Sian Proctor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sian Hayley Proctor
Proctor in 2021
Born	(1970-03-28) 28 March 1970 (age 55) Hagåtña, Guam
Nationality	American
Education	Arizona State University, PhD in Science Education (2006) Arizona State University, M.S. in Geology (1998) Edinboro University, B.S. in Environmental Science (1992)
Occupation	Geology professor, and science communicator
Known for	Private astronaut aboard Inspiration4 Science communicator Artist Author/poet Media personality
Scientific career
Institutions	South Mountain Community College
Thesis	Cognitive process strategies and performance on a contour map memory test (2006)
Doctoral advisor	Sarah K. Brem
Space career
Commercial astronaut
Time in space	2d 23h 3m
Missions	Inspiration4

Sian Hayley "Leo" Proctor (born March 28, 1970) is an American commercial astronaut, geology professor, artist, author, and science communicator. She made history as the first female commercial spaceship pilot. She was also the first artist chosen to be an astronaut on the all-civilian Inspiration4 orbital spaceflight on September 15, 2021.

As the pilot of the Inspiration4's SpaceX Crew Dragon space capsule, Proctor became the first African-American woman to pilot a spacecraft. She also worked as the education outreach officer for the first Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Mission. In 2024, Proctor was chosen to be a U.S. Science Envoy for the United States Department of State.

Since her space mission, Sian Proctor has become a well-known Afrofuturist artist, poet, and author. She is the first African American astronaut to paint while in space. Proctor is also a major in the Civil Air Patrol, where she helps with aerospace education for its Arizona Wing.

Early Life and Education

Sian Proctor was born on March 28, 1970, in Hagåtña, Guam. Her father, Edward Langley Proctor Jr., was an engineer for NASA during the Apollo program. He worked at the Guam Remote Ground Terminal. Sian is the youngest of four children.

After the moon landings, Proctor's family moved to Minnesota. They later moved to different states in the Northeastern U.S. Her family settled in Fairport, New York, when she was 14. She later graduated from Fairport High School.

Proctor studied at Arizona State University. She earned a degree in environmental sciences and then a master's degree in Geology in 1998. In 2006, she received her PhD in Science Education. That same year, Proctor also earned her pilot's license.

She is a member of the Association of Space Explorers. In December 2022, she joined the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group. For her training as a pilot for the Inspiration4 flight, she trained in a Cessna CitationJet CJ3 and a MiG-29. In 2022, she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from University of Massachusetts Lowell. In 2023, she took part in the Space 2101 camp at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Space Career Highlights

Becoming an Astronaut

Proctor was a finalist for the 2009 NASA Astronaut Selection Process. She was one of 47 finalists chosen from over 3,500 people who applied. However, she was not among the nine astronaut candidates selected that year.

Inspiration4 Mission Pilot

Inspiration4 crew visiting the Johnson Space Center at NASA

Proctor traveled to space as a commercial astronaut and pilot for the Crew Dragon orbital spaceflight mission Inspiration4. This mission launched on September 15, 2021. She earned her spot on the mission by winning an entrepreneur competition. During her flight training, she was given the call sign Leo.

She flew with Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, and Chris Sembroski. This was the first space mission with an all-civilian crew. In August 2021, she and the rest of the Inspiration4 crew were featured on the cover of a Time magazine issue.

U.S. State Department Science Envoy

As a scientist-astronaut, Proctor was chosen to be a U.S. Science Envoy in 2024. In this role, she represents the United States Department of State's effort to promote the peaceful use of space around the world. Her goal is to connect with foreign researchers, encourage space science education, and show how important space science is to society. The 2024 group of U.S. Science Envoys was the first all-female group in the program's history.

Career in Science Education

HI-SEAS Mission (2013)

Proctor served as the education outreach officer for the NASA-funded Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) mission. This mission studied different food strategies for long space flights and trips to the Moon or Mars.

During the four-month simulation, Proctor worked as a photographer for Discover Magazine. She also filmed the Meals for Mars YouTube series while living in the Mars simulation.

PolarTREC Program (2014)

In 2014, she was selected as a PolarTREC teacher. This program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), connects teachers with scientists doing research in the Arctic and Antarctic. As part of this program, she spent a month in Barrow, Alaska. There, she learned about historical ecology and how climate change affects the coastline and community.

Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (2016)

In 2016, she became an ACEAP Ambassador. This program, also from the National Science Foundation (NSF), sends educators to U.S. astronomy facilities in Chile. In the summer of 2016, she and eight other ambassadors visited places like Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Gemini South Observatory, and the Atacama Large Millimeter-submillimeter Array (ALMA).

Proctor returned to San Pedro, Chile, in 2017. She worked with the local high school and community to promote STEM education.

NOAA Teacher at Sea (2017)

She took part in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea program in 2017. This program, started in 1990, gives teachers research experience working at sea. For three weeks, she researched pollock fish in the Bering Sea aboard the vessel Oscar Dyson. She shared her experiences on the NOAA blog.

Science Communication and Art

Sharing Science with Others

Sian Proctor speaking at the Space 2101 camp at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in 2023

Sian Proctor is an international speaker. She talks about science education, leadership, space simulations, sustainable foods, and the importance of diversity in science. She has also given several TEDx Talks.

Artistic Creations

Proctor has been an artist, painter, and poet her whole life. She is known as an Afrofuturist artist, creating digital, multi-media, and painted works. Proctor's art often shows connections to the Earth and the universe, which she calls AfroGaia. After her spaceflight, her art often includes themes inspired by Earthlight. This is the phenomenon of sunlight reflecting off Earth and back into space, lighting up spacecraft and astronauts. She is an artist-in-residence at Arizona State University. While on the Crew Dragon spaceship, she became the first African-American to paint in space.

Television Appearances

Dr. Proctor has appeared in many television series and documentaries.

See also

In Spanish: Sian Proctor para niños