Stephanie Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephanie Wilson
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Wilson in 2019
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Stephanie Diana Wilson
September 27, 1966 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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42d 23h 46m |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Missions | STS-121 STS-120 STS-131 |
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Mission insignia
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Stephanie Diana Wilson, born on September 27, 1966, is an amazing American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She has traveled to space three times aboard the Space Shuttle. She is also the second African American woman to ever go into space, following Mae Jemison. As of 2022, she had spent 42 days in space, which was the second-longest time for any African American female astronaut, until Jessica Watkins spent more time in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Stephanie Wilson was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 27, 1966. About a year later, her parents, Eugene and Barbara Wilson, moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Her father, Eugene, used his electronics training from the Navy to become an electrical engineer. Her mother, Barbara, worked as a production assistant.
When Stephanie was in middle school, she had a class where she had to interview someone in a field she liked. Since she loved looking at the sky, she interviewed an astronomer named Jay Pasachoff. This helped her realize she was interested in a career related to space. In high school, her father encouraged her to study engineering. So, she decided to become an aerospace engineer.
Wilson finished high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1984. She then went to Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science in 1988. Later, she got a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1992.
Stephanie's Career
Engineering Work
Before joining NASA, Stephanie Wilson worked for a company called Martin Marietta in Denver, Colorado. She was an engineer for the Titan IV rocket. Her job was to analyze how the rocket and its parts would handle forces during launch.
In 1990, Wilson left Martin Marietta to go to graduate school. Her studies focused on how to control and model large, flexible structures in space.
After finishing her master's degree, Wilson started working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, in 1992. At JPL, she worked on the Galileo spacecraft. She helped make sure the spacecraft's parts, like its antennas, pointed correctly. She also helped develop and test the spacecraft's sequences.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
NASA chose Stephanie Wilson as an astronaut candidate in April 1996. She started her training at the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. After two years of training, she became a qualified mission specialist.
Her first jobs at NASA included working with the International Space Station's payload displays and procedures. She also worked as a CAPCOM in Mission Control. This meant she was the main person talking to astronauts in space from the ground. Later, she worked on technical duties related to the Space Shuttle's main engines, external tank, and solid rocket boosters.
Wilson has flown on three Space Shuttle missions. She was a mission specialist on STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131.
On October 18, 2019, Wilson was a ground controller in Houston for a very special event: the first spacewalk ever done by only women, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.
On December 9, 2020, NASA announced that Stephanie Wilson was one of the astronauts chosen for the Artemis program. This program aims to send humans back to the Moon. If selected for a Moon mission, she could be the first woman and first African-American on the Moon.
On January 31, 2024, NASA announced that Wilson would fly on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station. However, plans changed, and she was later removed from the mission. On September 28, 2024, she appeared during NASA's coverage of the Crew-9 launch. She shared her thoughts on what the crew members were experiencing during their successful launch.
Spaceflight Missions
STS-121 Mission
STS-121 was a test and assembly mission to the International Space Station. It took place from July 4 to July 17, 2006. During this 13-day flight, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery tested new equipment to make space shuttles safer. They also repaired a rail car on the Space Station. Wilson helped with the robotic arm operations. She also helped transfer over 28,000 pounds of supplies to the ISS. The mission lasted 306 hours, 37 minutes, and 54 seconds.
STS-120 Mission
STS-120 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. It flew from October 23 to November 7, 2007. This mission delivered the Harmony module to the Space Station. This module helps connect other parts of the station. The crew also moved a large truss section. They performed four spacewalks and fixed a solar array on the station. The mission lasted 15 days, 2 hours, and 23 minutes.
STS-131 Mission
STS-131 was a mission to resupply the International Space Station. It launched on April 5, 2010, and returned on April 20, 2010. The Space Shuttle Discovery delivered over 27,000 pounds of supplies and equipment. This included a tank of ammonia coolant, new sleeping quarters for the crew, and a special window for observing Earth.
During this mission, Wilson was in charge of using the robotic arm to help with spacewalks. She also used the robotic arm to move the "Leonardo" Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. This module carried supplies to the station and brought back science results and used equipment. The STS-131 mission lasted 15 days, 2 hours, and 47 minutes.
Artemis Program
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The Artemis program is NASA's plan to return humans to the Moon. It was announced in 2020. Stephanie Wilson has been chosen as one of eighteen astronauts for the Artemis team. This mission aims to send the first woman and the next man to walk on the Moon's surface.
Personal Life
Stephanie Wilson is a Christian. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Her hobbies include skiing and stamp collecting.
Awards and Honors
Stephanie Wilson has received many awards for her amazing work:
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2009, 2011)
- NASA Space Flight Medal (2006, 2007, 2010)
- Honorary Doctorate of Science from Williams College (2011)
- Harvard College Women's Professional Achievement Award (2008)
- Harvard Foundation Scientist of the Year Award (2008)
- Young Outstanding Texas Exes Award (2005)
- Johnson Space Center Innovation Group Achievement Award (2013)
- Johnson Space Center Director Commendation Award (2013)
- Salem Trailblazer Award (2019)
Spaceflight Gallery
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Wilson in the US lab during STS-121
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Stephanie Wilson in the Cupola during STS-131, with JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki
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Wilson in the US lab, sorting out technical blueprints
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Observing the condition of the protective shutters in the Cupola during STS-131
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Stephanie relaxing to music in the Cupola during STS-131
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Group photo with Naoko Yamazaki and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger
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Wilson in Node 1
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Inside Kibō, the Japanese Experiment Module
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STS-131 crew playing around during their time work
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Atop the launch pad tower for STS-131
See also
In Spanish: Stephanie Wilson para niños
