Mae Jemison
Early Life
Mae was born in Alabama but grew up in Chicago in the USA. Mae grew up watching the NASA Apollo missions, growing frustrated that there were no female astronauts. This led her to want to study science and go to space. At 16, she started university studying chemical engineering and African studies. She then went back to university to get a medical degree.
Year born: 1956
Research Areas: Chemical Engineering, Medicine
Silvia Torres-Peimbert
Early Life
Silvia grew up in Mexico City, Mexico. She was encouraged by her teachers to pursue science. Her science teacher made it clear that if there were no women studying science then the contribution of half of the world’s population would be wasted. She studied physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and then got her PhD in astronomy from University of California, Berkeley. After university, Silvia returned to Mexico to work as a research scientist.
Year born: 1940
Research Areas: Nebulae & Star Birth
"We have only this planet and we have to take care of it. It’s our responsibility to diminish pollution and to stop wars"
Kevin Govender
Early Life
Kevin grew up on a sugar-cane farm in South Africa. His mother was a primary school teacher and his father was a mechanic. Kevin volunteered for his community as part of a youth club and set up a science club at school. He saw how important it was to give people control of their own learning and to follow their interests. Kevin studied physics at university. He did not do any stargazing when he was young. There was a superstition that counting stars would give you warts!
Year born: c. 1981
Research Areas: Nuclear Physics, Astronomy, Sustainable Development
"I see every day how people who are moved by our place in the universe are inspired to move others"
Alice Bunn
Early Life
Alice grew up in Shrewsbury, UK. She specialised her studies in maths, physics, and chemistry at school. Alice took a gap year after school. She travelled and worked as an au pair in Italy. Alice then studied Metallurgy (the science and technology of metals) at the University of Leeds. She spent one year of her degree studying in Finland. Alice got a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1998. A company sponsored her PhD, so it was quite hands-on.
Research Areas: Materials Science, Satellites
"That’s the exciting thing about these scientific missions – you don’t know what you’re going to find."
John Glenn
Early Life
John grew up in Ohio, USA. His father was a plumber and his mother a teacher. He loved flying from an early age. He first went in a plane when he was 8 years old. John liked to spend his time building model aeroplanes. He was an enterprising child, washing cars and selling rhubarb to earn money to buy a bicycle. He played sports in school, including American football, basketball, and tennis. John studied chemistry at Muskingum College, Ohio. He left college before completing his degree to join the Army.
Year born: 1921
Research Areas: Space Flight, Politics
"Space Flight, Politics"
MiMi Aung
Early Life
MiMi was born in the USA and moved to her parent’s home country of Myanmar when she was two and a half. She was inspired by her mother to study science, maths and engineering. Her mother was the first women in Mayanmar to get a PhD in mathematics. MiMi says her mother was very technical, practical and logical.
Year born: 1968
Research Areas: Deep Space Exploration
"It’s more than just flying on another planet. It will open doors to a whole new class of exploration."
Mary Jackson
Early Life
Mary grew up in Virginia, USA. She has a degree in maths and physical science from the Hampton Institute, a historically black university. Mary had several jobs after university, including teacher, secretary, bookkeeper and receptionist. She also took some time off to have a family.
Year born: 1921
Research Areas: Aerospace Engineering, Aerodynamics
Arthur Walker Jr.
Early Life
Arthur Walker Jr. was born in Ohio, USA and moved to New York when he was five years old. He was passionate about science from an early age, but his teacher tried to discourage him from following his passion. His parents stepped in and encouraged him to apply to University to study physics. Arthur completed a bachelor’s degree in Physics, and a master’s and PhD in Astrophysics. He served in the U.S. air force and his first assignment was in the weapons laboratory. Working on rockets sparked his interest in space-based research.
Year born: 1936
Research Areas: Solar Physics, Rockets
Tim Peake
Early Life
Tim was born and grew up in Chichester in the UK. His mum was a midwife and his dad a journalist. He went to air shows as a child which sparked his interest in flying. He left school at 18 to study at a military academy and join the British Army. Tim began flight training and became a helicopter pilot, going on to teach others to fly. During his time in the army he studied for a degree in Flight Dynamics from the University of Portsmouth.
Year born: 1972
Research Areas: Flight Dynamics, Aviation
Charles Bolden Jr.
Early Life
Charles was born in South Carolina, USA. His parents were teachers. He wanted to join the Navy and after school applied to the United States Naval Academy. The government rejected his application. Charles has said he was rejected because he is Black. Charles did not give up and wrote to President Johnson (in power at the time) for support. He was then accepted into the Naval Academy. Charles got a degree in Electrical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and trained as a fighter pilot. He flew in more than 100 combat missions.
Year born: 1946
Research Areas: Space Exploration, New Technology
"Our missions demand decades, even generational planning. But beyond technical milestones, the legacy we must pass on is inspiration."