Kayla Barron Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Kayla Barron
Barron in 2021
Born	Kayla Jane Sax (1987-09-19) September 19, 1987 (age 37) Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Space career
NASA astronaut
Rank	Lieutenant Commander, USN
Time in space	176d 2h 39m
Selection	NASA Group 22 (2017)
Total EVAs	2
Total EVA time	13h 26m
Missions	SpaceX Crew-3 (Expedition 66/67)
Mission insignia

Kayla Jane Barron, born on September 19, 1987, is an American engineer and NASA astronaut. She was chosen by NASA in June 2017 to join a special group of astronauts. By 2020, she had completed her training and was ready for space. Her first trip to space was on the SpaceX Crew-3 mission. She launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on November 10, 2021, as part of the Expedition 66 and 67 crews. Before becoming an astronaut, she worked on submarines for the U.S. Navy.

Early Life and School
Military Career
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
Personal Life
Hobbies and Achievements
Awards and Recognition
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and School

Kayla Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho. Her parents are Lauri and Scott Sax. Her family later moved to Richland, Washington, where she finished Richland High School in 2006.

After high school, Kayla went to the United States Naval Academy. In 2010, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering. While at the Naval Academy, she was also a runner on the cross country and track teams.

She then received a special scholarship called the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. This allowed her to study at the University of Cambridge in England. In 2011, she earned a Master of Philosophy degree in nuclear engineering. She studied how to make new types of nuclear reactors that could help with climate change.

Military Career

After getting her master's degree, Kayla Barron made history. She was one of the first women to become an officer on a submarine. She went through special training for the Navy's nuclear power and submarine programs.

She was assigned to the USS Maine, a large submarine. On the USS Maine, she completed three patrols, helping to manage different parts of the submarine. After her time on the submarine, she worked at the Naval Academy, helping the Superintendent, until she was chosen to be an astronaut.

Becoming a NASA Astronaut

In June 2017, Kayla Barron was selected to be part of NASA Astronaut Group 22. This meant she would begin two years of intense training to become an astronaut. She was the fifth woman who graduated from the Naval Academy to be chosen for this role.

She trained for the SpaceX Crew-3 mission. On this mission, she worked as a mission specialist aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She launched into space on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule named Endurance on November 10, 2021. She was part of the Expedition 67 crew, living and working on the ISS for a long time. The Crew-3 mission landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6, 2022, after Kayla had spent 176 days in space.

Personal Life

Kayla Barron is married to Tom Barron. He is an officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Hobbies and Achievements

Kayla Barron enjoys amateur radio, which is a hobby where people communicate using radio waves. She received her license for this hobby on September 21, 2020. Her call sign is KI5LAL.

She received several honors during her education. She was a Trident Scholar and a Distinguished Graduate at the Naval Academy. She was also a Gates Cambridge Scholar at Cambridge, which is a very special scholarship.

Awards and Recognition

Kayla Barron has received several awards for her service in the Navy and as an astronaut. These include:

Submarine Warfare Insignia: A special badge showing she is a qualified submarine officer.
SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia: Another badge for her patrols on a ballistic missile submarine.
Navy Commendation Medal: An award for her excellent service.
Navy Achievement Medal: Given for outstanding achievements.
Other medals for her unit's performance and for serving during specific time periods.

She also earned the NASA Astronaut Pin in gold, which is a symbol of her qualification as an astronaut.