Nicole Mann Makes History As The First Native American Woman In Space
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On October 5, 2022, NASA astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann became the first Native American woman to launch into space. Mann is also the first woman to command a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The 45-year-old is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.
The SpaceX Crew-5 mission team, which includes NASA astronaut Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata, and Russia's Anna Kikina, arrived at the ISS on October 6, 2022. The astronauts will spend five months aboard the floating space laboratory and conduct over 200 new scientific studies. The experiments are geared to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.
Mann earned her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the US Naval Academy and a master's degree from Stanford University. The California native began her military career with the US Marine Corps as a second lieutenant in 1999 and was a naval aviator by 2002. Mann's illustrious military career includes 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Marine colonel has also been a test pilot for the US Navy's fighter aircraft. She was elected for astronaut training by NASA in 2013.
Mann hopes her achievements will encourage other Native American kids to pursue their goals. "[I hope it] will inspire young Native American children to follow their dreams and realize that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down," Mann told BBC. "Anytime we are able to do something that is a first, or wasn't done in the past, it's so important. They have these opportunities."
The accomplished astronaut may not be done breaking barriers. She is among the 18 astronauts selected for NASA's Artemis program, which aspires to return humans to the Moon as early as 2025. If selected for the inaugural mission, Mann will make further history as the first woman to land on the Moon.
Resources: Smithsonianmag.org, NASA.gov, Spacewatch.global
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97 Comments
queen_squidover 3 yearsOMG I love it SOOOO amazing that history is being made!
monsteover 3 yearsI love seeing spaceship launch.
deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsWow! It`s awesome and interesting that people like Nicole Mann, the first Native American to go to the moon, Nicole will never let any negatives about her culture, race, and her history, she just go ahead and do what she loves to do the most, to reach the moon! Way to go, Nicole Mann! #NativeAmericans #TheMoon!
techfashion0315over 3 yearsYes, I agree! Well said!
thorzeman07over 3 yearsSomeday I want to be just like her and maybe I will see aliens- techfashion0315over 3 yearsOh, my gosh!! Good for her! 💪🤩
brooklynjover 3 yearsOooo! This can inspire so many people! What's yall dreams? Mines to become and actress! Girls/wemen can do anything boys/men can do! Also I think space is pretty cool and this really is inspiring! Anyone here wanna become an astronaut? ANYWHO HAVE A GREAT DAY YALL BAI!
california_girlover 3 yearsOMG I want to become an actress too! And i totally agree. Women can do anything!- techfashion0315over 3 yearsThat's cool! 🎬🎥
- techfashion0315over 3 yearsMy dream is to be a middle school teacher at my school! 🙃 What's your dream?
- deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsMy dream is to become possibly first Deaf U.S. soldier, and I agree that girls and women can do anything just like D/deaf people can!
- techfashion0315over 3 yearsFollow your dreams!!
- monsteover 3 yearsfollow your imaginations
- deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsI`m following my own imaginations and pursing my own dreams to break down the barriers...!
- techfashion0315over 3 yearsOMW, you're so inspiring!! 😄
- deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsGee! Thanks! You`re making me blush over that!
- techfashion0315over 3 yearsExactly! 😜
- deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsI just want to see more and more people purse their dreams even if they have different gender, races, disability!
- techfashion0315over 3 yearsYou're so sweet! Yes, that is awesome!
- deafgirlhistoryover 3 yearsNo problem! Many people thinks that I am sweet about difficult things like War in Ukriane and many other things that impacted my life...I just want to help other people in need of help!
love-artover 3 years#girlpower
nyko7910over 3 yearsvery cool!😲🚀
milkfanforeverover 3 years#FirstNativeWomenInSpace #Space #American #NicoleMann- milkfanforeverover 3 yearsAwesome
boba_addictionover 3 yearsvery cool!😲🚀
