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The Path to High Adventure Begins With Girl Scouting!
Former NASA astronaut and Girl Scout alumna Jan Davis eating Girl Scout Cookies inside the shuttle Endeavour on Sept. 12, 1992. Image credit: NASA
Leadership, service, being prepared and doing your best – these qualities are exemplified by our astronauts, but are also shared by the Girl Scouts! Our astronaut corps has many scout alumnae, and over the years they’ve been breaking barriers and making names for themselves at NASA.
March 12, 2021 marks the 109th birthday of Girl Scouts in the United States, which has been inspiring generations of girls through leadership and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities to empower the explorers of today and tomorrow. To celebrate, we’re highlighting some of our Girl Scout alumnae over the years!
NASA astronaut and Girl Scout alumna Sunita Williams, who served as an International Space Station commander and spent 322 days in space during two spaceflight expeditions.
Former Scouts have served as crew members on numerous spaceflight missions.
From left: Susan Helms, the first female International Space Station crew member; Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle; and Dr. Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to perform a spacewalk.
Former Girl Scouts flew on more than one-third of the space shuttle missions and were pioneering forces as women began making their mark on human spaceflight. The first female crew member to serve on the International Space Station, the first to pilot and command a space shuttle and the first American woman to spacewalk were all Scout alumnae.
They continue to break records, such as the first three all-woman spacewalks...
Girl Scout alumnae and NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history when they conducted the first ever all-woman spacewalk on Oct.18, 2019. They went on to complete two more spacewalks, successfully completing their task of upgrading the space station’s battery charge/discharge unit. Christina and Jessica’s historic spacewalk was a testament to the growing number of women (and Girl Scouts) joining our astronaut corps; it is a milestone worth celebrating as we look forward to putting the first woman on the Moon with our Artemis Program!
....and the longest spaceflight ever by a woman!
NASA astronaut Christina Koch smiles for a selfie while completing tasks during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
Koch went on to seal her name in the record books by surpassing Peggy Whitson’s record for the longest single spaceflight in history by a woman!
Understanding how the human body adjusts to things like weightlessness, radiation and bone-density loss is crucial as we look forward to embarking on long-duration spaceflights to the Moon and Mars. Thanks to former astronaut Scott Kelly’s Year in Space mission, we’ve been able to observe these changes on a biological male. Now, thanks to Christina’s mission, we are able to observe these changes on a biological female.
Girl Scout alumnae will also help lead human exploration farther than ever before as members of our Artemis generation!
From left: NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Loral O’Hara and Kayla Barron
On January 10, 2020 we welcomed 11 new astronauts to our ranks – including three Girl Scout alumnae! As part of the first-ever class of astronauts under our Artemis lunar exploration program, Kayla Barron, Jessica Watkins and Loral O’Hara are now qualified for assignments including long-duration missions to the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars.
They took a moment after graduation to share inspiration and insight for current and future Scouts!
Q: A question from the Girl Scouts: What inspires you?
A: “Being a part of an awesome team has always been what inspires me. Whether it’s your Girl Scout troop, a sports team, your class – I think for me always the people around me who push me to succeed and support me when I make mistakes and help me become my best self is what inspires me to show up and do my best.” - NASA astronaut Kayla Barron
Q: How has being a Girl Scout helped you in becoming an astronaut?
A: “Being in the Girl Scouts when I was younger was really cool because, well, first it was just a group of my friends who got to do a lot of different things together. But it really gave us the opportunity to be exposed to a lot of different areas. Like we’d get to go camping. We’d get to ride horses and learn all of these different skills, and so that variety of skill set I think is very applicable to being an astronaut.” - NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara
Q: What would your advice be for the next generation of Girl Scout astronauts?
A: “My advice would be to find something that you’re passionate about. Ideally something in the STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, and to pursue that thing that you’re interested in. Pursue that passion, whatever it is. And don’t give up on your dreams, and continue to follow them until you arrive where you want to be.” - NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins
To all the Girl Scouts out there, keep reaching for the stars because the sky is no longer the limit!
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Sending Science to Space (and back) 🔬🚀
This season on our NASA Explorers video series, we’ve been following Elaine Horn-Ranney Ph.D and Parastoo Khoshaklagh Ph.D. as they send their research to the space station.
From preparing the experiment in the lab….
To training the astronauts to perform the science…
To watching it launch to space…
To conducting the science aboard the space station, we’ve been there every step of the way.
Now you can follow along with the whole journey!
