Zena Cardman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zena Cardman
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Cardman in 2023
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Zena Maria Cardman
October 26, 1987 Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
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| Selection | NASA Group 22 (2017) |
Zena Maria Cardman (born October 26, 1987) is an American scientist who studies life in Earth's hidden places. She is also a NASA astronaut. She works to explore space and understand our planet better.
Early Life and Education
Zena Cardman was born on October 26, 1987. She loved learning about science from a young age. She went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she earned a degree in Biology. She also studied Chemistry and Marine Sciences.
Her studies took her to many amazing places. She traveled from the cold Arctic to the icy Antarctic. She also went on research ships in the ocean. Zena studied how tiny living things affect the Earth's chemistry. She even worked in Antarctica, studying its unique environment. Later, she earned a Master's degree.
Before becoming an astronaut, Zena helped NASA with research. She worked on projects in British Columbia, Idaho, and Hawaii. These projects helped plan how astronauts might explore other planets. She also worked on a tall ship as an assistant engineer. This meant she helped keep the ship's engines running. In 2017, when she was chosen by NASA, she was studying Earth's hidden life forms at Pennsylvania State University.
NASA Career
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Before becoming an astronaut, Zena Cardman worked on NASA science projects. These included the Pavilion Lake Research Project and BASALT. In June 2017, NASA chose her to be part of the NASA Astronaut Group 22. She then started her two-year training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
On January 31, 2024, NASA announced that Zena Cardman would lead the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. This mission was planned to fly to the International Space Station. However, plans changed. NASA decided to bring the Boeing Starliner capsule back to Earth without a crew. Because of this, Zena Cardman and fellow astronaut Stephanie Wilson were removed from Crew-9. This made space for the Starliner astronauts, Barry E. Wilmore and Sunita Williams, to return home.
On September 28, 2024, Zena helped host NASA's live broadcast of the Crew-9 launch. She shared her thoughts on what the astronauts, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, were experiencing. They successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
On March 27, 2025, NASA announced that Zena Cardman would be the commander of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission. This means she will lead another mission to the International Space Station in the future.
Personal Life
Zena Cardman enjoys many fun activities. Her hobbies include rock climbing and exploring caves. She also likes writing poetry and power lifting.
Awards and Honors
Zena Cardman has received many awards for her excellent work in science. These include a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She also received the Chancellor's Award from UNC Chapel Hill. This award recognized her as the most outstanding senior woman at the university.
