! 

And now, her SpaceX spacesuit is going to be on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution to signify this milestone in the advancement of diversity in space exploration.

🚀 Dr. Proctor’s story is one of the power of perseverance and creativity, and of her commitment to making space accessible to underrepresented groups. A VERY important pillar of the Space Network!

Mandatory selfie, t-shirt purchase (for St. Jude’s), and autograph followed…