Binge watch all of NASA Explorers season 4: Microgravity HERE
Want to keep up with space station research? Follow ISS Research on Twitter.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Science in space
This week on NASA Explorers, we’re aboard the International Space Station!
Now that our scientists’ experiment has made it to space, it’s time to see how their samples behave in microgravity.
See how astronauts conduct science in space, while a team back here on Earth conducts their own piece of the project. Watch the episode here:
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Let’s launch some science to space!
The day has finally arrived. After years of work, a team of scientists is at Kennedy Space Center in the hopes of seeing their research liftoff to the International Space Station.
Join #NASAExplorers for the countdown, the emotion and, hopefully, the launch!
Watch episode 5 here:
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Signs You Might Be Ready to Apply to be a NASA Astronaut
Have you heard the news? Astronaut applications are opening soon (March 2), and there’s never been a better time to apply then now. Here are a few signs that might mean you’re ready to take to the stars:
1. You Don’t Mind Having Roommates
When you’re an astronaut, you have to work and live with your crew mates for extended periods of time. It’s important to the mission and your safety that everyone can collaborate and work together.
2. You LOVE Space
If the Milky Way, planets and space travel doesn’t excite you then this might not be the perfect job for you. But if you love galaxies, space station research and deep space exploration, then maybe you should take a look at our application.
3. Adventure Doesn’t Scare You
Being an astronaut means that you get to take part in adventures that most people will never experience. Imagine: sitting on the launch pad in the Orion spacecraft, atop a rocket that’s getting ready to launch. You’ll travel farther into space than any other humans have been and help push the boundaries of technology in the proving ground of deep space lunar orbits, leading the way for future missions to Mars.
4. You Want to be on the Cutting Edge of Science
Not only do astronauts get to travel to space, but they also get to conduct really cool research in microgravity. Did you know that right now they’re monitoring veggie growth on the International Space Station? This research could help with our future deep space exploration and could teach us a few things about growing plants on Earth. Learn more about all the awesome research on the space station HERE.
5. You’re Not Afraid of Heights
One of the coolest things about being an astronaut, is that you get to go to SPACE! At the very least, you’ll travel to the International Space Station, which is 250 miles above Earth. Or, you could be one of the first astronauts to travel to a distant asteroid or even Mars!
6. You Like Meeting New People
Space is a place where people from all around the world come together to push the boundaries of human exploration. Whether you’re living on the space station with an international crew, or embarking on Artemis missions to the Moon – you’re sure to make new friendships wherever you go.
7. Pizza is Life
Meal time is family time aboard the space station, and what better way to bond than pizza night! Getting to know your crew mates AND channelling your inner chef is always a win win.
8. World Traveling is on Your Bucket List
The International Space Station orbits Earth 16 times a day, so get ready to rack up those frequent flyer miles! A favorite past time of many astronauts is Earth watching from the station’s cupola observatory. Get lost in the Pacific Ocean’s blue hue, gaze at the Himalayas or photograph your favorite cities all from a bird’s eye view. Get assigned to an Artemis Moon mission? Even better! Have fun expanding your travels to the solar system.
9. You’ve Dreamed of Flying
Perk about the job? Your childhood dreams to fly finally come true. Whether you’re floating around the International Space Station or getting adjusted to our new spaceship, Gateway, your inner superhero will be beaming.
10. You Like Helping Others
Astronauts don’t just push the boundaries of human exploration, they also help pave the way for scientific breakthroughs back at home. Thanks to the microgravity environment of space, discoveries not possible on Earth are able to be unlocked. Investigations into Parkinson’s Disease, cancer and more have been conducted on the orbital lab.
Interested in applying to become an astronaut? You’re in luck, applications are open from March 2- 31! Learn about some common myths about becoming an astronaut HERE.
Get more info on applying to be one of our astronauts HERE.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
All aboard for the International Space Station!
Before research can get on a rocket to head to space, it is carefully prepared at Kennedy Space Center.
Scientists sometimes spend days, or even weeks, doing all of the last-minute preparations to get their investigation ready for microgravity.
This week on NASA Explorers, we follow a team of researchers in the final days before their experiment gets loaded into a SpaceX Dragon capsule that will carry their research to the space station.
Watch episode 4 here!
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
You Don’t Have to be a Rocket Scientist to Conduct Research in Microgravity
Putting your life’s work on top of a rocket may seem like a daunting task, but that’s exactly what scientists have been doing for decades as they launch their research to the International Space Station.
This season on #NASAExplorers, we’re exploring why we send science to space, and what it takes to get it there!
