Jenni Gibbons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jenni Gibbons
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Gibbons in 2017
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| Born |
Jennifer Anne MacKinnon Sidey
3 August 1988 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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| Space career | |
| CSA astronaut | |
| Selection | 2017 CSA Group NASA Group 22 (2017) |
Jennifer "Jenni" Anne MacKinnon Sidey-Gibbons, born on August 3, 1988, is a Canadian astronaut, engineer, and scientist. She was chosen by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2017. She was one of two new astronauts selected that year, along with Joshua Kutryk.
In 2023, the CSA gave her an important role. She was named the backup astronaut for Jeremy Hansen on the Artemis II mission. This mission will fly around the Moon. Jenni now uses her married name, Jenni Gibbons.
Early Life and Education
Jennifer Anne MacKinnon Sidey was born in Calgary, Canada, on August 3, 1988. She loved learning about how things work.
She earned a degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University. While studying there, she worked with the Canadian Space Agency. She researched how flames behave in microgravity, which is like the weightless conditions in space.
Later, in 2015, she earned her PhD in engineering from Jesus College, Cambridge in England. Her research focused on how things burn, which is called combustion.
Academic Career
Before becoming an astronaut, Jenni Gibbons was a teacher at the University of Cambridge. She taught about internal combustion engines. These are the engines that power cars and many other machines.
Her research looked at how flames move in a swirling way. She also studied how to reduce pollution from burning fuels. She taught university students about energy, how fluids move, and the physics of flames.
In 2016, Jenni received two special awards. She was named the Institution of Engineering and Technology's Young Woman Engineer of the Year. She also received a Young Engineer of the Year Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Becoming a CSA Astronaut
The CSA chose Jenni Gibbons to be an astronaut in 2017. This was part of their fourth search for new astronauts. She joined Joshua Kutryk in the 2017 CSA Group.
Jenni was the third woman chosen to be an astronaut by the CSA. The first two were Roberta Bondar and Julie Payette. At 28 years old, Jenni was the youngest person ever picked by the agency to become an astronaut.
In July 2017, Jenni moved to Houston, USA. There, she joined the NASA Astronaut Corps. She spent two years training at the Johnson Space Center with NASA's new astronauts.
On November 22, 2023, the CSA made a big announcement. They named Jenni Gibbons as the backup astronaut for Jeremy Hansen on the Artemis II mission. This mission is part of NASA's Artemis program. It is planned to fly around the Moon no earlier than April 2026.
See also
In Spanish: Jenni Sidey-Gibbons for kids
