Six Empowering Women Pave the Way for Next-Generation STEM Leaders
As Women's History Month comes to an end, interns at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston compiled a list of six influential women who continue to defy stereotypes and empower other women. These extraordinary women are laying the groundwork for the following generation of future leaders in a variety of fields, including science, space exploration, technology, and more. Read on to discover why these women inspire us.
Rayyanah Barnawi
"When I read about Rayyanah Barnawi, I feel proud and motivated to continue pursuing my dreams. She serves as an inspiration for Muslim women all around the world." - Maliya Malik
Rayyanah Barnawi is a biomedical researcher and international astronaut selected for Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) as a mission specialist. Ax-2 will be a significant step towards the first commercial space station in the world and the International Space Station replacement. The Ax-2 crew is currently scheduled to launch in Spring 2023. The Axiom Space crew will fly to space in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft atop its Falcon 9 rocket to participate in a 12-day mission, including ten days of working and living on the orbiting laboratory to carry out the project's complete slate of scientific, educational, and commercial activities.
Barnawi holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand, and a Master's in biomedical sciences from Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Barnawi is a research laboratory technician with nine years of experience in breast cancer and stem-cell cancer research. She is the first Muslim female astronaut to fly to space on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station.
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Julie Hardcastle
"Julie Hardcastle goes above and beyond to inspire others to reach within their inner self to a higher potential. Ms. Hardcastle presents data where it can be understood at all levels of the workforce, ensuring that her audience relates to the data. She also champions inspiring diversity, inclusion, innovation, and equality in the organization. Ms. Hardcastle is constantly looking for ways to improve the JSC Logistics organization. Her open, clear, and concise communication methods are a perfect example of women's contributions to history and society," said an individual who nominated Ms. Hardcastle.
Julie Hardcastle serves as Deputy Division Chief of the Logistics Division and Supply Equipment Management Officer at JSC. She is responsible for effective institutional planning, management, coordination, budgeting, and guidance for various logistical functional areas, including overseeing the equipment management program.
Julie manages NASA and contractor contributions throughout the logistics life cycle to ensure the success of program goals and objectives and consistency of service, which includes oversight of an 8-year, $85-million contract. She has 30 years of experience building and operating logistics services supporting human spaceflight hardware and program stock. She also has hands-on experience in every phase of the flight hardware process, from packaging, preservation, and delivery using various modes of movement, ranging from rigging and heavy hauling barge ocean and air movement involving military, NASA, and commercial aircraft.
Before that, she served as the manager of the International Travel Office. She was responsible for programmatic management and implementation of the travel service call center and an air charter service between NASA, our international partners, and the NASA Moscow Liaison Office in Russia. Julie also served as a subject matter expert on the agency's Business Service Assessment Logistics Deep Dive, assessing the health of NASA's logistics processes and identifying opportunities to build a more effective and efficient agency logistics business model. Ms. Hardcastle has a B.S. in business administration and transportation logistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, and an associate degree in computer science.
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Janne Herlambang
"She has a selfless commitment to our mission and her team. She started off as my supervisor and not only spent time to help me understand my work and how to support our team, but she also checked up on me and wanted to make sure not only I, but the entire team was cared for. She is also an inspiration of an Asian woman who has met hostility because of who she is, and was, a Christian, Chinese, Indonesian woman. Through all of that, she still works so hard," said an individual who nominated Ms. Herlambang.
Janne Herlambang is the Program Planning and Control (PP&C) Lead for Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) and Pressurized Rover (PR), and Integrated Schedule Lead for EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) Program Planning and Control Office. "What we do here at NASA is extraordinary, we are leading the next exploration to the Lunar Surface and beyond," Ms. Herlambang said.
She enjoys getting to know many smart and wonderful people here at NASA. She is always amazed to hear what folks do and is constantly learning. "Learning what is required to build a flight unit so I can track the schedule correctly." She is super excited to join the Human Surface Mobility Program. She looks forward to assisting with the project and setting up new processes across PP&C areas.