Watch this week’s episode to meet a team of researchers who are launching an experiment to space for the first time.
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday!
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
You’ve seen things floating in space, but why does that happen and how does it affect science being conducted aboard the International Space Station?
Sure, floating looks like fun, but it could also unlock new scientific discoveries!
Microgravity makes the International Space Station the perfect place to perform research that is changing the lives of people on Earth, and preparing us to go deeper into space. This season on our series NASA Explorers, we are following science into low-Earth orbit and seeing what it takes to do research aboard the space station.
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday. https://www.facebook.com/NASAExplorersSeries/
Go Behind the Scenes of Science in Space
Gravity rules everything on Earth, from how our bodies develop to what our research can reveal, but what happens when we go 250 miles up to the International Space Station?
Get ready to go behind the scenes of what it takes to get science to space, and meet the people who make it happen.
Introducing Season 4 of NASA Explorers: Microgravity. Floating isn’t just fun. Microgravity could open the door to discovery.
You’ve seen things floating in space, but why does that happen and how does it affect science being conducted aboard the International Space Station?
Microgravity makes the International Space Station the perfect place to perform research that is changing the lives of people on Earth, and preparing us to go deeper into space. This season on our series NASA Explorers, we are following science into low-Earth orbit and seeing what it takes to do research aboard the space station.
Follow NASA Explorers on Facebook to catch new episodes of season 4 every Wednesday!
Why do we explore? Simply put, it is part of who we are, and it is something we have done throughout our history. In "We Are the Explorers," we take a look at that tradition of reaching for things just beyond our grasp and how it is helping us lay the foundation for our greatest journeys ahead. So what are we doing to enable exploration? We’re building the Orion spacecraft is built to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before. Orion will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion will launch on NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System.
Also underway, is Astronaut Scott Kelly’s Year In Space. Kelly is living and working off the Earth, for the Earth aboard the station for a yearlong mission. Traveling the world more than 220 miles above the Earth, and at 17,500 mph, he circumnavigates the globe more than a dozen times a day conducting research about how the body adapts and changes to living in space for a long duration.
What’s the Difference Between Adventure and Exploration?
An increasingly controversial question: In today’s world of travel-blogging and adventure sports, how can we define true exploration?
It’s a frigid winter’s eve at Norway’s Finse 1222 Lodge, high above the tree line overlooking Hardangerjøkulen glacier. The rustic lodge is accessible only by train or dogsled, and in its library huddled before a blazing fireplace, a group of road-worn explorers discuss past and future expedition challenges while sampling spirits they’ve collected from around the globe.
Centuries ahead of Shackleton and Amundsen, early explorers began taking to land and sea. The late Sen. John Glenn once said at an Explorers Club Annual Dinner, “Explorers push dragons from the map.” — they uncover and discover the mysteries of our oceans, space, earth, and humankind. Though today’s satellite imagery of Earth is void of dragons, we still have a lot to explore. So, let’s first understand, “What’s exploration?”
Cenote survey during a 2015 expedition in Mexico’s Yucatan State. Image by Idee Montijo © 2021
The late Jim Fowler, wildlife champion and explorer extraordinaire of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom fame, once described exploration as the pursuit of information that advances the greater body of knowledge on mankind, space, oceans, and the Earth. How explorers undertake that pursuit varies from expedition to expedition, but the common thread is a hope of ‘discovery’ or the real possibility of making a contribution to our greater body of knowledge.
Bob Ballard, ocean explorer and National Geographic Explorer-At-Large, provided the world with a first glimpse of the legendary ocean liner Titanic since its unexpected demise in 1912. But in an NPR interview, Ballard describes what he considers his most important contribution to science, stating, “ …The hydrothermal vents, for example, I would think was my greatest discovery. We knew where Titanic was, but we never knew about these new life forms, and we didn’t know they were there.” It’s all about the data.
While adventure can be one element of many expeditions, it differs from exploration in that explorationinvolves a pursuit of data that increases our larger body of knowledge while adventureis a personal experience that can provide individual growth.
It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves — in finding themselves. ~ André Gide, winner Nobel Prize in Literature, 1947
An important aspect of the human experience, adventure helps people become more confident in their personal capabilities, to broaden their own knowledge of the world, and advance personal skills. Psychology’s Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a theory that explains human motivation and personality with respect to inherent growth trends and natural psychological needs. Researchers in the 1980s proposed that we have three basic and universal psychological needs that promote intrinsic motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Adventure addresses all three of these needs. For example, autonomy can be gained through accomplishing new tasks like navigation where one has a freedom to choose their course, competence is earned through successful interaction with one’s environment through activities like building a shelter, and relatedness is the desire to belong to a group of others with similar experiences.
