Sian Proctor makes history as the first female spaceship pilot.
Proctor, a geoscientist, artist and science communicator, has been paving the way in the space sector for decades. Now, years after being a finalist in NASA’s 2009 astronaut nominee program, he is realizing his dream of becoming an astronaut as he launches into orbit with the Inspiration4 mission tonight (September 15).
While the mission itself makes history the first fully civilian mission it launches into orbit, Proctor is performing a first major mission herself as the first black female spacecraft pilot.
“I am very grateful to be here and to have this opportunity,” Proctor said on Sept. 14 during a press conference with reporters. “There have been three women black astronauts who have come into space, and knowing that I will be the fourth means I have this opportunity not only to fulfill my dream, but also to inspire the next generation of women of color and girls of color and they really get them to think about getting to the stars and what that means. “
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Proctor is preceded only by six female black astronauts in history, only three of whom have flown into space.
The first black woman to fly into space was Mae Jemison, who flew the space shuttle Endeavor with the STS-47 mission in 1992. After her, Stephanie Wilson and Joan Higginbotham also flew with the space shuttle missions. NASA shuttle.
There are three other black women who are NASA astronauts but who have never flown into space; include Yvonne Cagle, Jessica Watkins and Jeanette Epps, who was selected by NASA in 2009 in the same astronaut selection round as Proctor. Cagle is currently working on NASA management, while Watkins was recently selected as part of NASA’s 22nd class of astronauts.
Epps will have to fly into space in Boeing’s Starliner astronaut taxi once the company completes the first test flights of the new vehicle. In 2020, Epps was chosen to fly with Boeing’s Starliner-1 mission, the ship’s first operational mission to carry a crew of four on the International Space Station. The launch date of this mission is scheduled for 2022.
In addition to sharing her enthusiasm for being part of this mission and becoming an astronaut, Proctor also explained how, as a black woman, she has had to deal with additional pressures on her space trip. .
“Growing up like a black woman and always trying to be a great accomplisher and not mess up,” Proctor added, “just having that pressure on yourself to think about not wanting to be eliminated, not wanting to get lost, [you have to] make sure you are the best of the best, because you open the door to the people who follow you. “
“A lot of times, you know, if you’re in a model position, if you slip or get damaged, it means you’re closing the door for those behind you,” he added.
Proctor also referred to his hope of space to one day align with its acronym “JEDI,” which means fair, equitable, diverse, and inclusive, he said during the press conference.
Proctor, in addition to being the first female pilot of Black spaceships, will also be the oldest Black woman to go into space, flying at 51 years old. She talked about this aspect and how many think that at a certain age they can no longer do amazing things.
“Being a black woman over 50, I think I think it will be inspiring to see that those dreams you had when you were little can still come true, because we often think we have missed our first 20 years and passed 30 and, then we go to 40. And we’re like, “oh yeah, it’s okay. But it’s not true.”
“I think when we leave, it will be inspiring not only for me, but I think everyone who follows it because it can connect with all of our crew members in a unique and special way,” he added.
Proctor will be launched into space as part of Inspiration4 alongside fellow crew members, Commander Jared Isaacman, Medical Officer Hayley Arceneaux and Mission Specialist Chris Sembroki.
Email Chelsea Gohd at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.