Janne shares how she feels motivated by the amazing women who surround her. "I am surrounded by the great NASA ladies of my life that want me to do better for myself. They have been my role model, my mentor, and friends. They push me to want to be a better me. To name a few, my program manager, Ms. Lara Kearney. She is a great program manager, extraordinary mom. She is so smart and down to Earth. I just love working for her. Ms. Nujoud Merancy, she is such a smart and cool mom. I am completely at awe with her. On top of that I am truly blessed to be surrounded by my extended family in ISS. I try to do all my task to reflect my core value: Honestly, integrity and hard work. I believe you will succeed if you try your very best in everything you do," she said.
About six months ago, she had the opportunity to join EHP Program as a program planning and control lead for Lunar Terrain Vehicle, Pressurized Rover, and as a schedule lead for EHP Program. She is really looking forward to building some hardware. "Of course, not literally but to be part of a project that put something on the lunar surface. How cool is that!" Before EHP, she supported the International Space Station Program in their Program Planning and Control Office. The space station has been her home for over 20 years. "It feels really good when you know the project you are helping is used and fly in the space station," she said.
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Estrella L. Medina
"She is such a great role model to women in STEM, especially for the Latinx community. Estrella is a great mentor for those in the training flows on our team. She always dedicates time and effort to those she is helping. She goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is heard and helped," said an individual who nominated Estrella.
Estrella Medina is currently working Northrop Grumman's 18th Commercial Resupply Services Mission as the Mobile Servicing Systems (MSS) Officer. As MSS Systems Officer, she will be sending the commands to release the Cygnus vehicle from the robotic arm when it leaves the International Space Station for disposal.
She loves to operate the robotic arm on the International Space Station, which the Canadian Space Agency provides. "It's exhilarating to know that the commands I am sending to the International Space Station. are moving a robot in space," Medina says.
She is motivated by the purposefulness of her job. "Every day we are learning new things from science inside and outside of the International Space Station. Knowing that I have a part in that motivates me on the hard days to keep going and keep pressing forward," she added.
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Dr. Sian Proctor
"Sian Proctor is someone who has helped me understand the importance of continuously learning. As an outstanding geoscientist, she has devoted her career to exploring and sharing the wonders of our planet and beyond. Through her work as an educator and mentor, she has inspired people of color to contribute to the advancement of science and society," said an individual who nominated Dr. Proctor.
Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist and astronaut. Sian Proctor made history in September 2021 when she became the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. Sian Proctor was chosen to command Inspiration4, operated by SpaceX and the first orbital expedition to space made entirely of civilians.
Additionally, Dr. Proctor has spent 22 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the Open Educational Resource Coordinator for the Maricopa Community College District. She has a B.S. in environmental science from Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. She also has an M.S. in geology and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Proctor is also an analog astronaut who has completed four analog missions, including the all-female SENSORIA Mars 2020 mission at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat, the NASA-funded 4-month Mars mission at HI-SEAS, a 2-week simulated Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station, and a 2-week simulated Moon mission in the LunAres Habitat.
Dr. Proctor researched food strategies for long-duration space flight during her Mars simulation in Hawaii. Her core value, "Space2inspire," represents her desire to establish a world that is just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive (JEDI space).
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Svetlana Hanson
"Svetlana rises to any challenge with an awesome attitude. She stepped up to the plate to lead the team in critical areas such as time synchronization, Integrated Hazard Analysis (IHA) reviews, test and verification, development of the network management plan and the list goes on. Under her guidance and leadership, she has pulled the team together to handle diverse challenges successfullly. She is an inspiration to all team members and a true role model," said an individual who nominated Svetlana.
As a senior system engineer in Gateway Level 2, Svetlana has the privilege of working on a project that's making history - getting humans back to the Moon to explore. "It's incredibly exciting to know that my work is contributing to this historic achievement, even in a small way," Ms. Hanson says.
But what she enjoys most about her job is the people she works with. She notes, "They're an incredible group of individuals who are dedicated to their work and always willing to share their knowledge and experience. I learn something new from them every day, which keeps me motivated and engaged."
Her love of learning and curiosity drives her to pursue a Ph.D. while working full-time. She is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with others. Svetlana organizes weekly virtual gatherings on Saturdays called SpaceGeekSpeak, where anyone can join and interact with speakers and attendees.
In addition, she is also a member of Toastmasters, an organization providing opportunities for communication and leadership skills. One of the projects Svetlana is most looking forward to is the CMV launch, which will see HALO and PPE in lunar orbit, ready for a visit by the crew. It is the culmination of an incredible effort by many teams, and she is excited to see it succeed.