Whether pushing dragons from the map like those explorers gathered on a Norwegian mountaintop or seeking personal growth and development by blogging about one’s whitewater rafting trip, we benefit when driven by curiosity to engage with the world around us in exploration and adventure.
Get inspired with expedition portfolios at IdeeExplores.com and on Instagram (at)idee_explores.
Roads on western ghats.. #roadtrip #nationalhighway #waterfall #nature_perfection #nature #explorers #ride #royalenfield #classic #west #westernghats #animalsanctuary #explore #india (at Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park)
Murex Altispira #thorns #sea #snail #alive #mollusk #macro #macrolife #macrophotography #instalife #life #bayofbengal #beachlife #sealife #explorers #seasnail (at ECR)
happy 12th anniversary explorers of sky!
exploring “shimmer hill” on a bright, sunny day!
on the way to craggy coast!
Did You Know the Natural History Museum held human remains?!
NO. 1
Robert Peary, the famous adventurer, and explorer traveled to Greenland around 1897. There, he studied Inuit survival strategies and proved that Greenland was an island. But this isn’t about him, but about the group of Inuit descent he deceived to become famous. This is about Minik Wallace, a small boy that grew up in America because of Peary's lie.
NO. 2
Robert Peary invited the Inuit to the Natural History Museum. A group of six was chosen to go: Minik’s father, Quisk, was a renowned hunter, then the shaman Atangana (ca. 1840–1898) with her husband, renowned hunter Nuktaq (ca. 1848–1898), their adoptive daughter Aviaq (ca. 1885–1898) and the young adult Uisaakassak, the fiancé of Aviaq. The adults did not understand the purpose of the trip, but some wanted to travel. They were told that while in America, they would receive gifts, tools, and weapons. Not to mention the promise of being able to return back to Greenland after. Instead, when they arrived in September in New York, they were exploited like objects and specimens. The museum staff did not house them in a safe environment but instead made them stay in their basement. In the light of day, over 2,000 people paid for tickets to see the Inuit group. Truly, the new world was not what they expected it to be, and Peary did little to help them. Four of the group succumbed to tuberculosis, including Minik’s father, and were taken to Bellevue Hospital, and died, unfortunately, leaving Minik alone.
NO. 3
On February 17, 1898, Minimik's father passed away. Minik begged for a proper burial for his father with the traditional Inuit burial rites. The museum staff staged a fake burial, filling the coffin with stones for weight, and placing a stuffed body inside. They performed the burial for Minik’s benefit. The staff stole the body to research, and studying the dead would be impossible if their 6ft in the ground. The body of Quisuk was de-fleshed and his skeleton was sent to the Natural History Museum for display. William Wallace adopted the boy and raised him like his own son, but got fired from his job in 1901. In 1906, he found out from a newspaper that the skeleton of his father was being displayed. In Wallace’s own words, "He was coming home from school with my son Willie one snowy afternoon when he suddenly began to cry. 'My father is not in his grave,' he said, 'his bones are in the museum.' "We questioned him and found out how he had learned the truth. But after that, he was never the same boy. He became morbid and restless. Often we would see him crying, and sometimes he would not speak for days. "We did our best to cheer him up, but it was no use. His heart was broken. He had lost faith in the new people he had come among."Minik, with the support of his adopted father, urged the museum to give back the skeleton of his father.'' The museum staff denied his many requests to reclaim his father’s bones. They evaded the questions of having Inuit skeletons displayed in the gallery. Minik was never able to reclaim his father's bones.
NO. 4
In 1909, Minik returned to Greenland as an adult, but felt more alienated there than in the U.S. Minik had forgotten his native language and had to learn how to hunt. "Why am I no longer fit to live where I was born? Not fit to live where I was kidnapped?" "Why am I an experiment there and here, and tormented since the great white pirate interfered with nature and left me a helpless orphan, young, abandoned, 10,000 miles from home? I don't think both ends and the middle of the Earth are worth the price that has been paid to almost find one pole." Minik returned to live in the states again in 1916, but caught the influenza flu. He died on October 29, 1918, and it wasn’t until 1993 did the body of Minik’s father and the remains of the others were returned to Greenland for their burial. Read Give Me My Father's Body: The Story of Minik, the New York Eskimo to honor Minik, his father, and the comminity of Polar Eskimoes.
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