Female Space Professionals You Need to Follow
And they aren’t astronauts (yet)
As children we are extremely aware of the grand dream to become an astronaut — it was one of the first things I wanted to be when I grew up and the same can be said for so many others around the world. But realistically, the chances of becoming an astronaut have always been incredibly slim. Up until now— as commercial space capabilities are rapidly expanding — the only gateway to space was to be chosen as a government-selected astronaut for a national space agency. In 2016, NASA received over 18,000 applications. 12 were selected. Not very encouraging odds to pursue a career in space.
But the landscape is changing, and with ambitious private companies and future goals to establish settlements on Mars, the opportunity to reach space may soon open up to thousands of explorers in our lifetime. I am passionate about reminding children and adults alike that no matter what career path you decide to follow in the end, there is still a need for you in the space industry. Every industry we’ve established on Earth today may be replicated on the moon and on Mars. Doctors, business women, creatives, engineers, influencers, and entrepreneurs all have an impact in developing future human space exploration and will be soon be the astronauts and outer space settlers we hypothesize today.
The following women are extremely smart, inspiring, and are making a difference. I personally have deeply enjoyed following their journeys on social media and listening to their ideas during events and conferences. Check out their diverse stories and give them a follow yourself:
Kate Gunderson
NASA engineer and blogger. Kate works in the Aircraft Operations Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and documents her niche work activities on Instagram and through her blog. She plays a key role in maintaining the aircraft supporting astronaut training and mission activities, including helping to bring home astronaut Kate Rubins from Kazakhstan this week.
Ksenia Synkova
Digital marketing and communications professional, also known as SpaceXenia. While focused on her social media work with the Space Generation Advisory Council, she recently released her course on how to build a personal brand and become an influencer in the space industry.
Jessie Anderson
SpaceX engineer and webcast host. You may recognize her from SpaceX’s popular launch livestreams, especially Starlink and the first certified Crew-1 Dragon launch in November. Always sharing her love of music and basketball (and honestly making me wonder if she has more than 24 hours in a day compared to the rest of us), she unapologetically brings a newfound multi-faceted coolness to the perception of female engineers.
Emily Calandrelli
Engineer turned TV host on Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix, also known as The Space Gal. Emily reaches hundreds of thousands of followers through her creativity, energy, and curiosity. Whether floating around in zero G or designing a new fashion collection, she embodies what it means to be a successful space influencer and science communicator.
Hillary Coe
Prior Director of Design at SpaceX. The sleek SpaceX launch tower at Kennedy Space Center, black ninja-like pad crew uniforms, and sending Starman up in a Tesla? Hillary was probably the visionary behind it. Without a specific background in science or engineering, she is a perfect example of bringing whatever your expertise is to innovate the space industry. She recently conducted a HI-SEAS analog Mars mission and shares her visual captivity of space on Instagram.
Dr. Sian Proctor
Artist, analog astronaut, and future SpaceX Inspiration 4 astronaut! Sian has been dedicated to space for many years — conducting multiple analog astronaut missions, creating space themed art, and advocating for STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math). Last month she was selected out of thousands of submissions to become a crew member of the first space mission to fly with only private citizens on board and is excited to share her art in the Dragon capsule.
Sarafina Nance
Astrophysicist, women’s health advocate, and host of YouTube series Constellations. Sarafina is one to watch — she authentically educates her audience on supernova trillions of miles away and on the realities of life right here on Earth as an Arab women in STEM. She is currently working on a children’s book to be published in 2023.
Kellie Gerardi
Author and analog astronaut. Kellie has inspired all ages on her public platform advocating for people of any skillset to contribute to future space settlements, even if you don’t have a background in STEM. She is also the proud mother of viral TikTok toddler Delta V who recently gained some clout from Lizzo and her own features with NASA.
Dr. Shawna Pandya
Physician, neuroscience graduate, and citizen-scientist astronaut. She was apart of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in micro-gravity through Project PoSSUM and can often be spotted at space events speaking about medicine and life sciences.
Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides
Author of the New Right Stuff, co-founder of Yuri’s Night (an annual celebration of the anniversary of human space flight on April 12), and creator of SpaceKind leadership training. She has even been to the bottom of the ocean in a submersible with James Cameron. Everything Loretta has dedicated her career to has a strong connection back to her passion for space and for a life of meaningfulness.
“My big dream is to use the power of space to help humanity mature into the people we have always wanted to be. I want us to be a species any of us would be proud to send to the nearest star system.” — Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides
Athena Brensberger
Science communicator and fashion model, also known as AstroAthens. Her enthusiastic and educational social media posts grab the attention of tens of thousands of viewers. She recently led a discussion with the infamous Neil deGrasse Tyson who she considers a long time mentor after meeting him during undergrad research at Hayden Planetarium.
Alyssa Carson
College student and aspiring astronaut. Alyssa has been positioning herself as the youngest astronaut hopeful since she was 13 years old at Space Camp. She publicly shares her ambitions through TED Talks and participation in Project PoSSUM. She strives to be the youngest astronaut on Mars and with her level of dedication and determination since such a young age, I have very little doubt that she will go on to make history books in the decades to come.
This is not an all-inclusive list of every stellar female working in space, but aims to introduce readers to a budding world of inspiration, passion, and expertise that is available to explore further at just the touch of your phone.
How will you add yourself to the list of multi-facetted space professionals advocating for and participating in space exploration and science?
Who are you most inspired by in the space industry? Share your recommendations in the comments!
