Jessica Meir: The Road to NASA And Space Exploration
The universe is infinite, but so are the dreams of those who aspire to explore it. One such dreamer is Jessica Meir, a NASA astronaut who has made her mark in space exploration. Join us as we delve into the life and journey of this remarkable woman, from her early beginnings get ready for an inspiring ride through the galaxy with Jessica Meir!
Jessica Meir’s Background
Jessica Meir’s background is one of a kind, and it has played a significant role in shaping her career. Born in Caribou, Maine, Jessica grew up with an interest in the natural world around her thanks to her mother’s influence.
Her love for the natural world led her to earn a BS degree in Biology from Brown University, and shortly after that, she graduated from ISU in France with a Master’s of Space Studies. Afterward, she earned her Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography thanks to her research focused on the diving physiology of emperor penguins in their extreme Antarctic environment.
Jessica Meir’s impressive academic background showcases the passion she has for our planet and beyond. This dedication ultimately led her down the path of working with NASA and contributing significantly to space exploration efforts. Mainly thanks to her studies of how animals, specifically the bar-headed geese, adapt to low-oxygen environments.
Jessica Meir’s Journey to NASA
Despite the fact that Jessica Meir is best known as being a candidate for the first woman to walk on the moon, her journey to NASA was anything but straightforward. Her interest in space began very early on in her childhood, fascinated by the stars in Maine. In fact, she even attended a youth space camp at Purdue University when she was only 13 years old.
As mentioned above, Meir went on to earn a Masters in space studies from the International Space University where she honed in on her passion for space exploration. This led her to work for Lockheed Martin Space Operations as an experiment support scientist at Nasa, where she coordinated and supported physiological studies while the astronauts performed the experiments on the shuttle or ISS.
Subsequently, she served as an aquanaut in the Aquarius underwater laboratory and conducted research on marine biology. Following her academic pursuits, Meir transitioned into becoming an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School before being selected as one of the eight candidates for training by NASA in 2013.
After joining NASA, Jessica went through several training programs to prepare herself for life in space. These programs included intense simulations that replicate different scenarios that could occur during missions – allowing them to train for any potential challenges they may face while on board. She ultimately completed the required rigorous physical and psychological training in 2015.
Her background in marine biology and physiology certainly made her stand out as a candidate for NASA’s astronaut program, which requires individuals with extensive scientific knowledge and physical endurance. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, such as being rejected multiple times by NASA’s selection process, Jessica persevered until she achieved her dream of becoming an astronaut.
Jessica Meir’s Contributions to Space Exploration
Jessica Meir’s contributions to space exploration are numerous and significant. As an astronaut, she conducted several experiments and studies that have advanced our understanding of the effects of long-term space travel on human physiology. Meir was also a part of the first all-female spacewalk in 2019 alongside her colleague Christina Koch, which helped promote gender equality in STEM fields.
After spending 205 days on the International Space Station (ISS), Jessica Meir landed in Kazakhstan on the 17th of April 2020 with Oleg Skripochka and Andrew Morgan. The journey back to Earth was different than expected due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, they were greeted by a smaller-than-usual recovery team, all of whom had been tested for COVID-19 beforehand to ensure their safety.
While on the ISS, they conducted several experiments, upon returning home, Meir underwent various medical tests and experiments as part of NASA’s effort to understand how space affects the human body. In addition to her scientific work, she also shared her experiences with others through interviews and public speaking engagements in outreach efforts aimed at inspiring future generations of scientists and astronauts.
Despite being back on Earth, Meir continues to play an important role in space exploration. She has served as the Assistant to the Chief Astronaut for Commercial Crew (Elon Musk’s SpaceX) and Deputy for the Flight Integration Division along with being the Assistant to the Chief Astronaut for the Human Landing System. Her contributions to space exploration extend far beyond what can be measured by numbers or metrics as she embodies the spirit of curiosity and discovery that drives humanity’s quest for knowledge about our universe.
Conclusion
Jessica Meir’s journey to becoming an astronaut and making significant contributions to space exploration is nothing short of inspiring. Her story serves as a reminder that there is still so much more we can learn about space and ourselves through continued exploration. We look forward to seeing what exciting discoveries Jessica Meir will contribute to in the future as she continues on her journey of discovery beyond Earth’s boundaries.
